Hoppes Ethan Allen Pepperbox

[commygun]

After years of keeping my eyes peeled for one, I found an unfired Hoppes
Ethan Allen pepperbox for $100 at the last Centralia, WA gunshow.
Whoo-hoo, I take back all the unpleasant things I've said about this
sadly declining gun show. For anyone unfamiliar with these this is a
six-barrelled, single-action, .36 caliber pepperbox that I think is alot
nicer than the four barrelled, double-action Classic Arms pepperbox.
Could someone tell me what the appropiate ball, patch and powder
load for a gun like this would be? I don't know if I'll ever shoot it but
I'd like to have the information so I can have the proper materials
on hand. Thanks

 

[Tinker]

Commy,

I couldn't tell you about your six barrel pepperbox, but I do have one of thos Classic's 4 barrel. I hate it. I've never been able to get it to fire reliably on 2 of it's cylinders. Tinkered with this, and that, did this,did that and still no dice. It shoots nicely for short smooth barrel when it does deside to ignite.

One thing I can tell you is about is projectiles and patch. I used home cast .350 balls with a real thin material I stole from my wife's sewing stuff. I think it's called batiste fabric. That and some homemade patch lube.

I have another Classic Arms revolver (?) in .36 called the Twister. It works quite well. But, it only has 2 bores. Only had to work on the nipples a little to get it to fire #11's reliably.