[planeflyer21]

Alright, inspired by the attacking leopard thread in The Asylum, this got me to thinking.

This one is a nice example of a classic Howdah Gun: http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/antique_guns/purdey_howdah/howdah.html

While that purdy Purdey is a muzzle loader, I have seen articles on cartridge Howdah guns. Some look very similar to a 40mm grenade case! Makes one understand where Harry Callahan got his wrist-supported shooting style...from the OLD big-bore handgun shooters.

So my question at hand. What off-the-shelf handgun would make a good Howdah gun these days?

I'll go ahead and nominate the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, in .454 Casull. As with anything, shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.

Jon

 

[Barenjager]

Cabelas has the Pedersoli...
http://www.cabelas.com/pistols-davide-pedersoli-howdah-pistol-1.shtml
...but it seems to me to be little more than a novelty.

I guess if the criteria is big and bad and in your face (or a tiger's face :), I'd have to go with the S&W 500...or a similarily chambered BFR. Notice how I give a nod to the SA enthusiasts among us, rather than just touting a S&W product like I'm sure many of you expected.

Since I have no plans on a trip to India...I get enough of that accent from all the solicitation calls I receive at work ...and I'm not about to strap a howdah on top of my Silverado...I'll stick with my .44 Mags.

Roe

 

[Maudite]

This 629 works for me....

Only 1 barrel- but 6 cylinders.

And then I have that nice piece of Damascus for skinnin' em....



M

 

[Hank in Arkansas]

I'll nominate my Freedom Arms 6" single action revolver, chambered in .500 Wyoming Express. It pushed a Cast Performance 440gr LBT bullet to 1250fps. Actually, it can easily achieve more velocity, but 1250 is about the limit for me. I figure 4 shots for the leopard, then 1 for me if he's still eating on me.

I watched the Indian leopard video on the news. They said he was shot with a tranquilizer gun, but died of stab wounds. In the video it looked like some of the Indians were shooting at him with real guns, possible Enfield rifles from the WWI era -- but not sure.

 

[planeflyer21]

Hank, I was initially going to give a nod towards Freedom Arms but was unsure how short a barrel they sold. I didn't think about the .500WE however! That 440gr is over an ounce of lead cooking along at HV 12ga slug speeds out of an 18" barrel!

That S&W .500 would be great too, as would a .460 S&W chambered gun!

It has been decades since first reading about Howdah guns. The article was in (I believe) an annual Guns Buyer's Guide and had energy figures for a double-barrelled cartridge-firing pistol, and also a large caliber revolver. Didn't search too long today but was unable to find more than a couple of different types.

If you watched that second video I posted in the Asylum, it was short. The longer one on Youtube goes into more detail, but the men on the elephants are up on the berm of a rice paddy. And that tiger LAUNCHES from the bottom of the paddy to the top of the elephant's head.

They'd probably have to pry that elephant's spine out of my crack from the pucker factor.

Jon

 

[papajohn]

I'm just pleased and proud that no one suggested The Judge. 8)

 

[planeflyer21]

I'm just pleased and proud that no one suggested The Judge. 8)

We really do need a power-puking smiley for things like that Judge.

What's worse is the gun that seems to be the source of its inspiration. Even worse, Smith joined the fray.

A customer at the gunshop yesterday had a Judge there...on its third return trip. Within two firing of loaded/unloaded cylinders, the action would jam.

Meaning in your Howdah, you would have to try and jam the gun down the tiger's throat to choke it. (Thread save!)

Jon

 

[Barenjager]

OK...if no one else is going to say it, I guess I will...

I'm fine, thank you. Howdah hell are you? :


Roe

 

[planeflyer21]

Nice, Roe!

Or BLAM!! "Howdah that feel?!"

Jon

 

[planeflyer21]

This whole clip is cool! It could also be titled "African Action Shooting".

The Howdah talk appears at about the 5 minute mark. http://www.downrange.tv/blog/drtv-weekly-say-howdy-to-howdah/11787/

Jon

 

[diggerjake]

Back in the 70's lee Jurris of Supervel fame made some howdah guns on the contender frame. Cabelas sells some double barrel in 58 cal BP or 20 gauge

 

[piguy]

Guide Gun!

 

[.25-35project]

Well, whatever the choice, you have keep a shooting grip in recoil, and be able to haul it back down for another shot.

An Alaskan bear guide that wrote for Handloader/Rifle -- Phil Shoemaker? -- opined that the .458 Win Mag in the hands of a client-protecting professional, was really about minimum for STOPPING a big bear. I'm not sure how heavy .45-70's in a Marlin Guide Gun compare, but perhaps the bear wouldn't notice the difference? I believe Shoemaker also used such styles of lever actions, including some custom.50's.

So, going on those stats, a .458 or .45-70 Howdah pistol, in the classic London Best Gun Side by Side configuration should be adequate for point blank tiger plinking. Except for that holding onto it in recoil biz, of course. For the really wussy limp-wrist shooters, a padded-forehead football helmet might be a useful accessory. And maybe a wrist tether to the pistol, so's it can be hauled back into the howdah.

However ,given the 'JD Jones' proclivity among some of the shooting fraternity, I'm pretty that not only would some sell, but they would be used effectively. The owners might want to keep a good orthopedic wrist-bone doc on speed dial, tho. ;~`)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Meaning in your Howdah, you would have to try and jam the gun down the tiger's throat to choke it. (Thread save!)

Jon

You could still scare superman with it anyway... he can stop the bullets but he always ducks when the frustrated bad guy throws the gun at him. ;D