Pedersoli Howdah Hunter .58

[drhall762]

I know this is kind of left field however..... I have several BP rifles, DRs and Capeguns I hunt with but.....

Some time ago I picked one up. It was a very good steal, I mean deal so I just had to get it. It is what I refer to as a fun gun and I have been shooting patched ball in it. It appears though with the 1 in 18 twist (just discovered that) it might be better suited to conicals. I am aware of the concern over conicals in a double barrel.

I also decided some time ago that with 11"+ barrels and almost 18" OAL, it was a tad ungainly even for a fun gun. Enter a butt stock. Much easier to handle. More like a SBR or carbine.

Now for the real questions.

Has anyone actually hunted with this rig? If so, what are you shooting, patched ball or conical? If conicals, do they shoot better than the patched balls accuracy wise?

Anyway, I am going to experiment but thought I'd ask for the sage advise of others here.

Thanks,


Dave

 

[CAustin]

It is an interesting looking gun. Where did you find it?

 

[edward]

what is the real purpose of this gun?fir,feather,human?

 

[drhall762]

It is an interesting looking gun. Where did you find it?

I bought the actual pistol(?) through a private sale. They were (are) carried by Cabela's and Dixie Gun Works. 3 basic variants: The dbl .58, the dbl 20 gauge, and a Cape Pistol .5o/20 gauge. The stock is also marketed by the same retailers. DGW has them in a kit for.

 

[drhall762]

what is the real purpose of this gun? fir, feather, human?

If you mean the one I have, I have yet to fully determine that though it is good to about 50 yards so I guess either fur or humans. As for Howdahs in general I believe they were intended for tigers in India. Not terribly certain on that but I am still researching the history of the actual pistol.

 

[EDELWEISS]

Howdah pistols were "named" for the howdah chair mounted on top of Indian Elephants, and from where many folks would hunt Tigers. Apparently Tigers wheen shot but not immediately killed would take thier anger out on the shooter by climbing up the side of the Elephant to get at the hunter. In the days of slow loading firearms, hunters often chose to carry a two shot pistol, usually in a large bore to greet the angry Tiger.

Howdah pistols continued into the cartridge era. The gun pictured above is a repro of the concept. The added stock is an attempt to make it a carbine by Pedersoli. Im not aware of any real Howdah's that had a stock. The idea was to make it small and handy--think sawed of shotgun ith no stock - not SBR.

In the stocked condition Id use it as a short range bear over bait gun.

 

[drhall762]

In the stocked condition Id use it as a short range bear over bait gun.

I quite agree. Also, around here we do a lot of tree stand hunting for whitetail deer. Think it will be fine there as well.

 

[EDELWEISS]

If you ditch the stock, it makes a cool "Car" gun. Imagine some thug's face when he tries to rob you and sees those muzzles....

 

[drhall762]

If you ditch the stock, it makes a cool "Car" gun. Imagine some thug's face when he tries to rob you and sees those muzzles....

That it would and in this state they are no regulated so I guess technically it is not subject to the open view laws. Have to check with my attorney on that one.

 

[EDELWEISS]

Well, if youre really serious, they even make a holster for it.

 

[drhall762]

Going to keep the stock on it. Actually easier to handle. Time for a sling.