Please help me choose my next build

[Tennessee.45]

I'm about to start building my next flintlock, I've narrowed it down to a Tn or SMR in .50, a Virginia in .58/24 gauge (either rifled or smooth) or a fowler in either 24 or 20 gauge.

[Mike Brooks]

I'm about to start building my next flintlock, I've narrowed it down to a Tn or SMR in .50, a Virginia in .58/24 gauge (either rifled or smooth) or a fowler in either 24 or 20 gauge.

SMR?  That covers NC,SC, VA, TN, KY, GA, & AL.Which era and school of Virginia gun did you have in mind? What flavor of fowling gun, New England, English, French Dutch, German etc......? Early-Late?

[Tennessee.45]

For the SM/Tn rifle something from the fentress county or Cumberland gap area, a Virginia rifle from the James river basin, Winchester or Shanndoah area, a New England/colonial fowler.

Not looking to copy any particular gun just something that might resemble something from those areas

[rich pierce]

That's a lot of variety. What will you use it for?

[Tennessee.45]

Hunting mostly, don't do much bird hunting and I'm thinking I may take the growler out of the mix.

[rich pierce]

The Virginia if you mean "early Virginia kit" would be more comfortable for me to shoot than a SMR.

[Tennessee.45]

I'm not a big fan of the crescent shaped buttplates but was thinking of making one that didn't have a deep curve to it, also really leaning towards an "Early Virginia" with a .58 smoothbore. Thought?

[oldtravler61]

  A 58 is good but what do you really want to hunt with it. Bigger is sometimes better but only if you can handle it well. A ticked off wild boar ( Russian) or bear needs to be dispatched quickly. They don't play well when upset......!  Oldtravler

[little joe]

Get in our archives andseek out the Bogle rifle Thought to be made about 1790-1810.I use this rifle for inspiration for some of my family projects.

[Tennessee.45]

  A 58 is good but what do you really want to hunt with it. Bigger is sometimes better but only if you can handle it well. A ticked off wild boar ( Russian) or bear needs to be dispatched quickly. They don't play well when upset......!  Oldtravler

I hunt hogs and there are more and more black bear around here now so I'm thinking a bigger caliber would be the better choice.