Wanna give this a shot?

[45tex]

I pull this out of the safe every now and then and get this overwhelming urge to shoot it. Was built around 1848 +/- a few years. Its a .50 caliber Drop Trigger Muff pistol. How would you feel if your girl friend pulled a 50 Cal on you for getting to frisky?
Anyway safety concerns have always stopped me and back in the safe it goes. But I'd like to fire it once at least.

 

[kville79]

number one concern for older firearms like those is the condition of the metal, and its thickness.. metallurgy back then wasn't what it is today. If you do ever intend to shoot it, use a light charge. BTW where's the pic?

 

[BeNotAfraid]

yup--good advice on the "reduced" powder charge.

where's a pic 'o that there puppy?

 

[Andrewh]

I wonder if you could get it sonic checked like an engine block, or magnu fluxed to verify it is in good shape and then use whatever charge it was designed for.

 

[kville79]

umm... Flux Capacitor what?

 

[Andrewh]

lol, magna fluxed. They apply a magnetic field to it and sprinkle iron dust on it. The cracks in the metal show up because of the field change around it.