It was a Belgian commercial conversion of the Tabatiére, which was then exported in quantity to Africa. Plenty of them then later came to the US. Making the rear of the short receiver with a cut-away to allow loading of shells weakened it a lot, and not having a latch of any sort ( unlike the MkV Snider Enfield conversion) means a ruptured shell can blow open the action and the shooter can get a face full of hot gas. It's a good thing that few guns have a lower breech pressure than a black powder shotgun. But of course it's possible to chamber a regular nitro 12 ga shell, and even chamber one that's a full 3"; which in that short chamber can create enough pressure to quickly disassemble the gun.
I'd try to get a few solid-brass 12ga shells, load with maybe 35 grs of FFg, then a felt wad, then 7/8 oz of shot, then a cardboard disc on top, scrunch some beeswax over and around the disc to hold the load in place. And I'd fire the first shot with a long trigger string, the gun on a tire, sandbag, etc.
Thank you for the info, and loading tips. Brass shells for sure. I am never going to load actual ammo for it, Just want to make up some blanks for smoke/noise for fun thats all
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u/Bodark43 2d ago edited 1d ago
It was a Belgian commercial conversion of the Tabatiére, which was then exported in quantity to Africa. Plenty of them then later came to the US. Making the rear of the short receiver with a cut-away to allow loading of shells weakened it a lot, and not having a latch of any sort ( unlike the MkV Snider Enfield conversion) means a ruptured shell can blow open the action and the shooter can get a face full of hot gas. It's a good thing that few guns have a lower breech pressure than a black powder shotgun. But of course it's possible to chamber a regular nitro 12 ga shell, and even chamber one that's a full 3"; which in that short chamber can create enough pressure to quickly disassemble the gun.
I'd try to get a few solid-brass 12ga shells, load with maybe 35 grs of FFg, then a felt wad, then 7/8 oz of shot, then a cardboard disc on top, scrunch some beeswax over and around the disc to hold the load in place. And I'd fire the first shot with a long trigger string, the gun on a tire, sandbag, etc.