doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com William Evans 20b Paradox

Sorry to appear doubtful of your report, my intention is not to demean you in any way, it's just the nature of the email words, but.....are you positively sure that the shots did in fact cross? The hole on the left came from the right barrel and the hole on the right came from the left barrel?

I only ask because I'm incredulous that Armbrust loads made custom to that gun would behave in such a drastically awful way. I could accept that a wide spread resulted, even though that would be terrible in its own way.

Anyway, I would agree with sharps and try shooting them at longer ranges. I mean, what the hell, you've got the rounds, a few more shot through your barrels wouldn't require that much more cleaning.

Forgive what will definitely look like antagonistic words but, c'mon! I mean, passing immediate judgement after just 2 shots at 25 yards and then "putting the old gal away" seems downright insulting to that beautiful old gal.

Aren't you the least bit curious to know any further facts, even if they're not favorable? You're going to have to work up a regulated load for that wonderful gun sometime, or perhaps you can find someone who does such work for a fee if you're not set up to reload. But you've got to do the honorable thing and pursue regulating that Evans.

The Armbrust load is a duplicate of the Westley Richards Fauneta 20 bore loading and Huvius is aware of that. The load duplicates 1500fps and a 425gr bullet. There were however one or two lesser loadings used by Holland and Holland in the 20 bore Paradox. There may be perhaps other period loadings for the 20 bore ball and shot. Rifled choke guns are rare and extremely rare in the 20. Probably just a few hundred made by all makers. Downloading this cartridge shouldn't be a problem. The Armbrust load getting the velocity at the appropriate pressure was genius.

K.K., responses in blue.

PM - Many Thanks. My main source of information for theseguns, other than the odd article or post over the years, is probably the Roger Lake PARADOX book, which, as you know, deals strictly with H & H so-named guns, which makes clear there were not many of these guns made in ANY gauge. Had no idea of the number of Westleys, etc., but knew they weren't abundant either. I've always maintained that on this site you can get the absolute best free education on all double/single guns. Your reply is a perfect example.

Huvius - I stand corrected on all points. Your initial report seemed so abrupt I didn't have a feel for what your plans were/are. I'll be patiently waiting on the sidelines until your eventual success, and what a grand day that will be.

The Westley Fauneta cartridge was 2 1/2" and I believe so are Armbrusts.
As far as recoil being similar to your NE; that is par for the Fauneta load. The WR Super Magnum 12 is a bit stouter. Were you ever able to get a bore and choke diameter?

PM, the shells made up for the gun are 2 1/2" now that I look closer at them.
Maybe I was mistaken on the chamber length...

There's a new book on Bore Rifles coming out soon by Cal Pappas. He wrote the book about the 600 NE also. I'll ask him today if it's going to include any information about the paradox guns. I'll let you know.

Not to take sides,just putting my 2 cents worth in. When I test a double rifle,I always shoot on two targets,side by side. I shoot one with the right(or under)barrel and shoot the other with the left(or over)barrel, just as quickly as I can get on target. Then I put one target on the other and mark the holes. This is the only way I can tell of the gun is crossing or shooting wide. If I shoot,check point of impact,then shoot the second barrel;then I have waited too long between shots.When shooting more than once from each barrel, I let the barrels cool to ambient temp.between each set of shots. This may not be as important for a double as a cape gun,but I do it just to be consistent.
Mike

Well, the chambers are 2 3/4" as stamped on the underside of the barrels. Thought that was the case.

So, a couple questions may be: are the 20 bore Paradox shells always 2.5" even in a gun chambered for 2.75" shells? Is the 2.75" chamber length to utilize the more powerful 2.75" 20 bore shot shells while keeping with the 2.5" paradox shells?

Pic of the shells:

Again with the blue...