Paradox Gun?

[huntswithdogs]

I was watching Tracks Across Africa the other nite and the main guy on there was shooting a "Paradox gun". Just what the heck is that thing? The shells look like brass 10 or 12 gauge shells. And the chunk of lead this thing was throwing looked like nothing like I've never seen. I know he shoots some classic rifles chambered in some pretty obscure calibers but this is one...?

HWD

[moxgrove]

paradox guns were bore guns the only one i personally handled was a 12 bore. they had rifling only in the last 6 inches or so of barrel. of course this could vary . it was fairly shallow too. the one i saw was i believe a purdy. it was awesome. it was a gain twist design and i would have loved to fire it. it is very similar in balistics to the dixie slugs made by james gates. they were considered all purpose weapons, with the 12 bore considered at the light end. they fell by the wayside pretty much when the express rifles and of course the nitro rifles hit the scene. I think that modern shotguns with a rifled barrel and hard slugs are the modern version. My dream would be a 10 gauge sxs with rifled chokes regulated for 60 yards.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

     The Paradox is a trade name, other makers had a similar thing but under different names, they all are variations on the same theme of a smooth bore shotgun with the last few inches rifled. The slugs fired through them give fair accuracy and a heck of a wallop on the recieving end and were quite popular with the hunting fraternity who were off out into the colonies of the Empire.

[gwindrider1]

HWD,

If you are aware of. or have read articles written by Ross Seifried, he would be your best source of info on the Paradox guns.  He has extensive experience in making these guns shoot.  I have no idea how to contact him, but a Google search might give you a starting point.

[mcwoodduck]

What was cool about the Paradox guns was the ability to shoot shot shells as well and have one gun to do it all.  Grape, buck, and slug.  You had good accuracy with slugs, they were a funky design similar to some of the sabot slugs today but did not use the wad/ shoe,  Since they did not have screw in chokes at the turn of the century and carrying a second set of tubes in the field is not an option they built the paradox.
Any of you with an 870.  Screw in the rifled choke tube and go shoot trap.  The small amount of rifling  does not really interrupt the shot pattern and will stabilize a sabot for longer shots.   

[northwolf]

What was cool about the Paradox guns was the ability to shoot shot shells as well and have one gun to do it all.  Grape, buck, and slug.  You had good accuracy with slugs, they were a funky design similar to some of the sabot slugs today but did not use the wad/ shoe,  Since they did not have screw in chokes at the turn of the century and carrying a second set of tubes in the field is not an option they built the paradox.
Any of you with an 870.  Screw in the rifled choke tube and go shoot trap.  The small amount of rifling  does not really interrupt the shot pattern and will stabilize a sabot for longer shots.   

Any interruption of the shot pattern in trap is a no no. You have holes in it to drive a truck through. Ever tried to hit a grouse at 10-15 yards with a shot shell in a 4" 357Mag? It spreads out so much, it is impossible to kill a bird with it; UNLESS it is 1 Yard in front of you!!

[JimP.]

I like the idea of throwing a large 12 bore slug around 1200 to 1300 fps just like the paradox guns did. So i bought a Harrington and Richardson 1871 Utra Hunter 12 gauge rifled bore slug gun, this gun is a single shot with scope mounts and is quite hefty, i am current loading it with a 1 1/8 ounce full sized slug with 120 grains of Pyrodex and am getting over 1200 fps with it, this slug gun shoots 1 ragged hole groups at 50 yds and will be quite lethal on anything i shoot with it, i have a Bushnell red dot scope on it and with it sighted in 3 inches high at 75 yds, it is still only about 5 inches low at 125 yds, accuracy is still good even at 125 yds but must clean bore after about 3 shots to keep it shooting well...still working with it, will be purchasing a 850 grain bullet mold from NEI Hand tools Inc so i can cast my own slugs, that will be a monster to shoot when i get that bullet worked up...but that is what i am looking for, something to experiment with and have fun with...JimP.