Budget Bunny Gun Dreams

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  • Last Post 10 August 2018
CB posted this 04 February 2011

I've been reading all the bunny gun threads recently and have really been bitten by the bug.   I've been discussing it with a buddy at work lately and we've mapped out a few possibilities I'd like to run by the experts as to which would produce decent results. 

I've got a Marlin CB in .32H&R and am a longtime devotee of the H&R so I'm looking at the H&R or maybe the .327 although I think the operating pressure may be a limiting factor. 

I'm working on a pretty tight budget for this project so I'm trying to go as cheaply as possible.  I was thinking of picking up a Rossi “Matched Set” with the barrels in .410 and .44Mag and having one of them relined to the desired .32.  Is this something that has any merit?  Anybody have any insight on the platform?  An H&R Hand-Rifle is another option if it's a better platform.  I've got a Topper in .410 but would have to have another barrel fitted to be relined as the .410 is a keeper. 

Any Gunsmiths that come to mind to do the reline and chamber?  While funds are limited, I know a good gunsmith is worth his fees to have it done right. 

Thoughts on the project would be appreciated, feel free to take it in a completely different direction too, I'm not married to anything yet. 

Thanks to all. 

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R. Dupraz posted this 10 August 2018

Love those old top lever single shots. A perfect example of sturdy, common tool built for the common man who got his hands dirty every day trying to survive and make a living back then . Like the Hawken rifle, elegant in it's plainness. 

My nice old mod. 19 30-30 rarely gets used but every time I think about sending it down the road, I say no, maybe not. At every gun show am always keeping an eye out for decent solid gun or action that I could do what you did. No fancy wood or shinny bluing or any thing of the sort. Just put her back in action again.

 

R. 

 

  

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bartelfitzneel posted this 10 August 2018

This is my crude attempt at a bunny gun. It is made from a an old hardware store shotgun (KK) and an enfield no 4 barrel. The chamber is reamed to accept 32 SS&W, .32 Long, 32 acp, 32 H&R Mag or 327 mag. Shoots all of those well. Or at least better than my old eyes can see.

 

 

crude bunny gun

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R. Dupraz posted this 27 January 2016

Now, Now girls, just remember who hired them in the first place.   Oh damn! Think I just stepped into forbidden territory!

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Baltimoreed11754 posted this 27 January 2016

Especially in an election year. You know the old joke about 'how do you tell if a politician is lying? His lips are moving.

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RicinYakima posted this 24 January 2016

That is because it is so rare to find one! They must be a protected species.

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TRKakaCatWhisperer posted this 24 January 2016

Ken Campbell Iowa wrote: here in iowa we have a one-day bag limit of 3 on kangaroos ....

or 1 on honest politicians ...

you can't mix them ...

ken of note it is rare to see any poaching of honest politicians!

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 21 January 2016

here in iowa we have a one-day bag limit of 3 on kangaroos ....

or 1 on honest politicians ...

you can't mix them ...

ken

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Baltimoreed11754 posted this 18 January 2016

I've heard of a goose gun and a punt gun but never heard of a bunny gun but I guess that I've bought one disguised as a Martini Cadet in .357 mag. It has a kangaroo on it though so would it be legal? You know how picky those game wardens can be.

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ChiefTJS posted this 19 March 2014

Since I started this thread a lot has changed in my shooting life and I've gone in some very different directions. I dropped the .32's from my battery completely and have pretty well standardized on the good 'ol .38spl as my woods toy. I have an H&R barrel in .357 that works adequately on the original .410 frame that started this whole mess. I've also got a T/C Contender with a 12” .38spl barrel for a very accurate platform and intend to look for a carbine barrel as funds allow. Lucked into a Rossi M92 in .357 that shoots amazingly well, have several 38/357 revolvers and just decided that the .38spl suits my needs and makes me happy.

Noticed I'm also a completely different person now too.  I gave up the 461 username a few years ago and I'm ChiefTJS on all forums now.  TJS is my initials and I'm a retired Coast Guard Chief. 

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argie1891 posted this 09 March 2014

couple years ago I sent a rifle for repair and found it in my garage where the ups driver had left it the day before. it helps to know the drivers. I am not sure who signed the adult signature form bit it sure wasn't me. it was one of those dangerous sniper rifles. ok it was a bolt action savage 30-30.

if you think you have it figured out then you just dont understand

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 09 March 2014

wonder how i got thru childhood without the atf ... my first model 70 the postman left hanging on our country mailbox ...

i suppose a tad of rifling should be left in such a project.

ken; legally not blond

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argie1891 posted this 08 March 2014

Would reaming a pistol barrel be considered a short barreled shotgun? An ATFE no-no unless registered.

The same reason I have not used a shotgun barrel cut of as stub for making a bunny rifle on my H&R 12 gauge.

reaming a pistol barrel to smooth bore or cutting a shotgun barrel less than 18 inches could get you a 10 year vacation in a federal vacation home. that said there has to be a way to use the stub of a barrel but I would think you would need to make sure it wouldn't chamber a shell first. maybe ream it out? cut a slot in it not sure but I really don't think I would like to vacation with the feds.

if you think you have it figured out then you just dont understand

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Duane Trusty posted this 08 March 2014

Ken

Would reaming a pistol barrel be considered a short barreled shotgun? An ATFE no-no unless registered.

The same reason I have not used a shotgun barrel cut of as stub for making a bunny rifle on my H&R 12 gauge.

Duane

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argie1891 posted this 08 February 2014

ricnyamima and I both made bunny guns in 32 magnum a few years ago. ( mine shot better but I would not brag ) anyway we split the cost of a 32 h&r reamer and went to work. neither of us had ever made one before and there was quite a learning curve. I used a 12 ga as I had it and didn't want to buy another single shot. I was given a takeoff barrel in 30-06 and after cutting off the chamber and turning the barrel down to fit started on the extractor.. now the extractor is a very simple part very few parts and while I thought it would be easy finally got the 4th or 5th one I made to work 100% of the time. I then made one in 32-40 and never got a perfect extractor I know I could make one if I hadn't lost interest and went on to re-barrel mauser actions. I learned enough from making bunny guns to thread and chamber barrels on mauser and even did a Springfield. I wouldn't trade my bunny gun for almost anything. argie1891

if you think you have it figured out then you just dont understand

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 07 February 2014

hmmm i have a new barrel for my 9mm largo Astra 400 blowback ... which leaves me with a very ratty old barrel. wonder if i ream the barrel smooth, crutch up a lighter recoil spring ... 2 or 3 .36 lead balls ...

comments and warnings welcome ..

ken

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Ed Harris posted this 06 February 2014

I have used rifled adapters and they do work much better. It is best to use a somewhat oversized bore with tiny, narrow lands to do this, so that the bullet is not so deformed as to fit poorly in the regulsr barrel. A Marlin Microgroove pull-off is perfect for this. The auxiluary chamber for the Pederson device was the first use of Microgroove rifling.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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w-d-s posted this 05 February 2014

Ed, have you made up any adapters out of rifle barrel so they would have rifling?

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Ed Harris posted this 05 February 2014

I get a little better than that from my. 30-30, .303 British and 7.62x54R adapters, but an inch at 50 feet is really the best you can hope for. While that provides a limited woods utility, it is not adequate for general small game use. To make clean head shots you need the ability to shoot inch groups at 25 yards on demand, anytime, anywhere, any weather.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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RicinYakima posted this 05 February 2014

Depends upon what kind of accuracy you are willing to accept. I have played with adapters from Winchester, Marble's and the company from Alaska. They are all good for about 1 inch at 10 feet, just fine for animals in a trap, but not much for anything else. IMHO, Ric

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w-d-s posted this 05 February 2014

461 and others, to keep the costs down why not consider using a chamber adapter in a 30 cal. handi rifle or better a Mossberg ssi rifle. the adapters are only $20 from MCA phone907-248-4913. you could leave the adapter in if you notched it for the extractor and had a new extractor made to fit the new cartridge. this would be a lot cheaper than having a new barrel made.

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