View Full Version : Single-shot hand gun
Al Messer
08-19-2002, 05:56 PM
Where can I find plans for a center-fire, single-shot hand gun?
JimWolford
08-19-2002, 10:40 PM
"Mr. Single Shot's Book of Rifle Plans" by Frank and Mark DeHaas has plans for a couple of rifle actions that could be scaled down.
Or why not just design your own? nothing simpler than a falling-block style action.
Make a sketch, cut out parts from cardboard to see the works "in action" then start making chips.
Jim
JimWolford
08-19-2002, 10:51 PM
Forgot to mention-
There was a book available 20 years ago "Home Workshop Guns For Defence and Resistance; Volume 2 The Handgun" by Bill Holmes.
It mostly details making a pocket auto, but there is one sketch and description of making a falling block single shot handgun.
I never built one as the design is pretty crude, but it could be easily improved on to make a rather accurate and dependable gun
Jim
Thrud
08-21-2002, 12:54 AM
Al
Take a 12Ga. single shot, cut the barrel to 5 inches, put a pistol grip on it and register it as a remanufactured "target pistol". Use slugs - they are easier to score the 10x ring with! http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
(only kidding)
bdarin
08-21-2002, 12:35 PM
The old history channel series "Tales of the Gun" had an episode once where people made single shots out of disguised snuff boxes, cigar lighters, etc. Might be an interesting project long as you don't get caught (what the feds don't know won't hurt 'em).
tonydacrow
08-21-2002, 01:05 PM
Sorry, Bdarin but I have to disagree rather strongly. Making a new toy is not worth making small rocks out of big rocks for twenty years while housed with a bunk-mate who finds you sexually attractive!
There are legal ways to re-create certain types of firearms like the ones you mention. I would find the requirements necessary to do it properly (it usually includes a huge “tax” on the special permit necessary) so your friends and family don’t have to waste every other Wednesday driving to the Big-House for a visit. We can all agree that the feds don’t fully appreciate their limitations when it comes to the 2nd amendment. But that’s what the ballot box is for. It really does work!
mpbush
08-21-2002, 05:46 PM
While I am all for pushing the legal limit, taking a single shot shotgun and shortening the barrel can only be done if it is then registered as an AOW or Any Other Weapon. Some states these are legal, some like mine, CA they are not.
The only legal way that is simple is if the firearm had never been assembled, then one can make a pistol out of a "rifle" reciever without ANY paperwork. Pretty nuts, but that IS the law.
Michael
Al Messer
08-21-2002, 08:01 PM
What I had in mind was something similar to the old Ruger Hawkeye from back in the 1960's.
bdarin
08-21-2002, 08:54 PM
As a closet anarchist I like to push the outside of that old envelope.
crossthreaded
08-21-2002, 09:35 PM
An addition to JimWolfords post. The same author, Bill Holmes, also wrote "Home Workshop Prototype Firearms", 1995, Paladin Press. While it's not about pistols it has chapters about designing & building bolts, triggers, extractors, etc with sketches. All the above built in a one-man home workshop. Good Reading.
Al Messer
08-22-2002, 07:12 AM
Sounds like too much legal hassle so I think I'll stick to steam engines and ML's.
spaceace
08-22-2002, 02:29 PM
try this site http://www.birdman.org/products/Nuke50.htm
let me know how you make out
Al Messer
08-22-2002, 07:28 PM
They have a great sense of humour, don't they?
Thrud
08-23-2002, 02:41 AM
spaceace:
Finally someone has made reliable gopher loads!
Life is good.... http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
A Contender type action should be pretty straight forward if you can get a decent exploded view of one Al. I might still have a copy of that Bill olmes book, if I can find it I'll send it to you.
Why fool around wif a 12ga Thrud?? A nice 4ga double would be the go.
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Thrud:
Al
Take a 12Ga. single shot, cut the barrel to 5 inches, put a pistol grip on it and register it as a remanufactured "target pistol". Use slugs - they are easier to score the 10x ring with! http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
(only kidding)</font>
Thrud
08-27-2002, 05:01 PM
Tel:
cuz 4Ga. would be hard to hide in me socks! http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
You need some bigger socks - made outta 100% Aussie wool o' course.
Thrud
08-28-2002, 10:57 PM
Tel:
Doctors already have me in these lycra knee high medical stockings of a lovely beige persuasion - too slow to draw from! You need rubber gloves to put the slippery little bastards on in the first place. I can see it all, mugger comes up and asks for my money - I tell him "hold on whilst I get my rubber gloves on!" This is where a kilt would come in handy - crotch holster! http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
That'd work - just be sure & grab the right.............. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//smile.gif http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//smile.gif
....... now if you can just get them stockings in the McThrud tartan.... http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//smile.gif
Thrud
08-30-2002, 10:47 PM
Tel:
If I have been spelling it incorrectly all along - maybe tan is the right color for the "McTurd" clan! http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
Toolabard
09-05-2002, 06:58 AM
Have to agree about the feds having no sense of humor. I was approached with a job to thread 7".357 mag. barrels,(muzzle ends) 500 of em at $25 apiece.I turned it down because it was 1. illeagle as hell and 2, felt very hinky. Turned out it was a BTAF sting operation! A class-3 gunsmith took on the job and ended up pressing plates at Stark AKA Raiford State Prison Fla(his bunkie's name is Mavis according to the wedding announcment!).If ya want to build a single-shot weapon that is simple and impressive,(and somewhat legal!) get a 2' piece of bushing stock with a 1" bore and weld a plug in one end. Trunion-ears and cassian for easy set-up and hide. Ummm, I call it the only safe firearm you can't shoot yourself in the foot wit. Your neighbors will call it the wrath of God with PMS. The police report will call it distrubing the piece. The dictionary lists it as a cannon! regards, Ron
BTW, I'm working on my 3rd. My partner and I want to be in the Feb. Red Ball Winter Champianship of Greater White Mts. NH The new longer barrel will put our ball on number 1 green in 1 shot at a half mile. Try THAT Tiger!!LOL!
Thrud
09-05-2002, 11:52 PM
Toolabard:
When I built my golf ball mortar the one thing I found distrubing was the extreme distance with less than an ounce of powder.
I would like to make a CO2 paintball minigun - 10,000 balls should be just about the right sized mag... http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
I like to see them "capture the flag" with that waiting!
Check this out: www.pipersprecisionproducts.com (http://www.pipersprecisionproducts.com)
Toolabard
09-11-2002, 06:22 AM
Thrud, I found a wonderful material for making cannon barrels. It's called bushing stock. A very heavy walled tube used in welding for stuff that requires construction grade engineering.It machines well, and welds nicely.I started out with a small yacht-starter, about 20",1" bore. Trunion-blocks welded to a piece of 1/2" plate.This was bolted to a secure shooting stand weighing 100lbs. for good reason. Using 000FG cannon powder we could get a pop that would roll across the valley and back,(and a 3' flame!). An ounce of powder and 2 tight-wads made all the safe noise you wanted. Kinda like those ariel salutes at 7/4 fireworks displays.I want to make the next one larger,about a 3 footer and add reieforce bands to both muzzle and breach with 2 decorative bands in between.It would have a nice French '75 look to it right down to the carriage and cassian.We have a yearly event up here called The Mt. Muster where a cannon shoot is a main event. About a dozen field-pieces usually show up at this Rev. War encampment. One year a guy showed up with his piece that shot bowling-balls. He painted them orange so he could find them later. Something to aspire too!Remind me to tell you about Fort Knox on the Maine coast some time. It was built as the largest casement fort on the east coast, with 250 cannon.
regards, Toolabard
Thrud
09-11-2002, 08:22 PM
Toolabard
Gadzooks! Ten Pin balls? http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//eek.gif
...I wonder if you could mount one on a Dakota... http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
JimWolford
09-11-2002, 09:12 PM
Thrud
check this out www.johntaylormachine.com (http://www.johntaylormachine.com)
poke around his site and you will find a photo of a bowling ball mortar. it seems to be sitting on a hand truck.
these things are no toys ! I know of one that can shoot roughly 3/4 mile with ease.
Jim
Thrud
09-13-2002, 12:51 AM
Jim
That is so cool! I have seen some of the air cannons that hurls pumpkins and water mellons but that thing takes the cake!
mike thomas
09-13-2002, 04:38 PM
Guys, there is a company about 90 miles north of here that sells field mortars. They are in Hayden ID. I think you can get them either completed or as a kit, and sized for either bowling balls or regular old cannon balls. They leave the touch hole closed, but that is just a butt covering thing. I know they have a web site, I'm just too lazy to look for it. Mike
Al Messer
09-15-2002, 02:19 PM
It's http:www.specialtymile.com/southbendreplicas/
dnsbss
10-26-2002, 08:58 PM
What caliber will it be?
Dr. Rob
10-27-2002, 10:41 AM
Hmm, yeah...Single shot pistol...Tinkered with conversion of a single-shot Chinese air gun to .22LR once. Piece o'cake, since all of the components are there already. And just this morning made a sketch of a full-auto version. Pieces of junk, but fun ideas.
Speaking of Palladin Press, and the interest in this thread, I suppose there are many here among us who have an interest in making above-mentioned toys less noisy?
Al Messer
10-27-2002, 07:41 PM
How about one on the lines of the old Ruger Hawkeye, or would you run into patent infringement problems?
dnsbss
10-27-2002, 09:36 PM
Doc this may be a stupid question but was the rifle already in 22 caliber? them hush'em ups can get you into a lot of trouble,very tempting though
Dr. Rob
10-28-2002, 12:52 AM
No, it was .177, like usual. Just drilled it out. The drill will of course follow the original bore. Alternatively, you can drill it out extra-large and insert a suitable tube that just happens to be .22 internally. (try something labeled 1/4" and hope it is a little wrong) This of course ruins the rifling in the bore, but like I said, it is a piece o' junk.
Rampant scientific creativity, that's all.
YES those shhhh devices can put you in a great deal of trouble. In many places there is no question of their absolute illegality. Jail time, period.
However, some geographic regions have made more liberal provisions. They can even be considered advantageous to general health, after studies showed that something like 15% of military personnel and hunters were seriously hearing damaged.
The art/science is fairly well developed, with several manufacturers in mass production.
Be careful!! See above post about sting operation. And technically, these are enormous forces you are messing with- Do Not Mess Around! I don't want to read a post written by a blind guy, or deaf guy, or fingerless guy...
lone waddie
10-28-2002, 09:10 PM
Gee guys, I am all for fun and freedom, BUT making a breechloading pistol is a very touchy legal thing. Making one without rifling would be considered a 'sawed-off shotgun' and that is LOTS of trouble too. You can still make a smoothbore muzzleloader pistol (circa 1850) legally in most parts of the US. Still considered a historical novelty. For now.Be informed as to the law in your local, be careful and stay outta the legal system (jail). Regards, Tim
Hi folks, new to the board here. Manufacturing one's own firearm is completely legal, as long as it is a Title 1 (sporting type) firearm and is not intended for sale or distribution. Check Federal law if you don't believe me.
jfsmith
12-04-2002, 10:21 PM
Find an old telescoping car antenna, thats your barrel, get a hammer from a cap gun, a bix of rubber bands and a piece of 2 x 4. Combine and contour to fit. Get one box of .22 shorts or longs, maybe even LRs.
You have the basic Zip gun. It may be illegal in many states to do this, but it was done once many years ago.
Al Messer
12-06-2002, 06:53 AM
What I had in mind was a hunting handgun in something like .45-70 caliber.
ShavingMaker
12-06-2002, 09:20 AM
To anybody in the USA thinking of doing this, please listen to me. As a former ATF agent, I can tell you that federal law definitely is harsh in this area and it doesn't matter what the local law is. While the laws were put in force for the criminals they cover all of us. They were put in effect and are enforced by people who generally do not understand the satisfaction of making things.
The ATF agents generally have no work unless they go looking for it, that's why the sting operations were thought up. The worth of an agent is based on the number of cases they write up. The US District Attorney wants easy cases. This means a lot of non-criminals who just want to make something "neat" get caught up in something way over their head and do time. I am not up on the current version of the statute, but since 1934 automatic firearms, sawed off shotguns, silencers, etc. have been illegal and after 1968 convicted felons couldn't have guns of any kind.
What all this means is if we want to make something neat, we stand a good chance of a conviction, losing civil rights, losing the right to ever have a firearm. We would be easy targets, and in the legal system we have, the weak lose. Cynical? Been there, done that to the weak. Not because I wanted to, but because the boss said to. I had to throw many well made firearms into the smelter, including Winchester 30-30 Commemorative lever action carbines! Made me sick. Just because somebody either didn't know the law or didn't take it seriously, and were one of the little people without the money to hire a big attorney. That's why I quit.
Yes, you can legally make sporting firearms if you get a manufacturing license which cost $500 in 1968. Don't know what it is now, probably higher.
PLEASE. CHECK THE LAW BEFORE YOU BUILD ANYTHING IN THIS CATEGORY !!!! It is not worth it, and building other stuff is just as much fun.
Rustybolt
12-06-2002, 09:36 AM
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Al Messer:
What I had in mind was a hunting handgun in something like .45-70 caliber.</font>
Ouch!
Knowing something of your druthers Al, why not go for an ML in .45 or .50 (or even .58) Dixie & others do good kits pretty affordable.
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Al Messer:
What I had in mind was a hunting handgun in something like .45-70 caliber.</font>
Al Messer
12-06-2002, 09:36 PM
Now that ought to be legal.
Thrud
12-07-2002, 01:10 AM
Al Messer:
I have a friend with a .45-70 revolver. Biggest stinking revolver I have ever shot - once. I think it needs some walnut hung off the back of all that Stainless Steel - like a buttstock!
Al Messer
12-07-2002, 07:06 AM
You have to admit that a .45-70 puts out a whopping big chunk of lead for a handgun, BUT, it is puny compared to some of the "Howdah" pistols the wheels used to use in India to hunt tigers from the back of elephants. Some of those monsters look like a banana!!(Well, almost!!)
Ah! we're back to the 4 bores, almost come full circle.
Thrud
12-08-2002, 12:42 AM
Al
I knew this retard that ordered a 600 Nitro drilling ofr "gopher hunting". I have to admit rolling a bullet in paper for "lube" was amusing. Shooting that bitch was not. I shudder to think what a double 4 bore drilling was like to shoot "both barrels" at an elephant.
I would rather pack an an AR50 single shot or M82A1 Barrett .50 BMG anyday - with my own loads (those stock ones are sooo whimpy). An excellent "plinker".
Al Messer
12-08-2002, 07:06 AM
Thrud, You and me both!! A 4 bore?? Shudder! Shudder! Take a braver man than me self to squeeze the trigger on that one!!
Yer gotta admit tho', that a Remington type U/O derringer in 4 bore would be an impressive little bugger. & the wimpy types could alluz fire it two-handed. Now where did I put that bit o' inch pipe?
Thrud
12-09-2002, 01:03 AM
Tel:
You pull one of those 4 bore derringers on a mugger and he would shi... http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
......... and rightly so http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
wierdscience
01-18-2003, 09:58 PM
Just some thuoght about mortars and such.I have a friend who is a welder one time he and I were both out of work and because hunger had set in he got a job as a night watchman.After about four weeks he noticed a five gallon bucket of "d" cell batteries had built up.So idle minds being the devils workshop we made our selves a "D"cell cannon.Damn thing would put one in orbit or so we thought a mutual friend kept wondering how all the holes kept getting in his barn roof!And where in the hell all the damn battery guts came from.Till one day he was over and we lit it off!"HOLY MOSES!" He lived about one and a quater miles away!The thing was bolted to an old bull dozer under carrage so trajectory never changed! http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif
jr45acp
01-19-2003, 06:19 PM
Al, Thrud, et al! i once head of a big game hunter in Africa that used a 2 bore! Said that he inded up having chronic headaches. Geez! I wonder why! Too much for me!
------------------
John B
[This message has been edited by jr45acp (edited 01-19-2003).]
Al Messer
01-19-2003, 08:40 PM
A 2 bore? Isn't that an 8 ounch ball? Double Ouch!!
Cold Rolled
03-04-2003, 02:36 PM
Posted by Shaving maker
"I am not up on the current version of the statute, but since 1934 automatic firearms, sawed off shotguns, silencers, etc. have been illegal and after 1968 convicted felons couldn't have guns of any kind."
I was told by a class III licensed firearm dealer and actually checked into this some what. That is perfectly legal to own and manufacture ONE silencer per class II permit that is a $200 transfer fee. And it is legal to own a pre-ban registered fully-auto firearm, which also has $200 transfer fee. As for short-barreled shotguns again there is a permit but I have not checked into this.
I was going to get the tax stamp for silencer (suppressor) but there is is a local law against the position of a silencer even if you have the federal approval which require a local sheriff signature on the application. The next county over allows them.
Like a lot of things it is illegal without permission or permits.
ulav8r
04-10-2003, 08:35 PM
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Al Messer:
What I had in mind was something similar to the old Ruger Hawkeye from back in the 1960's.</font>
http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=02045131491+12+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve If this link works it will take you to the regulation that states a firearm made for personal use does not require payment of excise tax. I believe there other sections that also apply. So unless a local or state law prevents it, this style gun can be made by you for your own personal use. The only way you can transfer it to someone else is through your will. If you have access to a good revolver(Ruger or better) just measure it and scale it up to 45-70 size with maybe a little extra meat around the cylinder/breech block. Making it a single shot like the Hawkeye will be much easier than producing a cylinder with locking notches and ratchet. Use 4130HT or brake die(H13HT) for the frame and S7 heat treated by a professional for the cylinder/breech block. If you want a color casehardened frame, find someone who does that professionally and get recomendations from them on what steel to use, though 8620 is apt to be correct.