need ideas

[omark]

this is a multipart request.
#1   i have a barrel that is 32 1/2 in, tapered from1.205 to .930. it has 9 round bottom grooves, left hand twist. narrow lands and wide grooves. i slugged the barrel and since you cant measure straight across the ball with odd number of grooves. the best i can come up with is .528 bore dia and .562 groove dia. is this going to be a 54 cal or more like a 52 or 53? also can anyone telll me who may have built it?
#2   if you had this barrel, what would you build with it? i am thinking half stock flint hawken or a jaeger. would the 1/2 stock flint hawken be too far out of being HC? or would a jaeger with a tapered instead of swamped be too far out?  im also open to any other suggestions.    mark

[Bill of the 45th]

For number toe I would consider an English sporting if you want flint, but if you want a Hawken in flint, I'd do it regardless of what others think.  I think one of the Brothers Saperegia posted a beauty of the english, and it would be very HC.  As to number one  I would get some Cerrosafe, and slug the barrel, but it sounds more like a .52 caliber to me, that would need a thick patch.  You didn't list the twist, and that might dictate what you make, as it sounds like it might be a fast twist for BP cartridge.  Just a thought.

Bill

[omark]

For number toe I would consider an English sporting if you want flint, but if you want a Hawken in flint, I'd do it regardless of what others think.  I think one of the Brothers Saperegia posted a beauty of the english, and it would be very HC.  As to number one  I would get some Cerrosafe, and slug the barrel, but it sounds more like a .52 caliber to me, that would need a thick patch.  You didn't list the twist, and that might dictate what you make, as it sounds like it might be a fast twist for BP cartridge.  Just a thought.

Bill

bill, thanks for the ideas, i hadnt considered an english sporter. ill look into that. havent decided whether to build it for resale or myself, kinda depends, i guess. as far as the twist, i think its a roundball, i believe 1 in 66 or 72. mark

[roundball]

"...im also open to any other suggestions..."

You could bore it out to .580" for a good handling .24ga smoothbore / smoothrifle

[Acer Saccharum]

Is it a straight taper or is it swamped?

[California Kid]

Sounds like a straight taper.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Is that one of yours' Hugh?  the dimensions sound familiar.

[omark]

taylor, its a straight taper.
roundball, i hate to bore out new rifling or that would be a good idea.  thanks, guys   

[rich pierce]

Lots of rifles were twener calibers back in the day.  We've settled on standards- .32, .36, .40, .45, .50, .54, .58, .62, etc to simplify things, buying mass produced molds or balls.  Your barrel would make a good short barreled Hawken but the taper is a little severe.  English sporting sounds perfect.  I'd be happy to have a .53 barrel.