Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Traditional Firearms => Caplock Long Guns => Topic started by: BlackPowderManiacShooter on March 14, 2026, 12:06:09 AM
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Trying my luck punching holes thru 1/8 inch steel using Swiss FFF powder in a Percussion rifle.
Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EDkU8VBW08&list=PLVMfc1ggQhJIgT67uX7Tyn5igTPd5R1kr&index=15
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Sure it's possible, but it takes big balls to do it. Pardon the silly pun, there.
Back in my big bore rifle days I was invited to attend a Boy Scout gathering at Farragut Park in North Idaho. That would have been around 2000 or 2001. The reason for my presence there was to do a muzzleloading demonstration to various groups of kids at the rifle range located in the park. They had classes for .22 rifle shooting, archery and I think they might also have had shotgun.
So, I took a Ruger revolver, my .54 rifle, my .69 caliber English Sporting Rifle and my 8 bore double rifle. Also along for the ride was a piece of diamond plate that was maybe 18" x 30" or so. I hung the diamond plate up at the 50 yard line.
The pistol slightly dented the plate, the .54 left a little better dent with 85 grains of Ffg. Then I got out the interesting guns. I loaded the .69 cal with 200 grains of Ffg and let fly. During the course of the day, that really put some deep indentations in the steel. But with the 8 bore with 300 grains of Fg, every ball punched a hole through the steel.
So, yep, a muzzleloader can indeed punch holes in steel. I think if I had cast some hard .678 balls, the .69 would have also done it, but not with soft lead. The 8 bore is just a beast. Too bad I didn't have a 4 bore in the works yet, that would have really been a blast. :luff:
John (Bigsmoke)
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Sure it's possible, but it takes big balls to do it. Pardon the silly pun, there.
Back in my big bore rifle days I was invited to attend a Boy Scout gathering at Farragut Park in North Idaho. That would have been around 2000 or 2001. The reason for my presence there was to do a muzzleloading demonstration to various groups of kids at the rifle range located in the park. They had classes for .22 rifle shooting, archery and I think they might also have had shotgun.
So, I took a Ruger revolver, my .54 rifle, my .69 caliber English Sporting Rifle and my 8 bore double rifle. Also along for the ride was a piece of diamond plate that was maybe 18" x 30" or so. I hung the diamond plate up at the 50 yard line.
The pistol slightly dented the plate, the .54 left a little better dent with 85 grains of Ffg. Then I got out the interesting guns. I loaded the .69 cal with 200 grains of Ffg and let fly. During the course of the day, that really put some deep indentations in the steel. But with the 8 bore with 300 grains of Fg, every ball punched a hole through the steel.
So, yep, a muzzleloader can indeed punch holes in steel. I think if I had cast some hard .678 balls, the .69 would have also done it, but not with soft lead. The 8 bore is just a beast. Too bad I didn't have a 4 bore in the works yet, that would have really been a blast. :luff:
John (Bigsmoke)
Wow...!
I bet those kids were impressed......at least I certainly am...!
Thanks for sharing.....
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Well, to paraphrase an old commercial, "When the double 8 speaks, people listen!"
Here is a little free verse poem I wrote about it:
(https://i.ibb.co/FbkrM8NY/JRS-8-Bore-Ode.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2709QcmM)
Ironically enough, one year we were exhibiting at the SHOT Show and I had the double there with this printed and a reporter for the Wall Street Journal came by, saw the gun, took a photo of it and the poem, and printed it in an article about the show. Hah, so I guess I am a published poet.
John