Is it doable? Condor shotgun.
Hi. I”m newly registered here, but I’ve been reading with interest for a while.
I’d like input on my mad idea of making a condor shotgun. I enjoy the Gamo viper express, minus its lack of power and the irritating twang when it fires. The condor is just more fun though. How possible would it be to modify a condor/condor barrel to fit the gamo shotshells?
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/pellet.pl?pellet_id=485
The viper is in .22, and uses an insert shaped like a shotshell to shoot .22 pellets- so my thought would be to use a .22 condor barrel and modify it to take the shells, since they are sized to empty into a .22 barrel. I’m thinking there wouldn’t be enough “meat” at the breech end though, and I am not sure how to work around this. The increase in power would allow more #9 shot in the shell (standard load is 20), but my brother and I have reloaded them with over 40 with more room to spare.
I really would love some input on this, is it worth it or at all possible, am I missing an easier way to do this, and so forth. Thanks!
All Replies
Max effective range with a rifled barrel is likely only to be a few yards. maybe 10 or 15. Not enough shot in one of those shells to couple with a rifled barrel. No doubt, the pattern will spin open.
I think it’s a valid idea. What is the OD of the rim on the gamo shotshell? If it’s too big to clear the breech bore, a few seconds in a metal lathe would net you a really nice fit.
I might wonder if the shells might have a tendency to fly out of the breech backwards after the shot goes out forwards.
For experimental purposes, the rifling shouldn’t pose a problem. Your groups might open up a bit, but only testing will tell.
Go for it! If all else fails, you still have one kick ass .22 pellet rifle that only makes one hole per shot. If the shotshell part works, you will probably make a mess of any starling within range… 😈
My thought is that the breech may catch that lip on the shells when being pulled back. You’d be better off loading paper wads full of shot. You’d also be better off to start with a smooth bore barrel.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Rifling in a barrel will cause the shot to spread out way too much. Savage Arms makes a smoothbore .22 that is especially made for using shotshells. Might be better cost wise to go that route… or just find a cheap old, smoothbore .22.