.45 Colt Carbine Project

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Was in Pinto's and saw a .45-caliber muzzle-loader barrel for sale and thought about that .45 Colt chamber reamer in a drawer in the shop. I checked around and they had a 16-gauge Montgomery Ward Hercules shotgun labelled as a parts-gun. I picked up both for under a hundred bucks including tax.

I went to work on the lathe, saw, grinders etc. and pretty soon I had this-

No rear sight as yet but with the front sight in place I could at least be pretty sure I could get them on paper at 20 yards and headed over to the indoor range to test it out. I was concerned as the barrel is made for round-ball and might not stabilize bullets. I tried it with hard-cast and jacketed 200 gr. bullets and they worked fine. Then I tried a 270gr. Keith bullet and it flew high and was yawing when it hit the target (indicated by the red arrow.)

OK, I would not normally be happy with the accuracy, but given the gun has no rear sight yet I'm not much concerned about it.

I did have to modify the ejector for the smaller-diameter cartridge of course, and I sanded and lacquered the stocks and tightened up the butt-stock. With the original barrel it had been starting to go off-face, so I took care of that too. I'll figure out something for the rear sight and see what kind of accuracy I can get but with that rifling I doubt it's going to be a tack-driver. If I can get it to do 2" at 50 yards I expect I'll be OK with that.

I like it. It's handy and kind of neat-o, plus it was fun to see if I could do this. Have to see what's what once I can aim it properly.

 

[dh1633pm]

Cool project as always. I converted a No 5 roller that was shot out with a crappy stock to a 45 Colt Single shot. It was fun.

 

[MikeInOr]

A .45 cal muzzle loader barrel has enough strength for a .45 LC? I have no idea myself but that would be my only worry. Cool fun project!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Very cool project!

 

[adcoch1]

I like it, it just looks "right"

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

A .45 cal muzzle loader barrel has enough strength for a .45 LC? I have no idea myself but that would be my only worry. Cool fun project!

Oh yes, especially since the chamber is reinforced by the chamber of the 16-gauge donor gun.

 

[adcoch1]

Oh yes, especially since the chamber is reinforced by the chamber of the 16-gauge donor gun.

MTP, did you epoxy the barrel in the stub from the shotgun, or solder? That is such a neat little rifle, I hope you can dial in an accurate load for it.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

MTP, did you epoxy the barrel in the stub from the shotgun, or solder? That is such a neat little rifle, I hope you can dial in an accurate load for it.

Red LocTite with a press-fit.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Neat! I had a similar type of carbine put together in .38 Super, but I spent a whole lot more doing it!



Have you measured the twist rate yet? If you need to go to a ultralight bullet for better stabilization, Matt's has some interesting choices:

https://www.mattsbullets.com/45-caliber.html

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Neat! I had a similar type of carbine put together in .38 Super, but I spent a whole lot more doing it!

View attachment 1154181

Have you measured the twist rate yet? If you need to go to a ultralight bullet for better stabilization, Matt's has some interesting choices:

https://www.mattsbullets.com/45-caliber.html

Thanks for the recommendation! Today I discovered that I really need better sights if I am going to figure out if it's accurate, but all of the 200gr. bullets I pu through it made nice round hols, so that's something.

 

[Riomouse911]

Neat! I had a similar type of carbine put together in .38 Super, but I spent a whole lot more doing it!

View attachment 1154181

Have you measured the twist rate yet? If you need to go to a ultralight bullet for better stabilization, Matt's has some interesting choices:

https://www.mattsbullets.com/45-caliber.html

I think .45 muzzleloaders traditionally have something like a 1/48” twist, if it’s one of those slow-twisters then it may never really stabilize anything larger than 165-185 gr bullets.

Hopefully it is faster than that.

Stay safe.

 

[WisBorn]

I think .45 muzzleloaders traditionally have something like a 1/48” twist, if it’s one of those slow-twisters then it may never really stabilize anything larger than 165-185 gr bullets.

Hopefully it is faster than that.

Stay safe.

Even with a 1-48 twist it should be fun
I do agree hopefully it was one of the bullet throwers with a 1-20.....

 

[Big Bore 44]

Have you slugged the barrel? Some MZs have a much larger groove dia than a person might think.

 

[PapaG]

A 1 in 48 will stabilize 220 grain maxi balls quite well.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Have you slugged the barrel? Some MZs have a much larger groove dia than a person might think.

It slugged at .455", and seems to have no issues with the 200gr bullets I've fired so far.

 

[Pat Riot]

Cool project.

Not bad shooting for no rear sight.

 

[792mauser]

Neato