Howdah powder charge?
- Thread starter Ontos
- Start date
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Ontos
Member
Harry, as you well know my howdah has yet to reach my door, due to back orders.:banghead:
However, I remain confident it will soon be mine and feel no need to complain yet.
However, I remain confident it will soon be mine and feel no need to complain yet.
PRM
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
- Messages
- 2,113
Howdah
I bought the double 20s last year and really like the gun. It was comfortable to shoot and had a good pattern with 35 grains of FFg at 30 ft (around 5 inches) with a .60 calibre patched round ball and four # 4 buck on top of that. Buck shot only was pretty consistent with the same pattern. With patched round ball only, I got close to 3 inch groups which I did not feel was too bad without a rear sight.
The design of the gun is not a long range proposition. Great home defense gun for 2 shots. I plan on trying it on squirrels just because of the ease of carry. For distance, I would go back to my Brown Bess.
All personal preference - but if you like black powder, the howdah is a well made and fun gun to shoot.
I bought the double 20s last year and really like the gun. It was comfortable to shoot and had a good pattern with 35 grains of FFg at 30 ft (around 5 inches) with a .60 calibre patched round ball and four # 4 buck on top of that. Buck shot only was pretty consistent with the same pattern. With patched round ball only, I got close to 3 inch groups which I did not feel was too bad without a rear sight.
The design of the gun is not a long range proposition. Great home defense gun for 2 shots. I plan on trying it on squirrels just because of the ease of carry. For distance, I would go back to my Brown Bess.
All personal preference - but if you like black powder, the howdah is a well made and fun gun to shoot.
Last edited:
Omnivore
Member
Since we're on the subject of powerful handguns; Please watch that video. This is a perfect example of "new shooter abuse". It's just plain stupid and not even slightly funny. You can see it coming-- her arms are both bent way down at the elbow and she has a light grip on the pistol. The gun will recoil into her face every time. The same shooter could handle the Eagle .50 or a .454 Casull, etc., if she'd had some lessons on proper hold. At least he told her to keep her tounge in her mouth, or she'd be missing part of it right now.
BUT; you never start a new shooter on a big powerful gun anyway. Teach the basics on a .22 or a C&B .31 or something equally light and easy to handle, then work up.
KiltedClaymore
Member
i'd crap myself if i busted in and had that thing jabbed in my face.
Serial Fan
Member
Is this the one you ordered back in April? You're still waiting for it? Why don't you contact Cherry's and ask if they can ship one to you? I know another guy who just bought one from them a week or two ago. Cabela's also sells them now, with one difference: Theirs has a ramrod swivel under the barrel. They often have unique versions of guns made only for sale by them.
Here's the range report I posted a while back if anyone's interested...
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=352589
And here's the picture thread...
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=351807
If I remember correctly, I tried 75 grains 3F with 1 1/8 oz. shot, and 60 grains 3F with a patched ball to try out the recoil. Pretty stout, but manageable. I imagine it would make an attacker think twice.
Seems like 20 gauge dram equivalencies might be a good starting point for figuring out what to use in a shotgun. Looks like modern 20 gauge stuff is 2.5 and 2.75 drams in 2.75" shells, 3 and 3.5 drams in 3" magnums.
2.75 drams = 75 grains. That's probably a good maximum.
1 dram = 27.34375 grains.
2.75 drams = 75 grains. That's probably a good maximum.
1 dram = 27.34375 grains.
Cosmoline
Member
FYI, here's actual video of a guy on a howdah in India getting nailed by a real tiger. The speed the cat moves at and its ability to literally leap over an elephant is really mind-blowing. He should have had a howdah for his howdah instead of just a stick, but apparently the guy with the gun was on a different elephant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUVt2d2AMM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUVt2d2AMM
Serial Fan
Member
.....
Ontos
Member
Serial Fan, I'm up in Canada so ordering any firearms directly isn't possible. I was expecting at least a 3 month wait when I ordered it, but it should be in soon.
at least I can look at your pictures until then.
at least I can look at your pictures until then.
Ontos
Member
Well, my howdah pistol finally arrived at my the gun shop on wednesday the 20th (at 9:45am to be exact). Now I'm happy, though due to a slight paperwork malfunction it probably won't be delivered to my grasping hands for another couple of days. This will give me time to pick up a can of black powder, since by some horrifying oversight on my part I've run out.
Having a little trouble finding .62 cal. bullet mold, so I may shoot heavy shot out of it for the first while.
Having a little trouble finding .62 cal. bullet mold, so I may shoot heavy shot out of it for the first while.
Trigger Hippy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
- Messages
- 11
I've also had my eye on one of the 20x20 howdah's with round ball in mind. I wrote to Pedersoli and they recommended .614 with 28g of FFF behind it.
Having read that great range report, tho, I'm likely to go with the experience of trusty comrades.
--T
Having read that great range report, tho, I'm likely to go with the experience of trusty comrades.
--T
Play Hard
Member
Howdah Lock problem
I've been grouse/woodcock hunting this fall using 70 gr 777 and equal volume of shot. It kicks pretty hard, but does a number on the birds!
Question: recently the left lock on my 20x20 Howdah has not been working. It will not click at half cock or full cock. Any ideas on how to fix, other than send it back to Italy?
I've been grouse/woodcock hunting this fall using 70 gr 777 and equal volume of shot. It kicks pretty hard, but does a number on the birds!
Question: recently the left lock on my 20x20 Howdah has not been working. It will not click at half cock or full cock. Any ideas on how to fix, other than send it back to Italy?
Acorn Mush
Member
Did you remove the lock to see if there is anything preventing the sear from engaging the half- and full-cock notches? Also, check to see if the tip of the sear is still intact. They do break sometimes.
Play Hard
Member
No, but that is logical. I do hear something rattling around in there. Might be a piece of wood or something getting stuck in the sear. Thanks.
Acorn Mush
Member
Open 'er up and tell us what you find. Hopefully it will be something minor and you won't have to spend any money to get it working again
Trigger Hippy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
- Messages
- 11
Just ordered my 20x20
I called up Cherry's this morning and ordered my Howdah. I've been drooling over those things since they first came out, but was in school with low income until a couple months ago. New job = new toy!
The wife is due to deliver our first son in just a few more weeks, so now it's a race between junior and the gun. If the howdah gets here first maybe I can squeeze in a trip to the range before the little one arrives and my life takes a less smoke-and-explosions turn for a while.
--T
I called up Cherry's this morning and ordered my Howdah. I've been drooling over those things since they first came out, but was in school with low income until a couple months ago. New job = new toy!
The wife is due to deliver our first son in just a few more weeks, so now it's a race between junior and the gun. If the howdah gets here first maybe I can squeeze in a trip to the range before the little one arrives and my life takes a less smoke-and-explosions turn for a while.
--T
arcticap
Member
An outfit by the name of Lee Shavers Gunsmithing is (or was) the warranty repair station for Pedersoli USA. Their phone number is 417-682-3330, PO box 570, La Mar, Missouri,64759.
Before contacting Italy, try asking the seller or one of the U.S. distributor about warranty help to fix it:
http://www.flintlocksetc.com/
http://www.cherrys.com/
Before contacting Italy, try asking the seller or one of the U.S. distributor about warranty help to fix it:
http://www.flintlocksetc.com/
http://www.cherrys.com/
Play Hard
Member
Well I opened up my Howdah and did indeed find a broken sear. I also found something very peculiar inside the gun. In each lock area there was what appears to be a No. 4 steel shot pellet rattling around. The pellet on the broken sear side had a dent in it that looked like the sear hit it, so was probably the cause. So why would these objects be inside the lock mechanism of this gun? Sabotage at the factory in Italy? I sent the lock back to Dixie Gun works and they have graciously replaced the sear for free. They had no answer for why there would be steel shot pellets in the gun. I sent a nice note to Pedersoli inquiring about this but have received no answer. I have two other Pedersoli double guns. Guess I better look for junk inside.
arcticap
Member
That's very unsettling news to hear about the presence of the steel shot pellets.
If there was any kind of rational explanation for their presence I'm sure that we'd all like to hear what it is.
If there was any kind of rational explanation for their presence I'm sure that we'd all like to hear what it is.
Serial Fan
Member
That's really weird. I've never had lock trouble with any of my Pedersoli guns, whether pistol or rifle. And I've never heard of a shot pellet being found inside the lock mortice of any gun, regardless of brand name. Sounds like somebody at the factory had a spill and didn't realize one fell into the lock mortice.
Play Hard
Member
Mystery Solved
I solved the mystery of how shot pellets got inside the lock mechanism of my 20x20 Howdah pistol. They were lead pellets, not steel (duh), and coincidentally I have been shooting lead shot. I don't know why I didn't figure this out earlier. Evidently when you load the Howdah pistol with the ramrod removed, some pellets can enter the ramrod hole and travel down inside the gun to the lock area. This is a design flaw that maybe can be repaired somehow (chewing gum?) Once inside the pellets get jammed in the lock and cause 1) the lock not to catch at full or half cock 2) broken sear. Both happend to me. Dixie gun works graciously repaired my sear for free. So yall with the Pedersoli double guns, make sure to cover the ramrod hole when pouring things down the barrel!
I solved the mystery of how shot pellets got inside the lock mechanism of my 20x20 Howdah pistol. They were lead pellets, not steel (duh), and coincidentally I have been shooting lead shot. I don't know why I didn't figure this out earlier. Evidently when you load the Howdah pistol with the ramrod removed, some pellets can enter the ramrod hole and travel down inside the gun to the lock area. This is a design flaw that maybe can be repaired somehow (chewing gum?) Once inside the pellets get jammed in the lock and cause 1) the lock not to catch at full or half cock 2) broken sear. Both happend to me. Dixie gun works graciously repaired my sear for free. So yall with the Pedersoli double guns, make sure to cover the ramrod hole when pouring things down the barrel!
BHP FAN
Member
I don't have the Howda,but I do have the Corsair,a double barrel .440 RB percussion ''Pirate Pistol'' it's a hoot to shoot,with shot or solid,but because of the general cheapness of construction,and the age of this repro [vintage '70's,probably meant as a wall hanger] I keep my charges at about 20 grains of Goex 2f.
arcticap
Member
Now that's a rational explanation.
Thanks for filling us in.
Thanks for filling us in.
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