Annabell is done

[foresterdj]

This was my first rifle build, though back in the '90's I did restock a .30-40 Krag barreled action I was given.

Douglas .45 caliber barrel, donated for project by my neighbor, who bought it in the '70's, but never got around to building with it., 32" long.
Flintlock is a large Siler.
Double set trigger.
Original stock was going to be from a 50 year old walnut plank my neighbor had, but I goofed it up too bad to continue, so purchased a partially inlaid plain Maple stock, but it does have some figure. Finished with 2 applications Iron Nitrate and 6 coats of Danish oil.
Hardware mostly from Track of Wolf. No attempt to pick parts to replicate any specific design, just got stuff that I thought would look good, that was in stock.

Way more inletting errors than you will be able to see. Design features, like the fore stock shape tapering to the nose cap, and the Lyman peep sight that are not correct, though my goal was to make a flintlock I could shoot a deer with this fall, and I think this might do it. (Has not been fired yet.) Going to name her "Annabell".

Still working on the now glued together pistol stock, updates on it later.

[mikeyfirelock]

I think you did a good job .   You’ve made a nice, clean attractive functional gun, and should rightfully be proud of this  gun.
Now on to the next one !

[alacran]

You should have no trouble killing a deer with that rifle. Douglas barrels tend to be quite accurate. You did a good job, and that rifle should fill your expectations.
The only thing I have trouble with is naming the rifle for a woman. Women tend to be finnicky, temperamental, and fickle. One of the reasons I have never name any of my guns.

[foresterdj]

I was just remembering that Davy Crockett called his gun "Old Betsy", so figured it should have a name. In this case a name starting with an "A" since it is my first. Next one will get a name starting with a "B", and so on.

[heinz]

Nice contemporary rifle.  It should be good for hunting and casual target shooting.  Start on your next one soon.

[foresterdj]

Update and a question.

So far, until today, I have shot this rifle a few times for different friends as show and tell and it worked flawlessly. In videos of the first few shots, watching in slow motion, the charge ignition was darn near instant.

Today I finally went to the range to actually do some load development and sighting in. The best group so far was with 70 gr 3F, 0.010" patch lubed with Hoppes #9 cleaner and lube, a .440" RB, at 50 yards off bench I measure it at 1.1" for a three shot group. So happy with that.

But, I bet I had 6 or 8 "flash in the pan" out of 15 shots. Flint would light off the 4F in pan, but no ignition. After the first time, this was my procedure with each shot.

• pour measured load down muzzle
  moisten patch and place over muzzle
  center RB on patch and use short starter
  push home with range rod, being sure to seat firmly
  poke vent pick (a straightened paperclip) through vent hole into powder charge
  add about 1/2 to 3/4 pan of 4F, this was 3 or 4 pokes of a supposed 3 grain priming tip from priming horn. I would say the flow from each poke of the priming horn was visually not consistent, so the number of pokes varied.
  I did not however try to shake prime against flash hole, or away from the hole
  
  flint ignited priming charge every time, but in each 3 shot group I would get 1 or more flash and nothing after which I would wipe pan with a Q-tip, add more prime and then usually it would go, though twice I would need to reprime a third time.
  
  Being a novice with flintlock, I am assuming operator error.
  
  Any suggestions for when I go out again?

[Mike Brooks]

Your breech is craped up. You need to soak it and scrap it.

[gunmaker]

 good lookin rifle. I'd believe an "Early Ohio/Indiana" deer exterminator..

[smylee grouch]

How thick is your patch?

[M. E. Pering]

I agree with Mr. Brooks... Sound like you have fouling near the breech, interfering with fire passing to the main charge.

[foresterdj]

Thanks. I cleaned it up good after I got home, including use of the paddle shaped breach scraper thingy, so we will see how it goes next time out.

Any thoughts on these two procedures:
1.  clear flash hole with pick, then add powder and ball so it is packed into the concave of the flash hole liner placing it close to the pan flame, or

2.  add powder and ball, then pick the flash hole creating an opening in the packed powder of the main charge.

[Grischi]

Thanks. I cleaned it up good after I got home, including use of the paddle shaped breach scraper thingy, so we will see how it goes next time out.

Any thoughts on these two procedures:
1.  clear flash hole with pick, then add powder and ball so it is packed into the concave of the flash hole liner placing it close to the pan flame, or

2.  add powder and ball, then pick the flash hole creating an opening in the packed powder of the main charge.

The second procedure is what I practice. With this and the priming powder away from the flash hole I get a real quick ignition of the main charge.

[Leatherbark]

Open up the touch hole to at least 1/16th inch and thump side of lock to make sure powder makes it to the flash hole. You should feel the crunch of the powder with your pick before you prime.  Good Luck and and good looking first Rifle..................Bob

[foresterdj]

touch hole at 1/16th and no more flash in the pan issues. Fires every time, unless flint gets too dull to spark, then knapp or new flint and ready to go again. Here is today's best target. 50 yards off bench, 70 grain (actually the 7 mark on measure, which when weighed was 69.5 grain 3F) .018" patch, Hoppes lube, .440 RB. Barrel seems to be most precise at 70 grain, regardless of patch (.010, .015, or .018). Deer better look out.

[mossyhorn]

Good group at fifty yards. Squirrels should take note also!