Would This Make Sense?

[Walkabout]

I'm thinking of having my Pedersoli Harper's Ferry .54 cal pistol bored out to .550 or 28 gauge. I've been eyeing .56 cals and 28 gauge smoothy long guns online and I thought it would be handy to have two guns sharing the same wads, balls, etc. What do you think? Thanks

 

[Loyalist Dave]

What do you want to do with the pistol when done?

Have a cool, bore-matched set with your smoothbore?
Shoot shot at small game ?
Shoot smoothbore pistol events?
Just for targets? and thus simplicity when casting round ball?
Hunt deer if it meets modern DNR regs? (It would work in Maryland with that 10" barrel ; can't say for other states )
Use it to dispatch a wounded deer when you come up on it, or come across one wounded by another hunter (and thus save the rifle for a more distant shot) ?

Any of the above are valid reasons. If it makes you happy, go for it.

OH and Don't Forget to share some photos of it when it's done please....,

LD

 

[Nobody85]

A pedersoli harpers ferry is already at .58 caliber I believe.

 

[Walkabout]

A pedersoli harpers ferry is already at .58 caliber I believe.

Mine is the percussion. 54 cal smooth bore version.

 

[Nobody85]

Do it if that’s what you want bud. It makes sense. They did it in WW2 with the Thompson and the 1911. No need to be fumbling around when you could have everything in one bag.

 

[Walkabout]

Or would it make more sense to have a .50 rifle bored out to .54 smoothy?

 

[Stantheman86]

.54 is the historical caliber for this reproduction . These are a repro of the Confederate converted pistols. They can use a .490 ball in a paper cartridge, that's what makes them cool.

If I were going to open up a pistol to a .55 smoothy I'd do it with a .54 Kentucky Bounty flintlock or percussion

 

[Rifleman1776]

It is yer gun, do wat pleases ye. EXCEPT, do make sure you have enough steel so you can safely enlarge the bore.

 

[smoothshooter]

I'm thinking of having my Pedersoli Harper's Ferry .54 cal pistol bored out to .550 or 28 gauge. I've been eyeing .56 cals and 28 gauge smoothy long guns online and I thought it would be handy to have two guns sharing the same wads, balls, etc. What do you think? Thanks

Should not be any safety issues. All the reamer will be doing is removing the rifling, and maybe another .020” or less.
A .54 is really already a 28 gauge anyway.

 

[Stantheman86]

Measure your bore, it may be .55 already.

There is probably plenty more meat on that barrel than the originals had, the Italian gunmakers make the barrels thick to protect themselves from lawsuits.