Author Topic: removing snail from percussion barrel  (Read 1270 times)

Offline eggwelder

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removing snail from percussion barrel
« on: October 21, 2018, 02:42:15 AM »
 been lurking this forum for a while, checking out the craftsmen like Runastav and others.
 I have an old english fowling barrel in 12 bore. it is from a percussion gun, and i would like to convert it to flint. the plan is to build a full stock smooth bore. i have the original breech plug as well. the issue is that i want to cut or ground off the snail, plug the remains of the vent, and drill a touch hole for a flintlock. i don't want to cut off the snail and rebreech, as i don't think the threads in the original breech plug could ever be matched, plus, i`d like to keep the little bit of decoration at the breech end of the barrel.
Runastav`s restoration of a Brown Bess brought this back up for me with his plugging of the bess`s percussion nipple hole.
what makes me think this will work is not only his example, but also threaded in vent liners that many flint barrels have.

Thoughts?

I know the correct answer is buy a new barrel, but many of us would not be on this site if we all thought that way.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2018, 12:42:24 AM by eggwelder »

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: removing snail from percussion barrel
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2018, 06:39:13 PM »
Your mentioning the gun being percussion, and having a snail instead of a drum, and nipple, indicates not only that this is an original percussion, but a late one as well. Why would you butcher an antique to build a gun that won’t serve as an antique, and more than likely will be a substandard shooter? Buy a replica, and leave the antique as it is.


  Hungry Horse

Offline Dave Marsh

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Re: removing snail from percussion barrel
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2018, 07:31:54 PM »
HH. I could be wrong but the way I am reading the post is he only has the barrel so he is not butchering an antique gun.   :)

Dave
"Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither freedom nor security."
~ Benjamin Franklin

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: removing snail from percussion barrel
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2018, 08:03:42 PM »
My bad, I thought you had a complete gun. I do maintain that using an antique barrel is iffy at best. I’d go with a new barrel if it were me.

  Hungry Horse

Offline eggwelder

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Re: removing snail from percussion barrel
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2018, 12:38:24 AM »
just the barrel.
it will receive a liner as well. (won't be 12 bore anymore)
not looking for shopping advice, i get that on the other site and don't post any builds on there at all anymore.