For the past three years I have been working with a group of other NRA certified Black Powder Instructors at Camp Raven Knob here in NC. (We also teach at Camp Bud Shield and Camp Old Indian.)
The annual summer programs are day long events for six weeks working with revolving Scouting troops coming from Pennsylvania to Florida. The Scouts, leaders and parents learn how to properly handle, load and shoot and clear black powder muzzleloaders, consisting of Civil War period muskets and contemporary half-stock production rifles (caplocks only allowed).
We have had no longrifle to offer the youth to use, which really bothered me. So I decided to make one for them.
For this project a great guy has donated a fine, unused .50 cal. Percussion CVA barrel (33.5” long), and someone else donated a new L&R Durrs Egg percussion lock (rather than the cheaper CVA one I had at hand).
Doug at Pecatonica sold me at a big discount a AAA grade Curly Maple Verner style stock for the price of a plain Jane. It has a 13.5” pull and I think it will be a comfortable gun to shoot.
I got started on it today, inletting the barrel and getting the butt plate done.
The lock should be here soon so that will be next.
I am really excited about having a nice longrifle for the kids to use and have some better exposure to these style guns.

