Going off the deep end: Idiom/American slang.
1. Lit. to jump into a swimming pool where the water is over one's head.
2 Fig. to act irrationally, following one's fantasies or emotions.
3 Fig. to become deeply involved (with something or someone) before one is ready.
For several years I've had an idea in the back of my mind to build a striker fired drum and nipple caplock underhammer rifle that could mount interchangeable barrels.
Recently the itch became unbearable. So I sat in my man cave with a Scotch, my pipe, some paper, pencils and a ruler, and began sketching the design that had been bouncing around in my head.
I have a Browning 1885 45-70. I like its lines. I like the shape of its breech. I like its stock. So that's what I used as the target for how my fantasy gun would look.
Here's what I came up with.
I am going to build this sucker. With any luck you will be seeing a post on the final results in a month or so. (Sure hope I don't have to report a failure.
)
A few features:
1. The breech will be cut from a block of 3/4" thick steel and will have removable side plates cut from 1/8" thick sheet steel.
2. The striker will be cut from a 3/8" hex bolt. The front face will have a nipple cup. The rear section will be hollowed to reduce weight. It will be powered by a coil spring and cocked by a knob protruding from the right (or left) side plate.
3. The drum for the nipple will be fabricated from 3/8" steel hex bar.
4. The barrel will have a permanent 1" long breech plug that is flat with the rear of the barrel. The rear half-inch of the plug will have a 1/4" threaded hole for securing the barrel to the breech with a one-inch long 1/4" hex bolt.
5. The trigger will be adjustable.
Assuming the prototype works, multiple barrels will be in its future. They can be octagon or round, straight or tapered, and of any caliber or gage. The breech face would work for a barrel as large as 1 & 1/8" across the flats and as small as 13/16" across the flats.
Wish me luck.