Anybody Ever Convert an 1858 New Army to Smooth Bore?

Save your 1858 and buy a snake gun.

Probably not much better without choke.
I wouldn't ruin it for that.
I've killed bunches with 22 shot shell. Want bigger use 357 with 38 shoot shell. Just feel like you need shotgun power a 410 or judge.
Are you sure you have coral snakes?

Don't know if it applies to black powder guns but it is a NFA violation to convert a revolver/pistol to smoothbore. Best bet would be a conversion cylinder and Speer shot capsules.

Snakes are beneficial creatures. Shame to just blast them all to perdition. Just saying.

PapaG said:

Don't know if it applies to black powder guns but it is a NFA violation to convert a revolver/pistol to smoothbore. Best bet would be a conversion cylinder and Speer shot capsules.

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No the NFA doesn't apply to B/P guns as there are B/P derringer smoothbores for sale and even the Howda comes in 20 Ga smooth bore.

whughett said:

Snakes are beneficial creatures. Shame to just blast them all to perdition. Just saying.

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As a former snake hunter(live for pet trade) I agree they are getting scarce, Coral snakes are rarely seen above ground, perhaps the scarlet king snake(a snake eater), if the nose is red it's a scarlet!

I’ve contemplated this very thing but with a Colt so it’s a simple barrel swap. But then I was thinking Walker and small game making it something like a .410.

rodwha said:

I’ve contemplated this very thing but with a Colt so it’s a simple barrel swap. But then I was thinking Walker and small game making it something like a .410.

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Hmmm. I wonder if after reaming the bore to .454 oe so, if a person might run a .4570 chambering reamer up to within an inch of the muzzle to create a choke? Just spitballing but might this not work?

woodnbow said:

Hmmm. I wonder if after reaming the bore to .454 oe so, if a person might run a .4570 chambering reamer up to within an inch of the muzzle to create a choke? Just spitballing but might this not work?

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Just how far you planning on shooting? Only time I killed a snake more 5ft, about 15ft, I used a 22. All the rest were in 5ft with 22 or 38 shot shell. If you plan on shooting distance I would get a 20g or 12g with choke inserts and use the full choke using 8-4 size shot.

Why waste a good revolver. My Foster Mom hated snakes, a 410 shot gun was always on hand for just that purpose. Save that blackpowder revolver and buy a “Judge” 410 shot shell first up in cylinder 45 colt in others. In your part of the world where there’s water there’s a creatures what eats snakes for dinner.

woodnbow said:

Hmmm. I wonder if after reaming the bore to .454 oe so, if a person might run a .4570 chambering reamer up to within an inch of the muzzle to create a choke? Just spitballing but might this not work?

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I’ve wondered that exact same thing! Seems it might work. The other thing could be a screw-in .410 choke I’d guess.

I’d be quite interested in jug choking but it seems 20 ga is about as small as anyone will go (I’ve asked about 28 ga).

I’ve never used a firearm for snakes. A stick, my axe, a knife, but these have only been with rattlesnakes which I eat (except the baby at my front porch after a storm). Moccasins are the only ones I might kill just because, and those because they’re around populated places.

whughett said:

Why waste a good revolver. My Foster Mom hated snakes, a 410 shot gun was always on hand for just that purpose. Save that blackpowder revolver and buy a “Judge” 410 shot shell first up in cylinder 45 colt in others. In your part of the world where there’s water there’s a creatures what eats snakes for dinner.

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I could see you saying that with a fixed revolver such as the NMA, but with a Colt you’re only “marring” a barrel.

rodwha said:

I could see you saying that with a fixed revolver such as the NMA, but with a Colt you’re only “marring” a barrel.

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The OP was referring to a an 1858 which I believe is a NMA and that’s where the reply was directed. Sorry for the confusion.
Would the Walker Conversion cylinder accept a 410.now that you mention it. A conversion cylinder and a free bored barrel with it. Hmm, squirrel gun anyone.

skeeterfogger said:

Just how far you planning on shooting? Only time I killed a snake more 5ft, about 15ft, I used a 22. All the rest were in 5ft with 22 or 38 shot shell. If you plan on shooting distance I would get a 20g or 12g with choke inserts and use the full choke using 8-4 size shot.

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Me personally? As far as I can... mostly I just like to fool around with this stuff, and the thought of a 5 shot shotpistole for rats, pigeons, squirrels and rabbits? Well hell, that’s just intriguing to me. Maybe even a Dragoon with a shoulder stock? What else are we supposed to do with our time?

rodwha said:

I’ve wondered that exact same thing! Seems it might work. The other thing could be a screw-in .410 choke I’d guess.

I’d be quite interested in jug choking but it seems 20 ga is about as small as anyone will go (I’ve asked about 28 ga).

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Who have you found that will jug choke?

woodnbow said:

Hmmm. I wonder if after reaming the bore to .454 oe so, if a person might run a .4570 chambering reamer up to within an inch of the muzzle to create a choke? Just spitballing but might this not work

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I think it's a better bet than trying to jug-choke a .454 internal diameter barrel.

LD

woodnbow said:

Who have you found that will jug choke?

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It’s been years so I did a Google search and found this:

http://www.caywoodguns.com/jug-choking.html

I’m also seeing tools to do such which might pan out for smaller gauges.

whughett said:

The OP was referring to a an 1858 which I believe is a NMA and that’s where the reply was directed. Sorry for the confusion.
Would the Walker Conversion cylinder accept a 410.now that you mention it. A conversion cylinder and a free bored barrel with it. Hmm, squirrel gun anyone.

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I wouldn’t do that to anything but a Colt model either. With the more shallow chambers I wouldn’t think it would be very effective on small game to warrant playing with it. But I suppose if I had one lying around that I didn’t care so much for and others to use as intended I just might, well, nah, I still don’t think I would. It would need to be more useful, though maybe a ball would still be accurate enough, but why?

Loyalist Dave said:

I think it's a better bet than trying to jug-choke a .454 internal diameter barrel.

LD

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Of course you’re right. I’m interested in jug choking a nice little 12 bore double. Looks like Caywood may be the place to go.

Hmm... I have a spare Pietta 1851 barrel I was going to snub... but a smoothbore could be interesting too.

desidog said:

Hmm... I have a spare Pietta 1851 barrel I was going to snub... but a smoothbore could be interesting too.

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Maybe you need a third barrel for it too so as to still get a snubby...