Underhammer Goodness

[25cschaefer]

I found and bought a Hopkins and Allen Numrich arms underhammer at the gunshow this weekend for $200. I have wanted one even before I ever shot a BP gun.

At the show, I did not even cock it, I just bought it because you can see if the thing is complete from the out side, there are only three moving parts. But, when I got home and cut the ziptie off, I got a surprise, It has been converted to take small primers. I have never seen a conversion before so I thought I would share.

By the way, I could not find any 36 cal balls in town but my range master buddy had some 32 cal. So, with a small pistol primer, 36ish grains of Alliant Black MZ, two .020 patches, and a .311 ball I shot a 2 inch group at 50 yards. I am happy and can't wait for appropriate balls.

 

[EljaySL]

Very cool - you might want to measure the bore. Those can run small, you may want a ball somewhere around .34

 

[Zeke/PA]

Hi Rob,
Years ago, I helped a friend , a competitive shooter restore an underhammer that he used for target shooting. Glenn was a good shot and won several matches with the .45 caliber rifle.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Those conversions have been on the market for 30 years
never saw a need for one
they are still listed on the big internet antigun auction

 

[25cschaefer]

It's going to be nice for hunting with the underhammer, there is no way for the cap to fall off in the brush. There is also almost no blowback, making everything cleaner.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Hey Rob,
Reply!!

 

[jimwill48]

Will help keep from burning your forearm. Worst part of underhammers.

 

[25cschaefer]

I measured the bore today and ELjay was right, it has a .353 bore, I think I might be able to use 000buck in it.

 

[BCRider]

That's pretty slick! But if the little primers fit in with a light push fit so they don't fall out when you cock and aim how easy are they to remove to switch out?

 

[25cschaefer]

They don't press fit but the cap screws on over top of them and the firing pin rests on it, preventing it from rattling around. When loading, if you unscrew the cap, it pops right out when you ram a ball down, air pressure.

 

[Jim Watson]

Neat.
My general gunsmith here's personal hobby is muzzleloading target shooting. He has at least a couple of underhammer bull barrel rifles. I don't recall if he has primer adapters on them, though.

 

[BCRider]

Ah, I see now. The extra bits and the differences in the pictures simply didn't register. What is now clearly the firing pin is the bit that I took to be the primer sitting in an external cup.

Thanks.

 

[72coupe]

That is pretty. A fellow I knew here locally used to make those. Bill Mowrey was his name.

 

[25cschaefer]

72coupe, we must be an odd group, everybody at school says it's ugly and my wife thinks it looks funny. I like simple.

 

[MarTay6]

Remember when the H&A underhammers came out in the '70's... I thought they were odd then- but still had a fascination with them. I know they date way back further than that.
Fast forward to the present. Just got back into shooting 2 years ago after a long layoff- and just recently back into black powder. This week, purchased an FWB History No. 1- Feinwerkbau's .36 cal underhammer target pistol. It arrives tomorrow!! ANXIOUS, to say the least!
Now I think they're awesome!
Wes

 

[raa-7]

Nice rifle you have there. I don't know a damn thing about them but I was looking at a bunch of the under hammer pistols made by some real popular gun maker and I thought they were the best darn looking under hammer pistols ! I'll look them up again. Good luck with your rifle I'll bet your anxious to shoot it !

 

[25cschaefer]

Very nice MarTay. Underhammers have been around for a long time; the germans invented them in the 1700s to improve the locktime of flintlocks but it wasn't until the 1820s we say them in the states, by then they were percussion.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I have an H&A Heritage Model .45 with the peep sight. It's quite accurate.

The idea of converting percussion guns to use modern primers was to increase ignition reliability. This is totally unnecessary on these rifles, since the flash hole goes directly to the powder charge.

 

[fogg64]

In slug gun shooting, most are underhammer and closed ignition system. All you need now is a heavier barrel and faster twist. You will be surprised how even more accurate this gun will be. I have one and only wish I could shoot as well as it is capable of. It is a lot of fun and know you will enjoy it.