If you MUST shoot it.
Thanks for the Info. when I used the word bulge I should of explained it a little more. It has a small swelling about 8" from the breach that is barley visible with the eye. it goes for about 1.5" them goes back to the regular size of bore. not to say that it makes it any safer but the word " BULGE" some times gets a little exciting when you are talking about guns. I have had it looked at by a couple of other guys and they say the same thing it is ok to shoot but should use a reduced load to begin with. it is a rifle made in 1881 and was my great grandfathers the trapdoor has been worked over and even replaced. I am not planning on shooting it a lot but would like to cast and reload some for it. I am looking for any ideas on what I should be using as a starting load I see several for unique. I think that is to fast of burning powder to use in the trapdoor. I was looking at using 3031 or 4895 any idea's what the starting load might be.
A bulge is a bulge. One that is invisible to the naked eye is bad enough. One that IS visible is a large bulge. (This is my un-gunsmithy opinion) As I suggested in my earlier post, but which I will put a finer point on now: I am not so concerned over the barrel as I am about what happened when the back pressure from whatever caused the bulge hit that trapdoor action.
You may have though I was going overboard with my suggestion of testing your gun with the string, tire, sheet and blanket, but I am not. I did forget to specify that you should put a white sheet under the gun as well. Gasses escaping in any direction can cause the shooter a degree of discomfort. or pain. or injury.
I also caution against shooting any smokeless powder in this gun or any other gun originally designed for BP. Use Pyrodex or some other genuine black powder substitute. Even the excellent Trail Boss, vaunted as a low pressure alternative is not designed to be used in genuine black powder firearms, but in the Cowboy Action Shooting Sports that use a lot of new firearms that are stronger than the originals they replicate.
As far as we know, that bulge could have been there for years and hundreds or thousands of rounds gone down that barrel safely since. But on the other hand, that bulge could have happened the very last time the gun was fired and the next time will be the very last it fires (and the very last the shooter fires as well). We just don't know.
What we do know is that your historic firearm is compromised. Using an inappropriate powder (Unique, 3031, 4895 or Trail Boss) in a completely intact original Black Powder arm is
unwise. Using a compromised firearm is
unwise. Doubling up on unwise practices is..... you supply your own adjective. I don't want to get myself banned for using foul language.
I know you want to honor the memory of your Great Grandfather. Don't dishonor him by destroying his rifle.
I know you have had this looked at, and we here on the forum have not seen it, so the gunsmiths' advice that said it was OK to shoot with reduced loads might be right. We are cautious. On account of our not having examined the gun and on account of our collective experience. I wonder that the 'smith you consulted did not have a suggested load and powder choice? I wonder if he would be willing to do the first test fire on it?
If you MUST shoot it. Drill out the primer pocket to accept a shotgun primer. Cast a bullet out of hard wax. With NO POWDER, shoot that load. It's a hoot, I'll tell you. Do a search on "Wax Bullets" for more information.
Good luck
Lost Sheep