morehops52
45 Cal.
I posted a very similar thread here two weeks ago and I was asked for pictures as well (post was on 10/10 if interested). So I decided to do it over with a bit more info and add some pics. I used 11 sheets of corrugated cardboard , a sheet of 7/32" T-111 wood siding (pronounced "Tee-one eleven " around here) and 2 more cardboard as my target and backstop backed up with an old stump. I shot from a measured 4 feet which I judged to be just out of an assailants reach. Using a .440 ball and tight patch my goal was to get some idea of how this pocket pistol might fare in a situation it was designed for as long as the assailant was cardboard and siding 
. I figured I'd start with 20g 3f then go to 30 and 40g. The results were very similar to last time.
20g - passed thru 5 layers cardboard embedded in 6th.
30g - passed thru all layers, barely a mark on stump.
40g - passed thru all layers and left a dent in the stump about a third of a ball deep. significant boom!
Being realistic, this pistol is no competition for any modern mutli-shot arm or even an 1800's revolver. It would be considered a last ditch weapon and hopefully would be backed up with a bowie knife.
Noting the poor performance of the 20g load (5 layers cardboard) I would not use that for defense or even as a finishing shot on game. It does make a dandy noisemaker!!
My Traditions kit gun. I'd rate it about a 5 out of 10.
I use a full hand hold. It feels so much better this way. That's my middle finger on the trigger. No trigger finesse needed here. There is no fly on this lock so you need a quick strong pull to avoid catching on half cock.
With my choked up grip the finger points at the target.
Shots L-R - 20, 30, 40g. All 2" or less @ 4 feet. Note Brown cardboard above white paper.
Peppered with unburned powder. Outer edge is at least a foot from bull. No, the extra powder does make a difference. The sound and penetration proved it too me anyway. But it also shows that bird shot is probably not a good option except for snakes or a shot to the face. Heavy clothing would defeat a spread pattern like this.
Back side of wood siding. 30g on top , 40g below. Passed thru 11 pieces of corrugated to get to the wood. 30g would seem like enough but as the 40g was easily manageable and the big boom could be disorienting that would be my choice.
This is more of a novelty than a serious pistol. I didn't inlet the escutcheons because I don't give a manure. Same with the wonderful hammer that needs bent and no, I've already read up on it and screw it. For as much as I expect to use it I won't go to the trouble. I also cut the stem from the grossly oversized front sight and just used the nub as that's all that's really needed. But is does shoot and that's what it was made for.
. I figured I'd start with 20g 3f then go to 30 and 40g. The results were very similar to last time.20g - passed thru 5 layers cardboard embedded in 6th.
30g - passed thru all layers, barely a mark on stump.
40g - passed thru all layers and left a dent in the stump about a third of a ball deep. significant boom!
Being realistic, this pistol is no competition for any modern mutli-shot arm or even an 1800's revolver. It would be considered a last ditch weapon and hopefully would be backed up with a bowie knife.
Noting the poor performance of the 20g load (5 layers cardboard) I would not use that for defense or even as a finishing shot on game. It does make a dandy noisemaker!!
My Traditions kit gun. I'd rate it about a 5 out of 10.
I use a full hand hold. It feels so much better this way. That's my middle finger on the trigger. No trigger finesse needed here. There is no fly on this lock so you need a quick strong pull to avoid catching on half cock.
With my choked up grip the finger points at the target.
Shots L-R - 20, 30, 40g. All 2" or less @ 4 feet. Note Brown cardboard above white paper.
Peppered with unburned powder. Outer edge is at least a foot from bull. No, the extra powder does make a difference. The sound and penetration proved it too me anyway. But it also shows that bird shot is probably not a good option except for snakes or a shot to the face. Heavy clothing would defeat a spread pattern like this.
Back side of wood siding. 30g on top , 40g below. Passed thru 11 pieces of corrugated to get to the wood. 30g would seem like enough but as the 40g was easily manageable and the big boom could be disorienting that would be my choice.
This is more of a novelty than a serious pistol. I didn't inlet the escutcheons because I don't give a manure. Same with the wonderful hammer that needs bent and no, I've already read up on it and screw it. For as much as I expect to use it I won't go to the trouble. I also cut the stem from the grossly oversized front sight and just used the nub as that's all that's really needed. But is does shoot and that's what it was made for.
