Mausers current build

[PPatch]

You've done a fine job for a first rifle and I'm sure it will be a game getter. Work up a load it likes and take it hunting this coming fall. I am sure you will attend to that toe plate in time, and perhaps other areas that might come to light also. For now just shoot it.

Otherwise; the decorative (pointy) end of your toe plate looks a bit timid to my eye, maybe broaden it when you make a new one, also, plan on creating a totally new inlet for it when you get there because trying to fit one into an existing inlet is a whole lot of trouble. I think you'll find it fairly easy to match and blend the finish or may opt to do a complete refinish after you do any other improvements to the gun.

I notice that you left the escutcheons proud of the stock, those are normally inlet and filed flush with the stock surface as are the screw heads to the escutcheons.

Good job! Be proud.

dave

[Mauser06]

Thanx Dave!   


I don't like the escutcheons...the stock was cut for TC plates..they sit as shown..i ordered replacements and they were smaller than the inlet...was going to inlet the TC ones but didn't because of the design and cut of the inlet..i wasn't sure if I could get them flush and still have wood to support them...

Thought about pouring pewter ones but thought I had enough "silver" going on...

I'm not crazy about them..just couldn't figure out a way to correct them..one of the faults of stsrting with such a stock...


Before the metal was finished the toe plate/but plate looked pretty sorry..now..i really doubt I touch it..not perfect...but it's not horrible..

Again..i ran into issues with the toe plate..i know typically they are the entire under edge of the stock not inlet like I did mine...I ordered mine and it was too small...i really should have ordered a different butt plate and slimmed the entire rifle a bit..


Way too hot to shoot today lol...90 and extremely humid...that's no fun...and my work schedule was all goofy...I'm not in any kind of mood to be hot lol... Saturday or Sunday look better!

[Mauser06]

Well...i shot her today!   And obviously survived to tell about it!



I started with 30gr and a roundball...figured hard be plenty to get it out of the bore and if something fails I shouldn't blow up bad...barrel was factory new from green mountain and breech plug installed etc so no real worries...but better be safe than sorry...


I worked clear upto 110gr of 3f and a 350gr conical I had a partial box of laying around...

No issues at all...gun fired nice and fast...

I was worried about my lack of stock shaping skills and slightly improper layout of the buttplate and those errors possibly creating recoil issues ....none..recoiled nicely straight back..nice push..no jabs from the buttplate or anything....



After shooting it and carrying it a bit I might da like the weight that I initially didn't like..it's a bit muzzle heavy but holds very steady...

Green Mountain doesn't make the drop in barrels anymore and it'd almost be a shame to drill it out...if I decide to change it I'm sure someone would love to have a fast twist barrel for a TC..

I'm going to try a couple Conicals and see how they do on paper...if I find one that shoots well I think I will hunt with it this fall....then if I want to go to a bigger roundball barrel I an order a 1" Colerain for it...


Or,  build myself a long rifle and give that one to dad...hes never fired a flintlock...part of me building this one was so dad could use one if he wants....I'd love to get him into it...his eyes lit up like a little kids on Christmas morning when I finished it and let him take a look at my work...

So...i have plenty of options...i definitely want to build more guns now...we'll see how the Conicals shoot...I'm guessing I will find one to shoot well and hunt with it this fall...i am running out of time and don't see myself starting another till next February after the hunting seasons...

But I think I'm going to squirrel away parts...i want a longrifle of some sort and a pistol... figure if I start buying a part here n there I will have parts for both set away before long...doesn't sting nearly as bad to spend $100 here..$200 there...

I will definitely put more thought into the next builds....


Anyways....here's a few pics of her in the sunshine today...











I'm pretty dang happy with it considering its my first...


Thank you all for the help, info, feedback and this forum in general...i did a ton of reading on here prior to posting which helped me along the way....

[Caihlen]

Mighty fine.  Mighty fine.

[SingleMalt]

You took a "ho-hum" mass production piece and turned it into a one-of-a-kind rifle.  Good job!  I'm surprised at the amount of curl in your stock.  The "tiger's eye" effect you mentioned only comes from aqua fortis.  Regular stain can't touch it for looks.

[Mauser06]

Thanx!! 


It was a grade 4 stock from pectonia river...


I did everything I knew of to try to make it absolutely pop...scraped not sanded...burnished with antler.. rubbed out Chamber's oil with rottenstone between coats...used Kibler's tannic acid and iron nitrate...i wanted darker stripes...I think a 2nd application of the iron nitrate may have given that to me...but I am very happy with how it turned out... it's truly holographic depending on lighting and the angle...there's curl and figure in the blonder areas I rubbed out that pop and are hard to get on camera...

A lot of time went into the finish...but I love how it turned out..


I was extremely nervous and anxious about the project over the months...i had no idea how it was going to turn out...I've never worked with maple...I've never inlet parts..I've never drilled and tapped metal...

I learned a lot....


I really enjoyed it as well....

When I get a house I am planning to put together my own shop...

I am eligible to retire when I m 52...23 years away lol...but I can see myself building rifles and turkey calls as a side hobby/job.  Not so of the money...but because I enjoy it and will give me stuff to do whenever I feel like it...maybe by then I'd be producing rifles people would pay for lol...

[IROCZ]

Really nice job on this. I just picked up a T/C Hawken built from a kit and "they" absolutely ruined the stock by oversanding it. It seems you have found the answer to that Mr Mauser.

[Bob Roller]

Really nice job on this. I just picked up a T/C Hawken built from a kit and "they" absolutely ruined the stock by oversanding it. It seems you have found the answer to that Mr Mauser.

I have heard the term "THEY" say this that or the other thing.
A friend has a picture of they. It is the staff and management of a UFO.

Bob Roller

[Mauser06]

Thanx Irocz!   


I didn't find the answer for over sanding....did a bunch of reading on how to bring out as much as possible in a maple stock....

The answer I settled with was how I finished it...scrape not sand..then acid stains...oil and burnishing...then rubbing out each layer of oil..


It resulted as I hoped... pictures don't do it justice...it's truly holographic..move it slowly and different figure pops and appears to change color...it looks completely different in different lighting as you can see from indoor pics vs the outdoor...

Finishing the wood took a fair amount of time...but like single malt said, finishingany other way wouldn't have produced the same results...the clarity is amazing and that's what makes everything pop...



I'm guessing the TC you just picked up has a factory walnut stock??   Mine does too...I refinished it numerous times...I still don't like it lol...for a while I had issues with it...I'm thinking the previous owner swamped it and didn't dry it or something...I stripped the finish and let it sit in a dry well circulated room for a month or 2.  Then finished it and the finish turned out better...

[IROCZ]

Really nice job on this. I just picked up a T/C Hawken built from a kit and "they" absolutely ruined the stock by oversanding it. It seems you have found the answer to that Mr Mauser.

I have heard the term "THEY" say this that or the other thing.
A friend has a picture of they. It is the staff and management of a UFO.

Bob Roller

Well Bob, "They" shouldn't be allowed in the same room with a gunstock and sand paper! The walnut on this T/C was rather nice, but "they" sanded every sharp line off until it is like a well used bar of soap. They sanded so much that the brass is proud everywhere and the butt plate does not match the lower line of the butt stock. I haven't weighed it but it feels a pound lighter than a factory T/C.  I did get it for $100 bucks though, barrel and metal like new. Mr. Mauser has given me hope here.

[IROCZ]

Mr. Mauser, I think mine was a kit gun even though there is no K in the serial number. I'm going to order a Petonica replacement stock also and give it a go. The cure for oversanding, at least in my rifles case is replacement. Thanks again.

[Bob Roller]

Really nice job on this. I just picked up a T/C Hawken built from a kit and "they" absolutely ruined the stock by oversanding it. It seems you have found the answer to that Mr Mauser.

I have heard the term "THEY" say this that or the other thing.
A friend has a picture of they. It is the staff and management of a UFO.

Bob Roller

Well Bob, "They" shouldn't be allowed in the same room with a gunstock and sand paper! The walnut on this T/C was rather nice, but "they" sanded every sharp line off until it is like a well used bar of soap. They sanded so much that the brass is proud everywhere and the butt plate does not match the lower line of the butt stock. I haven't weighed it but it feels a pound lighter than a factory T/C.  I did get it for $100 bucks though, barrel and metal like new. Mr. Mauser has given me hope here.

IROCZ,
I fully support your opinion about sand paper or any other tools and idiots in the same room.
My friend Bob Wilson used to say there are people who can destroy an anvil with a rubber hammer
and these are related to these you mentioned.

Bob Roller

[Mauser06]

.....I will freely admit I refinished my TC stock numerous times and by the way you describe the stock you have, it could be mine! Lol.   Didn't know any better and I was having a heck of a time with the factory finish...

I bought the rifle used but like new condition although a fairly old gun...

As soon as I started carrying it the finish flaked and chipped and cracked and peeled..I refinished it many times with various finishes...it always gave me fits..it was never clear and turned almost a white hazy look...


I've talked to other guys with the same issue with the factory TC finish...maybe an issue on some from a certain time period...I don't know...it's odd..I've refinished other stocks and never had an issue (and since learned to properly sand etc...lol)



But yes....my TC stock is pretty well ruined by my own inexperience...

[Mauser06]

First kill today!!!   

[Mauser06]

So I was heading home...needed to unload the gun but the only groundhog in the field was a small one...and wasn't very close...


I gave it my best effort....

I was shocked it dropped...


87 yards with the laser.   


Now when I whiff a deer I'm gunna have trouble blaming myself or the gun!

[wvbuckbuster]

what load did you use on those whistle pigs?

[Mauser06]

the load may be unmentionable here....i may be banished lol....



100gr of 3f Goex and a 300gr Thor..

the barrel has a fast twist in it...i found it fair cheap for a new Green Mountain barrel that they no longer make...

if you read through the post i was considering boring it out...or putting together a roundball barrel for it...

kinda jumped into the build by accident...found the barrel...thought the stock was finish and attach the parts type deal...rather than try to return all the parts i decided to make it all work...



i wanted to test the Thors...(a Barnes 100% copper full bore bullet) 







i was very happy...figure i will leave it alone and see how they do on deer...


planning the next build...it'll be a long rifle and a roundball gun...

[Curt Lyles]

I see a couple of nice hunting pouchs there. Bark tan them and your ready to go.

[IROCZ]

Nice shooting Brother.

[Mick C]

Really nice looking rifle and a great flow of pictures.  Very much enjoyed following your process....Mick C