Opening up end of barrel channel to allow easier ball start

[Lindisfarne793]

Our own "Longknife" produces one. See this URL for pricing.
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=4330.0

The URL below shows a tutorial on how its done.
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=4375.msg40866#msg40866
Dennis

I've used this tool on barrels from .32 to .54 and have observed no loss of accuracy but much easier loading.

Thanks; this is what i needed. I shot longknife a message.

[Daryl]

All 3 of those Hawken rifles appear to have filed crowns, Herb.  The top 2 appear to have deepened grooves only while the bottom one has both lands and grooves filed.

[hanshi]

Most of my guns have had the "thumb smoothing" treatment.  Actually, I start off using a conical plumb bob.  Being sharp pointed it will fit about any caliber.  I start off with coarse sandpaper then go to a bit finer grade.  This gets the heavy work done evenly.  The last step is with emory cloth and a thumb.  Yes, it does take a while but I'm congenitally slow, anyway.  As far as I can tell they look quite even.

[leoparddog]

I ordered mine from Ed today.  I'll do my .50 Hawkens first before I do my .54 Lancaster that I'm still building on.

Looking forward to not needing that short starter any more.  I can't count the times I've lost, dropped, broken or forgotten that thing.