AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Mike Brooks on September 17, 2016, 06:55:46 PM
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English Ca. 1770 more or less. Colerain 29" swamped .58 rifled barrel, Chambers early Ketland lock, good old Iowa wallynut stock.
There is some precedence for a gun like this, There is a fowling gun in "Great British Gunmakers" made in the 1770's for the Duke of Earl...or some such fellow.... with an abbreviated trigger guard like this. Also, English coach carbines were sometimes made with out buttplates. So, I stretched reality a bit and combined those features into one gun. Plus the lack of standard lock bolts, which was done on English guns on occasion also.
The wood is as hard as wallynut gets, but the grain through the wrist is less than ideal, something I wouldn't use for a customer's gun. So I figured it to be ideal for a gun for me. I sort of reinforced the wrist, the screw that holds the rear of the trigger guard and the screw that secures the thumbpiece are both 1" long....trying to head trouble off at the pass. Anyway, I just got done shooting it and no problems. In fact it's incredibly accurate, first five shots are one ragged hole. Deer beware!
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350a_zpsbuy0jkrj.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350b_zpsbo3bdkcu.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350c_zps7skyozay.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350d_zps77jql2qb.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350f_zpstwnsmg3i.jpg)
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More.....
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350e_zpsfg2gfgya.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350g_zpsvpxeup7r.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350h_zpsir0fglsv.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/Gunmaker/350%20English%20Gamekeepers%20Rifle/350i_zpshxkerddt.jpg)
49 more to go.... ;)
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I guess I might add.... the butt is 4 7/8" tall by 2" wide. The wrist is 1 1/2" wide by just a bit over 1 3/8 tall. 13 5/8" trigger pull. 2 5/8" drop at the heal by 1 5/8" drop at the comb, very comfortable dimensions to shoot off hand.
Seems to have just a bit more recoil than my .36. ;)
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Mike, I like your new rifle!! It has everything that a great hunting rifle needs. I especially like the comb line practically parallel to the bore. This gives a gun that has virtually no felt recoil, allowing the shooter to follow through with the aim/shot. Very nicely done!!
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I like it ;D That would make a very handy deer rifle in these thick thickets here in hotabama. Good work as usual
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Thanks guys. It's just what I thought was ideal for hunting deer in Iowa. I didn't have much time to make a deer rifle for myself (same old yearly story ::)) so I just eliminated all non essential parts but still kept it near historically believable. Iowa 1st ML season is Oct. 10th...got a little front sight filing to do before then, shooting 4 1/2" low @ 25 yards.
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Very neat little huntin gun , Mike.
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Nice rifle Mike! I hope you get a chance at a deer with it. Hummm corn fed deer, sounds delicious.
dave
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Thanks guys. It's just what I thought was ideal for hunting deer in Iowa. I didn't have much time to make a deer rifle for myself (same old yearly story ::)) so I just eliminated all non essential parts but still kept it near historically believable. Iowa 1st ML season is Oct. 10th...got a little front sight filing to do before then, shooting 4 1/2" low @ 25 yards.
Aww, come on-save the files for customer work. Just bump the powder until you get POI up to POA. ;D
Good looking rifle, Be great for the hills o' TN too. Glad you have "your own" rifle now.
Try not to sell it. 8)
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Elegance in simplicity. I like it and no lock bolts to boot....wait a second, l see a slotted head on the plate side. How'd you do that? That is, secure the lock.
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Bet the lock is held in place with super glue.
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That screw you see in front of the hammer is threaded into the breech plug lug in English fashion . The front is normally held by a hook witch I have done on doubles in the past and witch is normal done by english gunmakers when they use this method. I skipped the hook this time as the lock sits so tight against the barrel any way.
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Mike nice lookin gun. Really like the lines an the way you did the lock. Good luck hunting!
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Interesting gun. Even if it is English ;) good hunting with it!
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Elegance in simplicity. I like it and no lock bolts to boot....wait a second, l see a slotted head on the plate side. How'd you do that? That is, secure the lock.
That's a beautiful short rifle and I would say the lock screw threads into the wrench area
of the breech plug.I am trying to get a half stock flintlock rifle together and may use this method.
Bob Roller
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nicely done Mike,sure to fill the freezer with it,I'm sure
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If I would have had the time I would have put some wire on that vacant side panel like the English often did. They even sometimes faked the screw heads with wire. Ow well, maybe next time! :-\
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Very nice! Beautiful work!
~Tony
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Nicely done Mike! A nice no-nonsense huntin' gunne!
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Very nice. Why not put a buttplate on it?
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Why not put a buttplate on it?
But why? He said he wanted only essential parts and after building/owning several rifles without butt plates I believe them to be of very little use except cosmetic.
Dennis
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Dennis,
It has always been my understanding that the buttplate significantly helps protect the wood at the butt from gouging, splitting, chipping, etc.
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Very nice. Why not put a buttplate on it?
Time mainly, I can't spend much time on something for myself.....or in other words, I can't afford my own work.... ;) Secondly, historical precedence, and lastly as Dennis just said, buttplates are highly over rated... :P
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Dennis,
It has always been my understanding that the buttplate significantly helps protect the wood at the butt from gouging, splitting, chipping, etc.
Observe originals. buttplate-less guns are generally broken through the wrist before a they will chip through the toe or heel. This old gun completely wore out, but the butt is still fine.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2Fold%2520poor%2520boy%2F002.jpg&hash=72d98a34d488d1a777f5b55a33ac1f7846af53c6)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2Fold%2520poor%2520boy%2F005.jpg&hash=bcb8d24064b829d6250b8038aeb20339b0fd04a9)
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I like it, but I'll like it more when it's laid across a big old Iowa buck! Now just get it done this fall, no excuses about catfish, customers with cash, old age, etc. ;)
3,000 hours to complete?? ;D
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It has always been my understanding that the buttplate significantly helps protect the wood at the butt from gouging, splitting, chipping, etc.
Not my experience, have not had that problem with any of the ones I have made. I also own 3 original flinters and none of the three show any of the things you describe. Now the wrist on one broken and has iron straps down both sides to repair it. One other one has many pieces broken out of the forearm side rails and the third one has no problems at all and its probably the oldest of the three. Take a look here : http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=8015.0
Dennis
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Nice rifle Mike.
So far as the butt question; one person says "it has been my understanding" the other says "it has been my experience" I'll go with experience every time.
Kevin
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I like it, but I'll like it more when it's laid across a big old Iowa buck! Now just get it done this fall, no excuses about catfish, customers with cash, old age, etc. ;)
3,000 hours to complete?? ;D
Yes, 3,000. I figure the deluxe case will be another 3,000. ;D
One big unforeseen bonus is I've been smoking meat with the cut offs from this stock. Smoked a turkey, chicken and two racks of ribs today. Never let good wallynut go to waste! ;D
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It has also been my experience that the wisdom and experience of others can improve my own understanding.
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It is nice to see that once and a while the cobblers kids do get a pair of shoes. Very nice gun indeed. I really like many of the little subtle details that abound on this "basic" rifle. Pretty cool for a shorty.
David
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Got it all sighted in now. It shoots one hole around 1"at 30 yards off a bench. 65gr KIK 2ff .018 pillow tick, .570 ball. This early Ketland lock is great. I have used dozens of them over the years and have thought them the best of the Chambers locks. Now that I actually own a rifle with one I REALLY appreciate how good this lock is. Super fast, and real easy on flints. Having a great time with this gun.
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Got it all sighted in now. It shoots one hole around 1"at 30 yards off a bench. 65gr KIK 2ff .018 pillow tick, .570 ball. This early Ketland lock is great. I have used dozens of them over the years and have thought them the best of the Chambers locks. Now that I actually own a rifle with one I REALLY appreciate how good this lock is. Super fast, and real easy on flints. Having a great time with this gun.
You've messed up now, all excuses are gone, 1 shot 1 deer is the expectation now.
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Got it all sighted in now. It shoots one hole around 1"at 30 yards off a bench. 65gr KIK 2ff .018 pillow tick, .570 ball. This early Ketland lock is great. I have used dozens of them over the years and have thought them the best of the Chambers locks. Now that I actually own a rifle with one I REALLY appreciate how good this lock is. Super fast, and real easy on flints. Having a great time with this gun.
You've messed up now, all excuses are gone, 1 shot 1 deer is the expectation now.
Well, we'll see.... ;)
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
Heck, are does are bigger than most bucks elsewhere! :P
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Now that's MY kind of gun. Plain isn't "plain", plain is good. You have your gun, Mike, and you know the builder quite well ;D.
I'll be looking for a victory pic.
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
Heck, are does are bigger than most bucks elsewhere! :P
Corn fed I guess
Dennis
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
Heck, are does are bigger than most bucks elsewhere! :P
Corn fed I guess
Dennis
Nothing but. When you field dress them they are always full of corn......I'm weird that way, I always check. :P
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
Heck, are does are bigger than most bucks elsewhere! :P
Corn fed I guess
Dennis
Nothing but. When you field dress them they are always full of corn......I'm weird that way, I always check. :P
I always check fish belly contents, but leave the deer bellies whole. Interesting fish belly finds: mouse, snake, eel. :P
I don't care what the deer eat, they usually come past me in full-strut-rut and food ain't on their minds.
When does your season start Mike? Ours is the first Saturday in November a/k/a "full chase". ;)
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VA Muzzleloader season for deer is November 5 through 18. Sure hope I will be able to go, all depends on when I can get my back surgery scheduled.
Dennis
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
Heck, are does are bigger than most bucks elsewhere! :P
You can say that again. Maybe not bigger than our bucks here, but the first time I went out to Iowa I shot a doe the first night to help out my pal where I was hunting. I grabbed a leg to drag her up to his quad trail and almost pulled my shoulder out of the socket. :o
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Heck, those Iowa bucks are so big how could anybody miss one?!?! ;D
Heck, are does are bigger than most bucks elsewhere! :P
Corn fed I guess
Dennis
Nothing but. When you field dress them they are always full of corn......I'm weird that way, I always check. :P
I always check fish belly contents, but leave the deer bellies whole. Interesting fish belly finds: mouse, snake, eel. :P
I don't care what the deer eat, they usually come past me in full-strut-rut and food ain't on their minds.
When does your season start Mike? Ours is the first Saturday in November a/k/a "full chase". ;)
Snaik in a fish belly....interesting. I have often found frogs in bass bellies. Iowa 1st ML season starts Oct. 10th and runs about 5 days or so. They aren't in rut and are mostly found just browsing in the AM and PM. All the young dumb tender ones get killed 1st ML season . ;D
Problem is we often have alot of standing corn left that time of year.
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VA Muzzleloader season for deer is November 5 through 18. Sure hope I will be able to go, all depends on when I can get my back surgery scheduled.
Dennis
That's a tough one. Good luck Sir, I wish you well and a speedy recovery. AND LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTORS!!!!!
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This is my absolute favorite Mike Brooks Rifle. Love to have one in 45 caliber.
http://www.fowlingguns.com/rifle5.html
I take it as a North Carolina Appalachian squirrel rifle.
And I'll fight any man who says otherwise. :D
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This is my absolute favorite Mike Brooks Rifle. Love to have one in 45 caliber.
http://www.fowlingguns.com/rifle5.html
I take it as a North Carolina Appalachian squirrel rifle.
And I'll fight any man who says otherwise. :D
Thanks. That is a locally owned gun and shoots incredibly well. It was also the gun used for the shooting segment in "A Craftsman's Legacy".
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Very nice squirrel rifle.
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Well, Mike should be out filling his tag today!
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Well lets all wait to hear about how much meat he got or the (like me) excuses ;D
Dennis
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Well lets all wait to hear about how much meat he got or the (like me) excuses ;D
Dennis
Well, if I would have went out today I would have been pouching. Turns out opening day is the 15th.....always some sort of rule getting in the way. ;)
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Bout as good an excuse as I have heard. I thought Monday was an unusual day for a season to open. I think all of the ones here in VA open on Sat.
Dennis
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Bout as good an excuse as I have heard. I thought Monday was an unusual day for a season to open. I think all of the ones here in VA open on Sat.
Dennis
Yup, one excuse covers a whole 15 days.
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Excuse for today: Got half way there and realized I forgot my wallet with deer tag in it. Turned around and went home. I figured hunting on a public hunting preserve with out a tag probably was asking for trouble. Got home and have been engraving ever since. Maybe this afternoon.... ::)
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Thats just half an excuse Mike
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Thats just half an excuse Mike
You just haven't heard the rest of it, it goes something like this: Well you know I would be dressing out the deer in the dark, too late to fool with packaging the meat etc that kinda story. I know, I have used it myself.
Dennis
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"I figured hunting on a public hunting preserve with out a tag probably was asking for trouble."
And you are right too, good call on turning around Mike. The ONE time I didn't have my fishing licence on my person was the one and only time I've ever been asked to present a hunting/fishing licence. Fortunately the game warden was kind enough to allow me to send him the licence in the mail instead of writing me up. Of course he wouldn't allow me to fish any longer, and kept the four trout I had in my kreel. Still, I thought him kind and that I had dodged the bullet on that deal.
dave
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I have an "unfortunate history" with game wardens from back in my wasted youth. :-X I'd really not like to start that all over again. Lucky for me I didn't spend my wasted youth in Alabama where the game wardens are really tough..... ;)
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I dont even know if we have a warden in our county yet. Our last one had a bit of a brush with the law himself an no longer gets to wear the shiny badge or carry the .40 cal or any gun for that matter. Guess the neighboring county wardens will get to visit an cover unless they have hired/transplanted one that I have not heard about yet. I know all of the officers in the town that I work for an they have not said any different
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Yep back when you was a youth, game wardens would have been after you in Alabama guess times have changed. 😊
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Game Creeper's gun is now blooded! Framer John called to say there were deer in the last 12 rows of corn he was combining. So, I walked to the end of the field and got settled in. When he got to the end out came several pheasants and a coyote. I actually hit a running coyote at 35 yards in the head with a .58 flintlock. ;D You know what they say, "It's better to be lucky than good any day". ;)
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Dare we ask what part of that coyote you were aiming at (smiles )?
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Game Creeper's gun is now blooded! Framer John called to say there were deer in the last 12 rows of corn he was combining. So, I walked to the end of the field and got settled in. When he got to the end out came several pheasants and a coyote. I actually hit a running coyote at 35 yards in the head with a .58 flintlock. ;D You know what they say, "It's better to be lucky than good any day". ;)
Nice shot but that's no venison. :P
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Nice shooting!!!! So how many illegals did he have with him?
Robby
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Game Creeper's gun is now blooded! Framer John called to say there were deer in the last 12 rows of corn he was combining. So, I walked to the end of the field and got settled in. When he got to the end out came several pheasants and a coyote. I actually hit a running coyote at 35 yards in the head with a .58 flintlock. ;D You know what they say, "It's better to be lucky than good any day". ;)
Nice shot but that's no venison. :P
Maybe not but he saved some both ways
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Dare we ask what part of that coyote you were aiming at (smiles )?
It was more like a wing shot . To be honest I don't recall even seeing the sights.
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Dare we ask what part of that coyote you were aiming at (smiles )?
It was more like a wing shot . To be honest I don't recall even seeing the sights.
Instinct shot, and a good one! Shooting that varmint must have been quite satisfying. No accident that coyote came out with the pheasants either. You interrupted its intended brunch. 8)
Now that the rifle has spoken with intent perhaps you can teach it to sniff out deer.
dave
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Some regret...it was a beautiful animal, but I'd rather have pheasants and rabbits to hunt, hard to do that with a large coyote population. Didn't damage the pelt either, creased her right above the eyes on top of the head....lucky, lucky, lucky. :P
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Most of the yotes around my neck of the woods are eat up with the mange. I usually kill several each deer season an nearly all but one or two over the yrs have been eat up with it. Those few that were not was very pretty I'll have to agree but the others were quite the ugly yote with most their hair gone an the skin scratched an bleeding. I considered it a mercy killing.
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You know what they say, "It's better to be lucky than good any day".
Go on and take credit for it Mike, head shot on running coyote with first shot from one of your custom designed, custom built Game Creeper rifles. Sign up now to have you own built by one shot Mike :D
Dennis
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You know what they say, "It's better to be lucky than good any day".
Go on and take credit for it Mike, head shot on running coyote with first shot from one of your custom designed, custom built Game Creeper rifles. Sign up now to have you own built by one shot Mike :D
Dennis
I'd love to take credit for that shot Dennis but luck is the only reason I hit it. The only skill part of it that got me a dead 'yote was many years behind a shotgun...turn brain off....instinct takes over... ;)
Now, to wack a deer the same way....I'd take luck there again too! ;D
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The only coyote I ever shot was down in Ga. That was one beautifully furred critter.
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Congrats on breaking in the rifle, Mike. Nice shot. I appreciate your modesty, but I've noticed that the more skilled and experienced one is, the "luckier" one gets when it comes to hitting moving game. Good luck on the deer this season as well.
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The only coyote I ever shot was down in Ga. That was one beautifully furred critter.
Hanshi; I'm "down in Georgia" and there are packs of them roaming around the homestead - you are welcome to come and shoot as many as you desire. We've had a pretty fat moon lately and they start in howling and gathering for the hunt around nine at night for the last week. One rarely sees them during daylight. The coyotes come and go with the availability of the small game they pray upon, and right now there is plenty for them. They at least keep the rabbits somewhat controlled, and the dogs, and the cats...
Mike; I hope you've had a chance at a fat Iowa deer in the last couple of days.
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Been making bonus points with she that is in charge. Shoveling manure on the garden and tilling it it, planting garlic, pealing apples for making apple sauce, mowing the grass I hope for the last time and I'm now getting ready to go to a funeral visitation for a distant old Auntie. Maybe tomorrow..... ::)
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Been making bonus points with she that is in charge. Shoveling manure on the garden and tilling it it, planting garlic, pealing apples for making apple sauce, mowing the grass I hope for the last time and I'm now getting ready to go to a funeral visitation for a distant old Auntie. Maybe tomorrow..... ::)
Yeah, I'm kinda in the same boat around here. Spreading compost, tillering and messing with mulch. An outbuilding needing attention before winter. I have one remaining tomato plant that is a survivor, so I'm doctoring it along to get the last five tomatoes before the frost gets it. They have been so good this summer. Sure does cut into the gun building.
Pack your hot dogs and jerky, make a midnight run for it - we got deer (and coyotes) around here and I know where they like to play. ;)
dave
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Well anything but a coyote so far?
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Well anything but a coyote so far?
Had a deer the size of a german sheperd 20ft. from me and another slightly bigger just beyond it sunday evening. I passed.
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Don't blame you for passing on them. Some times chicken sometimes feathers. You may need to schedule a trip down this way. I'd wait until it rains and we get a little cold weather.
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Mike, what does the hook assembly look like in the front of the lock? When I got back into muzzleloading about three years ago the first rifle I got out of Dixons had one cross bolt and a dummy bolt in the front of the plate. The lock is very secure, but I always wondered about the front.
Thanks
The Capgun Kid
PS Merry Christmas
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Mike, what does the hook assembly look like in the front of the lock? When I got back into muzzleloading about three years ago the first rifle I got out of Dixons had one cross bolt and a dummy bolt in the front of the plate. The lock is very secure, but I always wondered about the front.
Thanks
The Capgun Kid
PS Merry Christmas
Some body posted a picture of one while we were discussing this and now I can't find it. Must have been another thread. You might try a search and see what pops up.
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Mike, can you explain a bit how the "hook" is done?
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Mike, can you explain a bit how the "hook" is done?
It's the same principle as on the hook on the front of an english buttplate finial or an english trigger guard. Some body posted a bunch of pics on this, go do a search.
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...So, here's Mike Brooks who, in the world to "HEROES" is referred to as a "TEACHER" and he goes and posts an intriguing picture of a crossbolt. So, when we all ask how he did it he tells us to go search!!! Does the phrase "Tutorial" Ring a bell?
"C'MON, MANNN!!!
PS Happy New Year, Mike, and thanks for everything.
The Capgun Kid
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...So, here's Mike Brooks who, in the world to "HEROES" is referred to as a "TEACHER" and he goes and posts an intriguing picture of a crossbolt. So, when we all ask how he did it he tells us to go search!!! Does the phrase "Tutorial" Ring a bell?
"C'MON, MANNN!!!
PS Happy New Year, Mike, and thanks for everything.
The Capgun Kid
I did a search and couldn't find what you're looking for. There was another thread going about the same time this one was active and the other thread showed exactly what you're looking for. Maybe someone that is far more clever than I can find it. As far as tutorials, those days are long over. I work much slower these days so it takes all my time at the bench just to make a living these days. Any "spare" time is used shooting and reloading.
I'm going to be 60 this June and recently realized I'm not going to live for ever so if I'm going to shoot competitively again I better get with it! The great thing about starting competitive shooting again at 60 is I get to be in the Senior matches! (unfortunately that seems to be where the toughest competition is :P)
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Vinegar will catch the occasional fly. Here ya go Mr. Capgun:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=41587.0
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Vinegar will catch the occasional fly. Here ya go Mr. Capgun:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=41587.0
There you go, that's what I was looking for but couldn't find it. I knew somebody smarter than I could find it with no problem.
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I am not only smarter than most folks, I am also much better looking as well.
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Thanks Gordo and Mike. This is why you're the only hero I have besides me. OK, so Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Willie Mays, My Dad, some of the apostles and my son.
As far as being "60" is concerned, speak to me when you get out of puberty. 67 here and I did not even start to build until I retired. You are NOT permitted to pass away or suffer serious illness until I get my skills up to an acceptable level. Maybe a decade or so at least.....
Thanks again so much Mike and Gordo.
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Thanks Gordo and Mike. This is why you're the only hero I have besides me. OK, so Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Willie Mays, My Dad, some of the apostles and my son.
As far as being "60" is concerned, speak to me when you get out of puberty. 67 here and I did not even start to build until I retired. You are NOT permitted to pass away or suffer serious illness until I get my skills up to an acceptable level. Maybe a decade or so at least.....
Thanks again so much Mike and Gordo.
I ain't planing on dieing all over the place.....60 has me spooked, there's a lot of gun games I want to play at yet and I need to get going if I'm going to get it all done before I turn 100. ;)
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I like this gun, Mike! It says it all. My kind of gun.
I would love to only build the very plainest of guns. The real beauty of a gun is in the "lines"....not the trim....IMHO. Unfortunately, to meet financial obligations I find that I have to opt more toward customer preferences (and buttplates,,,,yuk)....plus all the other "trim" normally associated with a gun.
I have never seen a gun without a buttplate that had serious damage. I did restoration for years and had to repair quite a few Southern guns with no buttplates.
I have, however, witnessed many guns that broke at the toe because of the lower screw in the BP.
It's very presence weakened the toe and helped to promote the break. Early guns with wide, flatter butts.....not so much a problem.
Slab sawn and butt cut wood generally produces the best and toughest stock for a "no BP" gun. About 10 years ago I watched Freddie Harrison ram a pre-shaped, 1770 period stock into a concrete floor over and over to prove this point. It showed little damage....and nothing serious.
I also think the mind-set of a good mountain gunsmith was that if the wood was not up-to-snuff as far as grain direction then it would get a buttplate. If it was a style like the Beans and Ambrose Lawing made with the long, sharp toe, then yes it would have to have a BP. A rounded heel, rounded toe and edges of the butt is all that's needed.
With all this said, take a look at an old ladder-back chair with it's plain wood legs with no cap on the ends. Most will show a little wear but no real damage. Most of us would never treat the butts of our guns the way a ladder-back chair gets treated. ;D
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Why not put a buttplate on it?
But why? He said he wanted only essential parts and after building/owning several rifles without butt plates I believe them to be of very little use except cosmetic.
Dennis
Amen, Dennis! The Gillespies knew all about this, didn't they!
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.............take a look at an old ladder-back chair with it's plain wood legs with no cap on the ends. Most will show a little wear but no real damage. Most of us would never treat the butts of our guns the way a ladder-back chair gets treated. ;D
An excellent point.
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Hey Mike ! I can second the motion on the plus60 crowd being rough at the range . There are some older gentleman at the club I shoot with that are more than willing and able to clean the clock of a younger shooter .They have some years long rivalries going that no one wants a piece of. I`ve been took to school more times than I`d like to mention by the "old" guys.I guess it`s like a lot of other things some people just stay good a long time . Nathan
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It's women I hate shooting against. Why do they always have to come around and humiliate all of us guys when we're having such a good time.... ::)
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It's women I hate shooting against. Why do they always have to come around and humiliate all of us guys when we're having such a good time.... ::)
They don't shoot so good.
Them wimmins jes knows we loose our cornsentrayshun when they shows up! ;)
Cheers,
Smoketown