I've got a bunch of 12 (and 16 ga) Guage brass shells. Any thoughts on a 12 bore rifle using them?

There are such rifles, made more than 100 years ago. But they were not considered dangerous game rounds. I think that a 10 bore sxs rifle would be an excellent black bear and boar gun.

tbob38: I have long wondered about using brass shells loaded with BP under a conical out of one of the H&R/NEF singles the heavy rifled barrels in 12 gauge.

Here are the shotgun or bore gun cartridges. The 12,10,8 and 4 Bores were all considered DG cartdges and the 20 Bore with a 425 grn bullet at 1500 fps is almost identical to a 45-70, and we have all heard that that is a DG cartridge.



l-r 2-4 Bores, 2-8 Bores, 10 Bore Paradox, 12 Bore Paradox, 20 Bore Faunetta.

12 Bore, 750 grn.bullet @ 1500 fps
10 Bore, 850 grn bullet at 1500 fps
8 Bore, 850-1150 grn bullet at 1500 fps
4 Bore, 1800 grn bullet at 1200 fps.

Pretty powerful rounds all.

For the 12 bore, a 750 gr slug at 1500 fps is over 3700 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Ought to stop these pesky snowshoe hares around here. Maybe even a bear.