The old punt gunner

[Keith 66]

The max bore size if i remember right was 1 3/4" anything above this size was illegal. Puntgunning is still legal & a few hardy souls still do it mainly on the river Blackwater & Walton backwaters. Must be 55 years since one was heard to boom round here.
Iron shot would seem to be logical due to cost, in practice it is probably not safe to use in ancient guns as it has to be carried in heavy wads to protect the bore, also because it is harder the shot rolls over itself easier & exerts far more axial or sideways pressure on the barrel, increasing pressures. Also its lower density means velocity falls off too quick & a punt gun is a long range gun.
I was sec of our local Wildfowling club for 12 years & have always wanted to have a go, the punt is no problem its finding the right cannon!

 

[wyn]

There is a thread on a shooting forum where someone built one from scratch and the punt to fit it on.
I think it was only 3 years ago.

This is a video of it working

 

[Scruffywelder]

ISTR Phil Bulmers gun shop in York used to have punt guns for bannisters going up the stairs. I think it was upstairs from the family junk shop but I can't remember for sure...

 

[Shox Dr]

ISTR Phil Bulmers gun shop in York used to have punt guns for bannisters going up the stairs. I think it was upstairs from the family junk shop but I can't remember for sure...

They did in deed. It was Mick Bulmer’s shop he was a good family friend. Dave who worked there has had a 2nd hand shop in Selby for the last 25+yrs.

Istr the gun was a 4Bore on the wall as you walked up the stairs.

 

[ronan]

Irish Tom - http://www.mlagb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/201302_irishtom.pdf

I was in a country gunshop today with a cousin, collecting a blaser (heap of poo) shotgun he was having repaired under warranty. We had a mooch around the gunroom and me being into old stuff, spotted a nice side by side hammer gun made in Sligo, Ireland. Always wanted a Hammer gun and this one, while plain, no engraving, was nice and had good thick steel barrels. I might have to go and buy it after christmas when i get a few bob.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Friend with a big gun collection, in the days before it got tricky, passed me a double barreled side by side with lovely engraving. I, thinking it was a 12 bore, nearly dropped it, cos it was a Richardson(?) Elephant gun and quite heavy. He also built a copy of the gun used in the Day Of the Jackel for a friend. Used a 22 as the base, nice work.

 

[Scruffywelder]

They did in deed. It was Mick Bulmer’s shop he was a good family friend. Dave who worked there has had a 2nd hand shop in Selby for the last 25+yrs.

Istr the gun was a 4Bore on the wall as you walked up the stairs.

Memory is a tricky thing!

I'm only 36 so God knows what I'll be like in a few years time

I think my first air rifle came from there

Weihrauch HW35? Big, old, clumsy, heavy brute IIRC...

 

[ronan]

Friend with a big gun collection, in the days before it got tricky, passed me a double barreled side by side with lovely engraving. I, thinking it was a 12 bore, nearly dropped it, cos it was a Richardson(?) Elephant gun and quite heavy. He also built a copy of the gun used in the Day Of the Jackel for a friend. Used a 22 as the base, nice work.

Westley richards ? Still in business, as a gunmaker and a toolmakers in the heart of Birmingham.

https://www.theexplora.com

 

[Kent]

The length of the barrel increases power, with a short barrel the pellet leaves the barrel and releases the air pressure before it's full potential is achieved. In shotguns the effective range can be adjusted by the size of the opening (choke) of the barrel and the amount of powder in the cartridge. A smaller choke keeps the spread of shot tighter over a longer distance.

Longer barrel refers to pre charged airguns only BTW. Spring guns or gas ram are not effected