I'm thinkin' I might want one of these

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Awesome time at the range exploring all the different load possibilities today. I hope that this video can help others with their questions. I have some more testing to do in regards to penetration at different distances but this is a start.

 
Great videos and thank you for following through. I would like to know if a gunsmith could thread these for screw in chokes and what kind of patterns it would give. Maybe someone who knows can chime in.

My understanding is that aside from more noise and heavier recoil (yes I know awkward ergonomics too) that there is very little difference in the shot pattern with barrels about 9 inches or more when compared to full length (long barrel) shotguns provided one can hold it steady and aim it well. Power loss is not very significant either. I also saw a youtube video where a 12 inch barrel shotgun produced identical shot patters to an 18 inch barrel Bennelli combat shotgun.

There is a lot of Hollywood folk lore in the United States about short barreled shotguns and not very many people are aware of their potential.

I think 6 inches is short enough though to fall into that category where the shot does spread more but I think a good choke can make a world of difference regardless. Again maybe an expert can chime in.

I wonder if any of the double trigger 11 inch percussion models are being made at present. I really like the Ithaca Auto burglar look alike. These would probably be good candidates for screw in chokes.
 
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In the video, the barrels seem to be plenty thick enough to be able to have them threaded for choke tubes.
I think that extended choke tubes are preferable to internal choke tubes on a black powder gun because they are easier to unscrew quickly by hand for re-loading, especially if the choke tube has much constriction which can interfere with loading some components.
One problem to be aware about with installing extended choke tubes in a double barrel is whether they will interfere with each other being installed at the same time since the extended portion can have a slightly larger diameter.
There needs to be enough room between the barrels to install both.
And also hope that they don't interfere with aiming at all which they shouldn't.


Carlson's choke tubes threads barrels and makes all types of specialty choke tubes.--->>> https://connecticuthistory.org/topics-page/slavery-and-abolition/
They make special extra tight ones for shooting cards at turkey shoots.
Briley also installs choke tube threading but probably wouldn't be as economical.

IMO it may be preferable to fire patched round balls from an unchoked barrel.
Not that it would make much difference, but the entire barrel would be solid and consistent instead of having a threaded portion with a slightly different internal diameter.
Although it might look odd with only one external choke, perhaps only one barrel can be threaded.
And also, by threading the barrels and using extended chokes, the gun would become slightly less compact.
 
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Quite frankly I think I expected too much from this kind of firearm. It's more of a 10-yard or close-quarters gun. I think 25 yards is probably asking too much. I do wish they had the longer barrel version available. That one with its longer barrel and simpler duel hammer mechanism is more appealing to me. In my opinion, the shorter barrel version is more of a curio type gun. Something that looks cool, makes a big boom but offers very little utility.
 
I would like to see this thing bench rested. I think it can do 25 yards with a slug. The question is can most shooters do 25 yards with the less than prime ergonomics of this design coupled with the loud blast and recoil.. With practice probably but it would undeniably be a very different experience from firing a common type of firearm.

I do like the diablo design better with it's inline shotgun primers (I am thinking blackhorn 209) and would like to see 2 X the barrel length (12 inches) on it.

Short or long barrel a choke would probably make a world of difference with shot loads.

The cool factor is way up there with the diablo.
 
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Another novel idea would be to install a rifled choke tube to increase the performance of a ball or slug.
They work with smooth bore shotguns.

Remington and others also make a straight rifled choke tube.
The straight rifling will help stop the spin of a plastic wad as it exits the barrel which can help to obtain a slightly tighter pattern.
 
Shotgunnation said:
Awesome time at the range exploring all the different load possibilities today. I hope that this video can help others with their questions. I have some more testing to do in regards to penetration at different distances but this is a start.

Click to expand...


I emailed them and they stated 60 grns of 2F was the max for the pistol you are showcasing.

D9-D7-F4-ED-BB48-428-C-9140-CF04-D1-AF4650.png

So maybe, despite your videos looking very much like an add with the way you put it together, you don’t actually work for them as they certainly wouldn’t use both twice the powder and load they state as a max.

Now to be fair we all too often see the manufacturers low ball their max. Never have I seen it half though. As you see the 11” version shows a max of 89 grns but that’s likely due to them understanding a 6” barrel can’t burn a large powder charge. The ground was likely littered with Pyrodex.
 
rodwha said:
I emailed them and they stated 60 grns of 2F was the max for the pistol you are showcasing.

View attachment 868233

So maybe, despite your videos looking very much like an add with the way you put it together, you don’t actually work for them as they certainly wouldn’t use both twice the powder and load they state as a max.

Now to be fair we all too often see the manufacturers low ball their max. Never have I seen it half though. As you see the 11” version shows a max of 89 grns but that’s likely due to them understanding a 6” barrel can’t burn a large powder charge. The ground was likely littered with Pyrodex.
Click to expand...

Yes. I also stated that in the video. I am a gun Smith and gave this the in quite the inspection before I decided to start Increasing the power load. You're correct, I don't work for them I just think it's a neat product and am enjoying exploring it
 
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20191102_091554


The recoil is extremely manageable. After having fun and exploring how much power you could put into it. I decided to take it out and put it to some real use. If you are using it for closer range hunting then you're probably not going to go over 60 grains and ½ oz of shot. At least not for varmint hunting. And I figure 80 would be pretty good if you're using round ball at close range as well. Brought it along to the woods and got a few squirrels. My woods are thick and I often end up too close to several of them to harvest with my shotgun. By the time they get to a desired distance I'm shooting thru tons of brush. So this really came in handy!
 
Shotgunnation said:
Yes. I also stated that in the video. I am a gun Smith and gave this the in quite the inspection before I decided to start Increasing the power load. You're correct, I don't work for them I just think it's a neat product and am enjoying exploring it
Click to expand...

You couldn’t view the whole email in my pic. I asked about max charges. Here’s my portion to them:

20801056-23-D3-46-B5-BCA8-B5-C7-F2-E487-CC.png

As I said we pretty much all know the gun companies tend to go a bit light on their max load recommendations, but do double both the powder charge and projectile mass is quite a bit. I think it prudent to put a disclaimer along the lines of don’t try this yourself.
 
Thats an INSANE amount of power. I had some surprisingly devastating results when comparing 12 gauge roundball with .45 acp.

Shooting Review and penetration testing of the AGC American Gun Craft Diablo - a 12 gauge Double Barrel Black Powder Side by Side Pistol.

 
New Video uploaded! <2:01>

I was able to add a couple of extra squirrels to the pot this week thanks to the Diablo.
Sometimes the little guys get up close and personal in all this brush. Too close to harvest without ruining the muscle. I got a little footage hunting with this 12 gauge Double Barrel BlackPowder Pistol if you're interested.

 
Both barrels at the same time?
Dual .71 caliber with 75 gr of FFg.
This IS NOT meant to be fired this way. I'm just a sucker for "science". It's a STURDY rig for sure. The knockdown power is exciting to say the least.

 
Whipped out the old chronograph and gave this 12 gauge double barrel Diablo a good thorough testing... woah!

 
Have to admit that every time I see something on the Diablo, I end up at their website with my credit card calling out to me to spend some money.
So far I have been able to resist, but only because I have other things on my high priority "useless but cool things to buy" list.
 
Too many things make me question it, and it’s not the price vs the Pedersoli.
This guy pushing their published limits may or may not say something other than their crappy assembly, but then the next video might show something bad. Who knows? To push the limits as far as he does either shows he is right in that they can withstand much more than they say or he’s playing with the pipe bomb as he’s stated.
 
Has anyone bought or tried to buy one of these since March? With the shortages going I'm getting more into shooting black powder and have been wanting to get something that's not a revolver and one of these would fit the bill, but I'm not interested in waiting 6 months before it can be delivered.
 
The manufacturer Guncraft has a page on Armslist that offers blemished factory second Diablo pistols for $100 off their regular retail price.
Their product page does mention a 6 - 10 week waiting time for new guns.
Here's the company ad on Armslist. --->>> https://www.armslist.com/posts/9634...or-sale--diablo-double-barrel-12-gauge-pistol

The offer of blemished guns for sale may indicate that they have some in stock since it states "Black Grips in stock now."
If interested then contact them to find out @ 612-716-2597 or by sending them an email at [email protected]

"Diablo 12 Gauge Pistols for sale, new condition factory seconds/blemish units, factroy warranty still applies. Save $100 off retail list price on Nickel and Blue finish, grip color may vary, black grips in stock now
Blued Guns retail $489 blemish cost $389
Nickel Guns retail $589 blemish cost $489"
 
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