Smooth bore pistol

[pwbsmokey]

I'm more or less thinking out loud, but would appreciate your thoughts. I have a 54 cal. Lyman Plains Pistol, and I was wondering about the possibility of getting a replacement barrel and having it made into a smooth bore. I know it can be done, but I was wondering what the cost would be, what the max bore size could be, and if it is just a dumb idea or if it is practical enough worth considering. My thoughts are that it might be a fun close range small game gun. But how close and how effective?

 

[TNGhost]

Sounds like a neat idea. If it's economically feasable. Taking on small game, birds and informal clays with a hand shotgun is fun.

I've got a cheap DGW "Tower" flintlock replica I've been fooling with in this vein. So far only one bunny has fallen at about 7 yards. I'd think 15-20 yards is a reasonable max with proper load/shot size.

A .410 Contender can be deadly at that range on quail, partridge and rabbits, as a comparison.

 

[rodwha]

This is something I've been considering for my Lyman Deerstalker (likely with a Trade Rifle barrel), but have also figured I'll need a Plains Pistol too, and why not a smoothbore for it as well?

I figured 28 ga made a lot of sense as I can get components if need be, though I figured I'd start out trying punched felt wads and such.