• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

MOST powerful BP weapon?

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

dkloos

40 Cal.
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
240
Reaction score
0
I was having a discussion with someone yesterday as to what the most powerful black-powder weapon could possibly be. Its a hard thing to judge, with so many varying loads and calibers... but does anyone know? My bet was on the Kodiak Express, but I could certainly be mistaken. In my opinion, a Bess loaded with 120 grains and a PRB has done significant damage to targets of metal and wood. I'd like to hear peoples opinions, and I do realise this is a very broad question, so I apologize.
 
You need to define it a bit more. If you are talking about shoulder fired weapons, then you probably need to look at the pieces used to take african big game, your talking the likes of a 4 bore or bigger which puts the .75 calibers to shame.
If you're talking hunting guns of any kind, then the punt guns have probably got them beat but they had to be mounted on boats and weren't shoulder fired.
If you're talking anything goes, then you need to ask in the cannon section.
 
Underhammer1.jpg


This one is just a smidge in power! :rotf:
 
I'm sorry I should've gone more specific... I'd like to stick to shoulder fired weapons, umounted in any way other than using a shooting stick or other mobile rest.
 
Hangfeyer said:
I'm sorry I should've gone more specific... I'd like to stick to shoulder fired weapons, umounted in any way other than using a shooting stick or other mobile rest.

Aw shucks, I was going to say the 16" guns on a battleship. They uses black powder.
 
Did you see what that feller shot the elephant with? It was a shouldered gun. Ouch! :shocked2:
 
gmww said:
Did you see what that feller shot the elephant with? It was a shouldered gun. Ouch! :shocked2:

He SHOT the elephant?? I thought he let the elephant shoot the gun and the recoil killed it!!! :rotf:
 
My guess would be the 2 bore rifles made in England and Blegium.
I have made some 4 bores, and they are NOT fun to fire.
They use 450 gr of powder and a 1750 grain ball.
Recoil is noticeable

(on the richter scale)
 
Uhh...the 16 inch guns on battleships of the Missouri and Iowa class did not shoot black powder. I hve no idea what designation it is but buying that surplus powder and repackaging it for sale to the public is how Bruce Hogdonon got his start in the powder business. Us reloaders know it as H-4831.

Vic
 
"Aw shucks, I was going to say the 16" guns on a battleship. They uses black powder. "

Only to ignite the bags of nitrocellulose propellant. The silk bags have about 100 lbs of extruded nitro powder in them. The black powder on the rear of the bag was to ensure ignition. GC
 
Bakeoven Bill said:
gmww said:
Did you see what that feller shot the elephant with? It was a shouldered gun. Ouch! :shocked2:

He SHOT the elephant?? I thought he let the elephant shoot the gun and the recoil killed it!!! :rotf:

:rotf:
 
There are a few vids you might like on this page...especially the 4 bore ouch vid.

vintage

My old Navy friends told me that the old Iowa class Battleships did shoot BP. He told me that he was stationed on one of the "boats" when it did the switchover.

011%20Night%20salvo.JPG
 
Wow... that video is great, although i'm sure it was no picnic for the fellow shooting the gun. Do you think those "4 Bores" are the same types of gun carried by Michael Douglas in The Ghost and the Darkness?
 
No that was a double 470 Nitro (so I am told by a friend in a place to know)

The 4 bore is much larger. The ones I made are single barreled rifles, and weigh over 17 pound.
The bore is 1.052" in Diameter (almost 1 1/16")

I have a double barreled 8 bore in the works now, but it's a "spec gun" and I only work on it as I get time (which is not very often) It will weigh in at about 11 pound when it's finishes.
 
Do you handmake them? Or are they kits? How much could one buy one for?
 
I want to say that Sir Samuel Baker, a British Sportsman, who hunted Africa and India during the mid 1800's had one rifle that was a 2 bore. I believe he called it, "Baby". I remember reading how he shot a water buffalo in Ceylon and the shot broke through both hips.

Some say shooting" Baby" caused a permanent nervous condition for him.
 
You are corect in part, the silk bags were full of nitro-celluose, there was a black powder 'primer' that is ignited by a fulminate charge to fire the nitro propellant. No barrel could stand the pressure of BP or fast-burning dual-base powder. (4831) - .50 cal powder in that size and weight of projectile.
 
Yes, I make them, and no, they are not kits.
:)
I don't think there are any 4 bore and 8 bore kits offered by anyone, and I am sure there are no double rifle kits offered.

If you want one, just let me know. :hatsoff:
Lloyd8bore2.jpg

Lloyds8bore.jpg

Craig8.jpg
 
Back
Top