Pedersoli has a short rifle they call a Jaeger, but it's only likeness to said is that it is short. Periodically the really experienced guys on the forum will bad mouth it when somebody posts because it does not matter what you do to it, it'll never be a Jaeger.
When I first came back to 18th Century interests after 15 years in Cowboy Action, I bought one because I wanted a platform to try some rifle making skills, and was too chicken to start with a kit.
I learned the mechanics of carving on it ( inclusive of how badly I needed to practice and improve) , learned how to draw file by swamping the corners of the octagon because the balance was so bad ( it ended up still a little too heavy), learned all about forearm moulding and learned all about epoxy and filing when I got rid of the horrid black plastic piece at the base of the patchbox by replacing that and the toe with real bone.
I shot it once and got it to group pretty well but stopped short of replacing the trigger guard because, in Mike Brook's words..."It'll never be a Jaeger."
I flipped it, went to Pecatonica for parts, and made one from their stock.
One of the major areas of profit I got out of all this was an appreciation for the guys on this forum.
If it comes to a make or buy with a factory gun, make...
