Tinker,
You may be right on the mold...
There were a few brass cases, some balls, and the mold came with the gun. But, the gun appeared unfired. Why would someone have a mold and not shoot the gun for 140 years??? There was not a mark on the breech face until we fired it, and the bores are better than excellent plus. I have read many bores in Damascus barrels in my days, and these were new.
You have me excited to do some measuring now...
Thanks, ND

Dave we'll get it running properly!
Somewhere I have photos of my wadding prep for these small bore-rifle loads. I make cup card-wads for gas seal and special wool felt wads for lube and cushion. It's easy but there's a little to it.
Also, I have a couple different versions of forming and crimp dies if it really comes to that, but I'm guessing you might end up being able (ideally) to run the thicker case (paper or plastic)

Brass is more of a pain in the ass than you'd want in the perfect world.



Cheers
Tinker

Degoins,
The 8 bore is a done deal! It's a Manton with excellent bores, beautiful case colors(original), Jones underlever, 14 5/8 LOP, nice wood, cased. Comes with 20 original Manton brass cases, a Manton mold with matching serial#, loading dies, several loaded rounds, some conicals, oil bottle, turnscrew... This gun wants for nothing!!!
I will try to get some pictures up, when I have a spare minute at work.

WOW!!! can't wait to see it!!! thanks again!!

Here is a picture of the Manton 8-bore.

Nitro that is NICE!!!!

I cant wait to hear the details, charge, conical or roundball, diameter,and of course how she shoots!



Cheers,
Bob

Nitrodave
You have a great rifle there, here is a photo of my scruffy girl serial # 6818. I take her back to Africa in two weeks for Tuskless cows. I am very confident you will have a lot of fun with your Manton, good luck with her.


I also extremely envious of your Howdah, a great find.

I hadn't read this thread for a while, but I just noted Mike's comment concerning the .577 and wanted to respond for general info.

What he says is true, however the fly in the ointment is that every Snyder I have ever had any experience with has a chamber so large that a 24 ga shell cut off to 2" will fit perfectly, even though it shouldn't. If you do a search on YouTube of 577 Snyder you will find literally hundreds of videos of people loading and doing the same thing. A search of gun boards will yield the same result. Most actually report the best (not good) accuracy with these round ball 24 ga loads. I suspect that Ballistic Products sells many more 24 ga Fiochi hulls to Snyder owners than for use in 24 ga shotguns (at least in the US). I mentioned the point since it was such an oddity to find one with a proper chamber.

John,
Great picture! Nice ballance of size using that massive hippo to bring the 8 bore to scale. It doesn't look so huge next to that beast!
ND

AWESOME GUYS!!!!!!! Thanks again for sharing!!!