1000+ FPS 8mm Giffard HPA conversion

[spike589715]

Hi
I recently had chance to shoot this gun ..... Oh yes it does make an impressive bang !!!

Great that it is still in use
Cheers
Si

[MarcDV]

Hi Buxton, it's wonderful to see the results of your elegant thinking. I have long wondered about getting the old Giffard working in anger. With no arcane regulations over here in the US, I would be seriously interested in obtaining a kit of parts for your bolt-on modification. Any chance of that happening?

Best regards,

Marc DV

[mrto]

Yes,over here we are only allowed guns that go pop!

To have one that goes bang requires an FAC!

Such is the land of Draconia!

ATB.

[Amac]

Just took another look at the picture of said beast. What a cracking bit of history you have managed to revive there. Surely the airgun equivalent of a Purdey?

Andy

[Buxton]

The other day I fitted a telescopic sight to my 8mm Giffard for some accuracy

It was grouping at around 1" at 50 yards with home cast 8mm balls at around 1000fps

Groups much better at this velocity than it does on co2 at longer ranges.

[calvin moser]

I am a new member as of yesterday. This is my first attempt to communicate on this sight. As I purchased my 8 mm Giffard, without reconditioning co2 cartridge I am getting about 370 ft / second with a 3.15 round ball. instead of rebuilding the original cartridge I would like to leave original. I see there is a 8mm buxton conversion for my Giffard. I would be interested in plans, diagrams or kit all ready to go.
Thank you. Calvin Moser, South Dakota.

[flying500]

Hi I am new to this Forum and new to Giffards. I would like to know what the thead is on the Gas cylinder so that I can get an adaptor made to fill from an extinguisher. If anyone can give me and help in what I need to obtain I would be very grateful.
I have heard so much about these Guns and would love to get my 4.5 firing again.
Many Thanks
Jerry

[j_potter]

hi chris, very interesting thread. i've been thinking hard about trying to buy a giffard in good working
order to shoot. to make it easier to charge i was wondering whether it would be feasible to make a
replacement cylinder that would hold two 12g co2 capsules. as you are clearly very knowledgable
about these guns i'd value your thoughts. incidentally, are all giffards running on co2 over the 12ft/lb
limit or could i shoot the smaller calibers (supposing i can find one) without putting it on fac?

[Buxton]

Hi,

It would certainly be feasible to make a tube to take 2 or 3 of 12g capsules, obviously the price of gas in this form is fairly expensive but other than that no problems.

An 88gram cart will not fit as the diameter is too large.

A cheap way to bulk fill the original tube would be to utilise a old full co2 fire extinguisher from fleabay.


Giffards in 6mm and 8mm calibre flavours are well over 12ftib, but possibly the .177 variety are under so could be shot without a FAC.
Maybe somebody with a .177 Giffard rifle can chime in with the power.

[GunDad]

A very interesting post and excellent conversion.
I manage to get to gun shows regularly in France, but these days fewer & fewer Giffards seem to appear, and it must be ages since I saw a nice Giffard pistol for sale. Perhaps they crop up a little more frequently at the specialised auctions - which I rarely follow.

[Buxton]

I was talking to a Firearms dealer the other day, He told me that although he has some Giffards in stock, they are currently not for sale.
They are going to sit on them as the price of them is going up and up.