Pocket Rifle

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Today it was nice and warm so I took my Ruggle’s patent black powder muzzleloading underhammer pistol down to the creek to do a little target shooting.

At 10 yards I got an O.K. offhand grouping and as I shot I adjusted my point of aim to get the last four balls on the 2” orange bull.

I have absolutely no doubt that with proper load development and practice this gun will be a dandy little small game piece.

The gun is in .38 caliber and I was firing 15 grains of Swiss FFFg, Hornady .375” swaged pure lead round balls, and Track’s pre-cut .015” cotton patches.

During the 1830s-1850s when these guns were popular in New England, there are period newspaper accounts advertising them as “pocket rifles” which I think is a clever title.

Made by a number of companies, these little handguns of such novel design were inexpensive to produce and were carried for personal defense and hunting.

Rodney Olsen out of Nebraska was the builder of this fine little arm. It’s quickly becoming a favorite and I plan to wring out all of its accuracy with further trips.

Thanks everyone,

-Glenn

 

[desi2358]

Very nice, I like it! Underhammers are fun guns, I have had a couple pistols and a rifle, wish I had hung onto them. I have seen a couple originals in collections that had a detachable butt stock turning them into actual rifles! Have also seen a couple fixed stock rifle versions that had very short barrels (@ 10 inches) that were called "Buggy Rifles" intended to fit under the seat of a carriage. Seeing yours make me want another one!

 

[Erich]

Way cool, Mr. McMannly: thanks for favoring us with the post and photo!

(Darn it: now I want an underhammer again. Don't believe I've ever seen one that short and handy before. )

 

[bigmtnman]

I like it !! .... I admire anyone going to the range with a black powder firearm and shooting "groups". That is putting the full amount of WORK into your shooting !!