There are ways to reinforce the chamber and barrel to make them much safer, and low powered .22 rounds that make testing a lot easier. I’ve built a few smoothbore .22 rifles for fun, and have had no issues with them. They’re accurate enough for small game out to 25 feet or so.
There are “traditional” designs that have been handed down through the generations in both poorer areas of the US and in cities like NYC where legal guns have been hard to obtain for a long time.
Someday I plan to collect some of them and publish a book :)
I can’t reply to your other comment, but that’s the idea. I’m working on tracking down some of the ones local to me, and have the skill and equipment to take good photos.
