Something I've been thinking over for a year or two...

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

I've never owned a Blackpowder firearm. I've been a firearms owner for much of my 37 years on the planet. I've been watching a few youtubers that are BP shooters and hunters. Something that I would like to know (even more so in the current great metallic cartridge shortage) is if it would be safe to use combustible revolver cartridges (either.36 Cal or .44 Cal) in a scaled down sharps or other breech loading firearm? I would like to keep the barrel length inside of the 20-inch length (for maximum powder burn without negatively affecting velocity) 18-15 inches would be fine. And would also like for it to be rated for smokeless powder (for safety concerns....as well as frugality) ....Thoughts by those much more knowledgeable is welcome.

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

Something else I've been thinking of as far as caliber would be .31 cal for a smaller lighter rifle that would be handy for pest control as well as small game hunting

 

[skeeterfogger]

If it says black powder on it use it or suitable black powder substitute.

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

If it says black powder on it use it or suitable black powder substitute.

Understood but I was thinking about a type of Rifle/Carbine that could use any powder available for non-metallic/non-fixed ammunition

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Of course, paper cartridges will work just fine if made properly. If you are looking at black powder any of the substitutes will also work. Outlawkid has a great post on making the cartridges.

 

[beag_nut]

Understood but I was thinking about a type of Rifle/Carbine that could use any powder available for non-metallic/non-fixed ammunition

Is that idea something you imagined, or actually know about? Besides the (poor) idea to use BP in a smokeless-rated gun, do you know about any firearm advertised to use both BP and smokeless? I surely don't, but I would be interested is such exists. Is this idea a "shot-in-the-dark" so to speak? Any firearm advertised for such use would be sold with a ramrod of some type. Perhaps your initial idea should be put to rest?
I would be very interested if such a thing exists, myself.

 

[swg1]

Savage 10ML-II

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

... Besides the (poor) idea to use BP in a smokeless-rated gun, do you know about any firearm advertised to use both BP and smokeless?...

Not what the OP was asking, but why is a poor idea to use BP in a smokeless rated gun?
There are plenty of folks here shooting BP cartridges in their smokeless rated guns.
I happen to be one of them.
Not quite sure what you are getting at.

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

Is that idea something you imagined, or actually know about? Besides the (poor) idea to use BP in a smokeless-rated gun, do you know about any firearm advertised to use both BP and smokeless? I surely don't, but I would be interested is such exists. Is this idea a "shot-in-the-dark" so to speak? Any firearm advertised for such use would be sold with a ramrod of some type. Perhaps your initial idea should be put to rest?
I would be very interested if such a thing exists, myself.

Just something I was mulling over for awhile. I haven't made such due to lack of experience and tools. But yes it would have a ramrod (mostly for unloading undamaged cartridges and to help with cleaning) I was thinking that it should use the same non-corrosive caps as the revolvers for commonality and to cut down on rust development,

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

This recent video from Inrange TV further caused me to think through such a firearm though in smaller calibers....

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

Not what the OP was asking, but why is a poor idea to use BP in a smokeless rated gun?
There are plenty of folks here shooting BP cartridges in their smokeless rated guns.
I happen to be one of them.
Not quite sure what you are getting at.

The other reason I was thinking about having such an arm made to withstand use of smokeless powder is to allow more options to the owner (as long as it is done safely I don't see that big of a problem)

 

[arcticap]

I also thought that you were describing a fantasy gun.
The Sharps is a .54 and is not made for shooting undersized .36 or .44 revolver cartridges.
I doubt that the makers of any reproduction percussion gun would actually rate their product for use with smokeless since
that could create legal and liability issues, either with its gov't classification as an antique, the civil courts due to liability lawsuits or both.

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

I also thought that you were describing a fantasy gun.
The Sharps is a .54 and is not made for shooting undersized .36 or .44 revolver cartridges.
I doubt that the makers of any reproduction percussion gun would actually rate their product for use with smokeless since
that could create legal and liability issues, either with its gov't classification as an antique, the civil courts due to liability lawsuits or both.

Understood. But still it would be nice to have a breech loading Rifle/Carbine that could make use of homemade combustible cartridges that could also be used in C&B revolvers.

 

[arcticap]

Understood. But still it would be nice to have a breech loading Rifle/Carbine that could make use of homemade combustible cartridges that could also be used in C&B revolvers.

This is just speculation, but I suppose that one of the antique breech loaders may be able to be rebarreled or sleeved to a smaller caliber.
And then some kind of specialty cartridge cases could be fabricated to accommodate the caliber that you would be trying to reconfigure it to.
I'm not sure which breech loader would work if any, but some of them use rubber or plastic cartridges in lieu of paper, that may allow for revolver cartridges that match the new barrel spec's to be used in the gun.
The cartridge cases generally have an open hole in the back which allows the cap flash to ignite the powder.
I suppose that if someone wanted to load a paper cartridge into it that could be possible in theory.
Hopefully the cap flash would be strong enough to ignite it.

It would be like using a chamber adaptor to match the new barrel or sleeved barrel.

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

This is just speculation, but I suppose that one of the antique breech loaders may be able to be rebarreled or sleeved to a smaller caliber.
And then some kind of specialty cartridge cases could be fabricated to accommodate the caliber that you would be trying to reconfigure it to.
I'm not sure which breech loader would work if any, but some of them use rubber or plastic cartridges in lieu of paper, that may allow for revolver cartridges that match the new barrel spec's to be used in the gun.
The cartridge cases generally have an open hole in the back which allows the cap flash to ignite the powder.
I suppose that if someone wanted to load a paper cartridge into it that could be possible in theory.
Hopefully the cap flash would be strong enough to ignite it.

It would be like using a chamber adaptor to match the new barrel or sleeved barrel.

I was thinking more along the lines of building or floating the idea to a major company (Urberti orPedersoli,or Pietta) to offer a scaled down version of the 1859 in .31 ,36,and/or .44 Calibers

 

[arcticap]

I was thinking more along the lines of building or floating the idea to a major company (Urberti orPedersoli,or Pietta) to offer a scaled down version of the 1859 in .31 ,36,and/or .44 Calibers

Chiappa makes Little Sharps in a host of calibers but they're very expensive with an MSRP of $1389. --->>> https://www.chiappafirearms.com/family.php?id=30
And Uberti already makes a Remington .44 revolving carbine with an 18" barrel.
Why not just buy a Remington revolving carbine and then you can load all of the pistol cartridges that you want?
Fall Creek Suttlery appears to have it in stock for $679. --->>> https://fcsutler.com/fccwrevolvers.asp

 

[Tinkerer's_Dam]

Chiappa makes Little Sharps in a host of calibers but they're very expensive with an MSRP of $1389. --->>> https://www.chiappafirearms.com/family.php?id=30
And Uberti already makes a Remington .44 revolving carbine with an 18" barrel.
Why not just buy a Remington revolving carbine and then you can load all of the pistol cartridges that you want?
Fall Creek Suttlery appears to have it in stock for $679. --->>> https://fcsutler.com/fccwrevolvers.asp

I guess it's the esoteric "what if/ How about" thing that keeps getting at me.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Why not just buy a Remington revolving carbine and then you can load all of the pistol cartridges that you want?

Out of stock at the moment but:
https://taylorsfirearms.com/hand-gu...ington-collection/1858-revolving-carbine.html
Then add a conversion cylinder?
or if you reload for BP cartridges, these can be found on the used market:
https://taylorsfirearms.com/long-guns/cattleman-revolving-carbine.html