1842 Hall breech-loading BP Rifle, 1st shot in > 100-years!

Now in the picture of this percussion model, this is 1st shot in ~100-years, but we believe the ball ”˜rolled’ away off the powder charge and sat at the juncture of the breech to the barrel.

See the ”˜horizontal’ flames? Those slots were intentionally cut into the sides of the action, were increased in height & length on the 2nd model (flint) and serve as a way for any ”˜excess gas’ to escape!

Have you ever witnessed the power of gas exiting the forcing cone on a black powder revolver ... now try it with a 52-cal rifle using a 90 or 100-grain service load - yikes!

Gas leak, what gas leak??? :grin:

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

Great photo!! :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

You brought back some very fond memories of the time in the late 70's when my best friend in life for the first time in many years also fired his 1823 Hall Flintlock and an UnCivil War Carbine for which he paid the princely sum of $25.00 for an original cartridge to also fire that day. He collected Hall Rifles and shot most of them at least once, though he never shot the Hall Civilian Model Flintlock he purchased many years later.

Gus

Impressive! I've always been fascinated by these guns, suspect this is one of the reasons they were not more popular. I have and shoot one of the Remington revolving rifles and it certainly produces a nice, large flash and blast right in front of your face with a 25gr charge! The Hall should really get your attention when it goes off (though at least there's no risk of a multiple discharge!).

A gentleman at the local range a month ago had an original percussion and it smoked to beat heck out of the block, but I didn't notice flame. The flame may have been so fast that it didn't really show. I think he was only using a 30-40 grain charge and round ball.

desi23 said:

Impressive! I've always been fascinated by these guns, suspect this is one of the reasons they were not more popular.

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Yes, the gas leakage plus development of brass cartridges doomed the Hall design, but it was an important development none the less.

See to follow, for more input whilst shooting.

Kansas Jake said:

A gentleman at the local range a month ago had an original percussion and it smoked to beat heck out of the block, but I didn't notice flame.

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Yes, you are quite correct, as even on my flint model, there is barely any gas leakage like the photo I attached shows. That gun had been fired by ”˜yanking’ on a rope to the trigger and I surmise that the ”˜yank’ moved the ball off the powdah charge.

FWIW when I shoot my Hall rifles, I lube the ball in a 50-50 mix of beeswax & olive oil. Zero issues ... and what a HOOT to fire these old arms! I use 60-80 grains of 1Fg powdah, to be easy on the old girls ...