Now for something completely different...

How I came up with this idea is a long, torturous story, so we'll skip it.

The point is we have a serious ammo shortage, but I have plenty of bullets, and there doesn't seem to be any shortage of .22RF Powder Actuators (nail-gun blanks.) So when I was pawing through stuff on my workbench and found a section of .320 barrel I formed a cunning plan...

I made a breech-plug out of some 1/2-hard 4140 that I could press-fit into the barrel, then ran a .22lr reamer in until a #3 nail-gun blank would chamber (neither a .22LR or .22 Short will.) I silver-soldered a lug under the barrel for a hinge-pin and lock and made a simple single-shot pistol to mount it on.


To load you place the .32 bullet in the muzzle and ram it as far in as it will go. It's snug, but you don't have to hammer it or anything. The you cock the hammer to the first notch, rotate the lock about 80 degrees and tip the barrel up. You insert the #3 blank in the chamber, close and lock the barrel and you are ready to go. Just pull the hammer to full-cock and fire.



I started testing with a 100gr. LFP, which got 771fps. and 132 ft.lbs at the muzzle. Not bad. I also tried 00-buck. For some reason the chrono wouldn't read it; perhaps because it's very shiny (plated?) but it's stepping right out. The 47.5gr shot penetrated 13-1/2" into Clear Ballistics 10% ordinance gel.

It's a fun little plinker, and getting ammo is no problem. I think I'll largely stick with the buckshot to save strain on the gun; I'll consider the 100gr. shot's a 'proof load.'. I haven't been able to do any real accuracy testing yet, hopefully I can get to he range soon. I don't expect it to be a tack-driver; the rear sight is a small notch in the hammer that is visible when the gun is fully cocked.

I decided it needed a case, and I had a wooden box I picked up at Goodwill for $2 a couple years back, so I set it up for the gun, some ammo and a couple simple tools. I put together a ramrod and a screwdriver with antler handles to match the grips. I need to get some 3/16" brass to make a cleaning/clearing rod, but that's not urgent.

In some sense it's kind of pointless; the world does not need this gun. but it's not always about need, is it? I had a ball putting this project together, and it's fun to shoot. That's a win in my book.

OK, trying to answer the questions and comments more or less in order.
"Would this somehow be classified as a muzzleloader that uses smokeless powder?"
After carefully reviewing ATF regulations I think it is most likely they would consider this a firearm, for the same reason they consider some in-line muzzle-loaders a firearm; it's not a reproduction of an antique and it would be too easy to convert to fire conventional cartridges.

"What's the overall length of the gun?"
The overall length of the gun is around 7-1/2"

"I guess this would be a “single shot muzzle loader with smokeless charge cartridge firing”? Boy, that’s a mouthful. "
I call it the PMML- 'Post-Modern Muzzle Loader'

"It occurs to me you could run a .310 round ball in a light patch (.005-.010) down that bore, too."
You could, but not sure there's a reason to; the ball is snug enough to stay in place even with rough handling, and the blank is sealed.

Thanks for the responses and kind words!

nofendertom said:

How practical would it be to sleeve the cylinder chambers on say a Heritage .22 for the nail gun blanks to have a six shooter ?

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Well, it will already chamber and fire the blanks, but without knowing more about their mettalurgy etc. I'm not sure it's a good idea.

nofendertom said:

Do you think the nail gun blank is more powerful than the .22lr or .22mag ?

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I really don't know how to even figure that out. Some .22 Magnum loads will produce comparable ft./lbs. from this length barrel, so let's go with that.