Dutch Beaumont 71/88

The Goose

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It was a beautiful day so I hit the range. Did some shooting with my Dutch Beaumont 71/88. I bought this rifle 20+ years ago. It was being sold as a "wall hanger" with the caution that as an antique chambered in an obsolete caliber (11.35X52R) it was not shootable hence a $100 price tag. It looked terrible. I cleaned it and scrubbed the bore. Turns out that except for a few rough spots the rifling was sharp and in generally quite good condition. I got some reloading dies from CH4D that cost as much as the rifle. I formed the brass from a 50/90 Sharps case and cast a 405 gr hollow based bullet and loaded it over 70 grs of black powder. It was my first foray into shooting obsolete calibers which has become my passion. Turns out it is a good shooter. The attached target photo is 20 shots at 100 yards. The original rifle was made in 1871 as a single shot. In 1888 a Vitali type magazine was added. Hence the 71/88 designation.
 

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I inherited one, but when it came time to divvy up my dad's guns after his passing, I let it go to my nephew (the only one besides me with an interest in the "old guns in the closet").

I'd love to get another, and do some BPCR shooting with it.
 
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