homemade cartridge converter for my NAA C&B and blackpowder .22s

[Busyhands94]

Now I know around this forum I'm thought of as the weird guy who has very peculiar tastes as far as guns go. Well, you are half right. I think I do have strange tastes in firearms. I've wanted a conversion for a long time. I don't care if it's a single shot, I like it anyway.

Yesterday I completed my conversion device for my NAA Super Companion, it fires .22 short, .22 Long, and .22 Long rifle low velocity ammunition. I found out how to load .22 LR with blackpowder not too long ago, and I also made some .22 short by carefully cutting down .22 LR brass and loading it with Triple Seven. I use those heeled bullets that the NAA blackpowder minis were intended to use as the bullet, 2.5 grains in the .22 LR, and a little over a grain in the .22 short. I proofed the converter with high velocity rounds, I used a string and a vice to remotely fire it. But I intend to strictly use CB .22s, and blackpowder .22s with it. It has a firing pin that I made instead of using the one that came on the gun. To load it you put the gun on half-cock, put a round in the chamber (countersunk about 1/4") place the firing pin on top of the round, insert the device with the flat side up into the frame of the gun, then put the cylinder pin in. After you fire it you just remove the cylinder pin and converter, let the lug with the firing pin fall in your hand, then use the cylinder pin to kick out your empty. It's really fun to shoot, especially with shorts. It's actually very accurate for such a small gun.


Here's what she looks like installed in the gun:


And yes, I'm being VERY safety conscience. The steel is sufficiently strong, and it locks up tight in the gun.

~Levi

 

[rcmodel]

You have way too much time on your hands!

rc

 

[Rail Driver]

Very cool!

 

[Claude Clay]

i am aware of the occasional need to do something special because.

and you did it nicely too

sometimes i want to play with my Champion but not want to do the BP
clean up. so i dip a 22 lr case in bullseye and that makes for a light 22 mag.

 

[BHP FAN]

You should probably git NAA to buy the rights off you to purchase more tooling for your shop, towards your next gun related invention. It's what John Browning would have done.

 

[Jaymo]

I can't agree that you have peculiar tastes in guns. I share your tastes in guns, to a large degree.
I like your converter.
I seriously want a Companion, but I just ordered a Cold Steel 1917 Naval Cutlass, and am about to order a Windlass Steelcrafts d-guard Bowie and American Revolution Saber.
Besides, my wife just recently quit nagging me about my purchase of the ROA that I got from Phil. (I don't care how umch she nags, I wasn't missing out on that one)

 

[Busyhands94]

Jaymo, if you are hankerin' for a Super Companion I'd say you should get it! It's like a cute little ROA with a spur trigger, and as a bonus you can shoot smokeless powder. I'm starting to wonder if I could actually produce these and sell them, I'd need to make them look prettier but I don't see why not. I could get some cash for college and my collection of guns. Maybe I could even make a two shot version, you cock the hammer, fire one shot, twist the thing over, and fire the second shot. I don't know, would this be something people would buy if I were to make a few to sell? What should I charge?

On a sidenote, I have fired my homemade BP .22s in my old H&R .22 I got from a friend, they worked OK but... something didn't feel right about it. They were a bit hard to chamber, and it feels too modern. Then again so does the Companion, but it's got the styling of the early American pocket revolvers only it's stainless steel.

I'm glad to see you guys like my neat little conversion! I might do one for my 1858 Remington to make it a single shot, we'll see when we get there. I have a barrel coming to me in the mail, so that will be part of my next project.

 

[huntsman247]

That is pretty cool! Be sure to update us on the '58 if you do get around to it.

 

[Busyhands94]

I know I will get around to it soon, I'm still in the designing phase. So far this is what I've come up with, again I'm sorry that my camera can't capture my amateur drawing skills and great visualization skills.

A: removable barrel, drops into the existing barrel like a giant .22 and stops in the forcing cone.

B:Rifled insert, does not require me to make a separate barrel.

Both of my designs will swing open like a single shot, I might even build an extractor that attaches to the loading lever if that is what I find would be useful. I am considering making it so the chamber is higher, and maybe attaching a small firing pin in just the right place on the percussion hammer. That way it would miss the nipple. That way I could still shoot it with the percussion cylinder, but it would set off .22s as well. So there is what I've come up with, it might change when I'm making it if I notice something needs to be done, but other than that they should stay about the same. I'll probably go with B, on A there is too large a leap that the bullet needs to make to get to the rifling, that could lead to bad accuracy.

~Levi

 

[Smokin'Joe]

Levi,
Please take the advice of an old grandpa who has been around the block a few times. DO NOT sell any firearm components unless you are completely qualified to design and manufacture them and your company is properly funded. By funded I mean that you are insured against any possible liability issues. ANY incidents that occur while one of your products is being used will expose you to very expensive litigation. Whether or not your product is faulty is not important. People will sue you just because your name is on a firearm or a firearm accessory.

 

[Busyhands94]

I see what you mean. I kinda overlooked the liability issue, and that is very important if I wanted to sell those.

Thanks for pointing that out!
~Levi

 

[MCgunner]

You have way too much time on your hands!

Yeah, my thoughts, too. I guess finals are over.

 

[Busyhands94]

It's winter break for me, I'm homeschooled and I basically turn in my work once a week to a teacher. I can actually count this as a project for metal shop, and get school credit. This rocks! I get to make guns and such for school! Haha!

 

[MCgunner]

It's winter break for me, I'm homeschooled and I basically turn in my work once a week to a teacher. I can actually count this as a project for metal shop, and get school credit. This rocks! I get to make guns and such for school! Haha!

Closest I ever came to that was welding/fabbing a gun rack for my Honda CT90 trail bike in 8th grade shop.

Hmm, how you gonna get graded on this project without taking it to the teacher? That should be interesting. LOL!

 

[T Bran]

I had a great machine shop teacher. Once you completed the years assignments you were free to make items of your choosing for extra credit. He loved the mineature cannon I built for him it was only .25 cal but had the carriage and hitch/elevation setup as well. Sure do miss that old dude he was the best instructor a person could have when it came to steel. Everything from the machines to tempering and annealing.
Great job Levi !

 

[Busyhands94]

Well thank you! I am mostly self taught, funny you should mention the whole cannon thing... my dad's friend Ygnacio gave me a lath for my birthday, I made a bunch of firecracker cannons. Just put a fuse in the touch hole, 2 grains of blackpowder in the barrel, put a firecracker fuse-down in the barrel (it's a tad snug) and then light that sucker. Black cats go off about 20 feet away, the ones they call "Little Dynamite" go off so far away that I can't see the flash, and the noise isn't too loud. I did notice that one of em' popped at about 100 feet, but then again it may have dropped a little quickly. Those things really travel a good long distance!

You can also load it with .25 airgun pellets, they aren't too powerful but they are fun to mess around with!

~Levi

 

[Busyhands94]

Video

I figured I'd give you folks a better look at the converter. These pictures aren't the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nHmFjH_-ZQ&feature=channel_video_title

 

[scrat]

busy hands nice job. you really outdone yourself on that one.

 

[arcticap]

I agree, that's a great idea!

 

[Busyhands94]

Thank you guys so much for the support! I am planning another .22 caliber project. And yes, it involves my favorite powder. And I'll be sure to keep all my friends on THR updated! I have a barrel from Numrich on it's way to me, so it won't be long at all before I start!

 

[[email protected]]

Hey Levi, You ever throw a Hawk or Knife? I found this old video of myself
made in 1985 throwing both Hawk & Knife. Distance 21 feet. I could hit a
playing card everytime then.

 

[BHP FAN]

I have a 3 foot wide oak round from a two hundred year old tree in my backyard, and have taught my niece, nephew, and numerous other folks to throw...it's a great summertime backyard activity!

 

[Busyhands94]

I throw all kinds of stuff! Axes, knives, spears, darts, spikes, shuriken, and a variety of improvised throwing implements. I started in middle school, and practice quite often! I'm good at it too!

 

[Majes]

Dang [email protected], you kidnapped by the natives at birth or just a half breed and ain't told us ?

Nice throwing.!!

Ages ago my dad taught me that was the most defensive weapon to become efficient with, many more times you'll need it he said.

In my young life that have proven true, I still practice more today with my knives than my guns.

 

[Busyhands94]

Truth be told I don't get out to practice with my handgun as often as I probably should, I do practice defensive shooting when I do get out there though. When I'm not at the range I practice my draw (knife and gun) and my knife, axe, and spear throwing skills along with some other forms of martial arts including Taikwondo and Karate.

I do love my spear, I made it with a forged steel tip and a maple shaft. It flies well and is good and sharp. I also have fished with a spear, I've gotten frogs, fish, once a snake, and some mudbugs. All of em' are good when roasted over an open fire. You'll need a three (or more) pronged spear for the swimmin' critters. I also love my blowgun, that's killed quite a few fish for the table. I use a barbed dart and I attach a piece of that stuff that's inside paracord so I can retrieve my kill. But if I had to choose one tool besides a firearm I'd go with my axe. It throws well, it takes a great edge, and it's quite deadly if used properly. It's my go-to tool and I've had it since I was about 8 or maybe 9.