Anyone tried the pendersoli howda double pistol,I noticed they are made in 20gauge as well as .50cal...Thanks for any info.

Seen the photos in the catalog and was wondering the same thing. The .50 is nothing special, but the 20 ga smoothbore could do some work. I figure Howdah-sizing their .72 caliber double rifle would be even more of a good thing.

I handled one in 20 gauge, although I didn't shoot it. It would be a lot of fun to chase rabbits and grouse with, and frankly might make a decent hog killer with patched .60 round balls. Search YouTube for a clip or two of these being fired.

I picked a brand new unshot one on this site a few months ago. It is the 50x50 cal. Really nice piece, but I haven't shot it as of yet. As a matter of fact, I am thinking of selling it and I am trying to decide whether I to pick up either the combo version or the 20 x20 ga. I figure either would be more versatile than two rifled barrels. I just wonder if the choices a combo would give you would be worth the hassle of all the different stuff you would need to carry.
Rick

Foxhound a 50x50 is what iam looking for,Iam interested,pm me with details maybe wecan doa deal,Iam trying to locate one now and have several questions on the recoil of these hand cannons and cant find any info on the recoil compared to a 44magnum which is the biggest handgun i have ever shot?Does your howda have engraveing or case colored sides?It also seems that blackpowder firearms dont have to go thru a ffl dealer,they can be shipped direct for some reason,I guess because they are of a primitive style and only sportsmen /hunters/pirates/buckskinners would even bother to fool with blackpowder front loaders...you either know what your doing with blackpowder or you blow yourself up/no idiots allowed,they will self destruck thereself... I think they only hold a 25gr.ffcharge with a round patched ball,thats whats recommended,shouldnt be to bad of recoil?I think they weigh 4#?

I forgot to ask did your howda come with a book that tells the recommend charges?If yes,whats the largest bullet shown?Does it only recommend a .490 round ball & patch?

quote:

Originally posted by foxhound:
I just wonder if the choices a combo would give you would be worth the hassle of all the different stuff you would need to carry.

It would make a pretter flexible set-up though. You'd be ready for mice to moose, geese to grizzlies. A fella might want a rear sight so as to make best use of the rifled barrel though.

Still, as Bill said, a double barrel 20 bore pistol would make a very interesting small game gun loaded with shot, and a credible short range thumper with .600 diameter balls.

I bought the combo version. Can't wait to have some fun with it (got some buckshot on its way).
Rick

I've had a 20x20 for over a year now.
I see this model as the most versatile!

With tightly patched ball or bore sized ball on lubed wads and (I'm running MUCH more than the recommended charge) a good charge of black powder it prints both barrels right next to each other at thirty five yards, will do it all day long.
Neither the pistol nor I miss the rifling, and I'm perfectly happy with the pair of large bores.

The sound is glorious, and recoil is a nice push back - not like a .44 but somewhere in the range of scale of heavy bullets and stiff loads in a .44

I haven't gotten scientific with the shot loads, but rest assured with #4 shot and a proper (not over recommended load) load of black powder whatever you're pointing at (inside 'tight woods' range) is going to stop.



Cheers
Tinker

Tinker,
how does she balance?

Having had the choice, I took a 'kit' instead of the 'complete' pistol.
The only difference between the two versions is that the wood and some of the metal furniture aren't finished. The barrels are blacked, the locks case hardened. As designed it's a muzzle-heavy billy club of a handgun.

I've worked the grip contour to a nice and open configuration and worked the triggers back to where the reach fits my hand well (also slimmed the wonky beavertail forend down quite a bit and will some day get around to finishing the detailing of the furniture and the build of a grip cap with storage compartment)
The work put into fitting the pistol made a difference, this one feels better than the couple of factory-finished examples I've handled.

Don't buy one for the handling.
My 5.5" redhawk handles much better any way you look at it.
With a little shaping and tweaking you can improve the appearance *and* get one of these pistols printing where you point it though and have fun along the way.

The 20x20 with roundball has enough snot to take blacktail inside woods distances too.



Cheers
Tinker

Noticed this pistol is now avaliable as .58 caliber.

Anyone here have one? Likes or dislikes?

I think the 20 x 20 is the best configuration. I did not get one when cabela had them marked down on sale. Now price back up as much as $200 more. I like the 20 because with the gun design and sights I dont see any long range potential that would justify rifling. The 20 could load ball, buck or shot. A 20 ga ball with heavy powder charge would be very powerful. I also had considered screw in chokes, but after some thought, probably not go that route.

If you not handled one these guns, be warned they are very heavy. A good shoulder rig would help.

My one complaint was the display sample (only one I ever saw) had a unsightly gap between the back of the barrels and the frame. I could see daylight right threw the gun. I mentioned this on another thread. I got the silence for a response. tinkerer, when you build the kit can that be fitted up tight?

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ldg5bcwyE

I ran across a guy on the Cast Boolits forum that makes holsters for the Pedersoli Howdah.
http://www.7xleather.com/home


I had him make one for my 70 cal pinfire and really like it.

quote:

My one complaint was the display sample (only one I ever saw) had a unsightly gap between the back of the barrels and the frame. I could see daylight right threw the gun. I mentioned this on another thread. I got the silence for a response. tinkerer, when you build the kit can that be fitted up tight?

Anyone care to comment on this?

Fourbore-


I don't recall whether or not there were gaps at wood to tang or at tang to breeches.
Either way, that could be taken care of with chisels and chasers on the wood (set the tang back) or with files and scrapers at the breech/tang fit - or with weld if necessary.

As it's just wood and metal, it's serviceable.
I'd get mine out and check for you, but it (with much other gear) is still packed deeply away from our recent relocation/move.



Cheers
Tinker