Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders New project

Gunner,

Here's a couple of .395 RB's that I retrieved out of a hog and a deer. 50 grains FFFG. Had a nice Bedford style rifle that I sold in a weak moment. I do miss that rifle. Deer, pigs, and turkey!

That will work KW, I've learned over the past couple of years how reliable and accurate a PRB is, very good killers to boot.

I've been sketchy about smaller bores in flintlocks...but at some point, I feel like I gotta give one a run and see what it can do.

I hunt currently with a 62, and I'm building a 54. I own a 50 (TC Renegade), but I don't hunt with it anymore since moving on to long rifles.

I sort of want to build a Beck or Dickert in 45 and a nice long barrel and see how that goes with deer hunting here in PA. We cannot go below that legally (they put a minimum bore size of 44 caliber in our regs).

I had a nice Beck style rifle years ago. .50 with a Bill Large barrel. Another I can kick my butt for selling! It currently resides about 65 miles from me! Guy I sold it to still has it and won't sell it!

I will add first rifle I ever threw together with finishing nails and rusty swing set bolts was a .32 flinter. That was a long long long time ago! Built the lock from one of them Siler kits!

Oh man...now that's BUILDING a rifle.

I'm acquiring a rough precarve Lehigh with a Green Mountain 44" swamped 54 caliber barrel inlet and the ramrod hole drilled. Curly ash, too...so I have my work cut out for me.

May as well dive in headfirst....

Go for it!! And keep us posted!

May monkey with my project a little today. Too many other chores around the place last few days.

Speaking of projects. Here's a blast from the past story.

Years ago there was (and I suppose still is) an old muzzleloading club in the central Texas/ Austin area called the Powderhorn Club. As a young squirt I was lucky enough to fall under the helping hand of several of these old curmudgeons. Most are all gone now.

In those days there were lots of old reworked originals. Judge Resley out in Fort Stockton was rifling and re-rifling lots of barrels in those days

Anyway one of the regulars at the club was a big time old school collector named Victor Frederichs. He had some cool stuff! Anyway he was always coming up with the coolest stuff. He showed up once with a small wooden keg of Goulcher percussion locks! Just as they had been delivered to Some old hardware store. He sold them locks by the each! And for a long time there were rifles being built in the area with them locks!!

Will do.....I'm picking up the barrel and precarve hopefully soon. I am blessed to live in southeastern Pennsylvania and within easy driving distance of several great resources for building rifles.

I can say with no uncertainty that the community surrounding the making and appreciation of these rifles is fantastic. The more events I go to and people I talk to, the more info I get and connections I make. It's really very cool.

Going to inlet the triggerguard just a tad, then I'll pin it. Still LOTS of wood to go!!!!

I might make a suggestion.

Carve your lock molding on both sides first and take them down to final dimensions.
That gives an angle to the wood. it will come to the base of the T Guard. Inlet the guard after so you get the correct depth and you will avoid a potential mistake.

Gotcha! Good idea!

Thanks!

I just read this thread, I hunted with a 40 cap lock this Muzzle season, no shots tho! but realy Like the 40 cal. from just sighting it in! rifle is nothing like what you fellows are building tho!

Greetings Saddlering,

For the majority of things I hunt here, a .40 round ball is more than adequate. I have bigger stuff if I need it. But I do like the .40.

Picked up the first parts of my project yesterday. Nicely roughed out Lehigh-shaped precarved curly (very curly!) maple stock and a 44" swamped 54 cal Green Mountain barrel.

With a blizzard bearing down on this part of the world tonight into tomorrow, I think I may start on the breech plug while snowed in and get that fitted up nice and tight.

The barrel is inlet, but it looks like a little tweaking might need to happen yet until the barrel channel is truly "done".

Good luck. Too busy here with other chores as of late to do much on rifle.

Had to go fishing yesterday!

Hope you are out in the shop making little splinters and sawdust over a steaming mug of coffee this a.m. KW.

Just got back from annual spring break hog hunt, Gunner. I really didn't see a pig that fit my menu. Lots of pigs. Most were too big or too small. Old son did get one with his 1/2 stock plains style .50 last night. A nice size. I'll try to post a pic in a minute.

I'll try to get back to making wood chips this week!!!

Here's old son's little gilt he shot. A bit big for my tastes, but I'd prolly shot it too!

That'll work KW, nice pig, and yes, I'd have busted her too, looking forward to this build project and game reports hopefully this fall.

Congrats to your Son.

Thanks compadre! Lots going on around the place with good weather and all. Gonna get back on it when I can.

More when there is more!