Lock to Ramrod web

[Sbolt]

Folks, I am working on my second build (the first was a Chambers in 2002) for my son.  Maple is from Dixons, Chambers lock.  in the course of inletting the lock mainspring I have managed to intrude into the ramrod channel at the forward end of the lock. I've tried to ensure that the lock is square to the barrel and confirmed that the pan is flush to the barrel side flat. is this the end of the world?  is it worth mitigating with a shaving from the side plate side and glue?  My first takeaway is that my skills need to be sharper, along with my tools- but I'd really like to not have to start over on a new blank.   I look forward to your guidance- this forum was a instrumental in getting the early Lancaster finished -  thanks in advance.  Steve

[Scota4570]

It happens.  It is OK.  Move on. 

[smallpatch]

Nearly every gun I build has this issue to some degree. Usually not an issue.
You’re kinda stuck with it because the pan needs to be flush with the barrel, and the dimensions are close.
Fit your ramrod in place, and make sure everything clears.  Should be fine.

[sqrldog]

Don't worry about it if all else is square as you indindicate. I have seen originals with the mainspring inlet going slightly into the ramrod hole. Unless the ramrod hole is skewed toward the lock significantly all will be fine. That end of the ramrod is usually tapered anyway. Many early original locks had the spring positioned lower on the plate to help alleviate this problem. Tim

[Sbolt]

Thanks all for the speedy response.  Moving on.....

[Bob McBride]

I have seen that on many high end gunmaker’s work and it’s on fully 1/3 of all my guns to some degree. It’s part and parcel.

[Stoner creek]

I have seen that on every high end gunmaker’s work and it’s on fully 1/3 of all my guns. It’s part and parcel.

None of my 3 Brennan guns have that going on. Would you consider him a high end gun maker??

[Bob McBride]

I have seen that on every high end gunmaker’s work and it’s on fully 1/3 of all my guns. It’s part and parcel.

None of my 3 Brennan guns have that going on. Would you consider him a high end gun maker??

Well, Waynester, I would indeed, and I'll bet it's on more than one of his too, though probably not on his, or any of their best work. I'm not necessarily a 'best work' buyer. I meant it happens to everyone and it's not something that would cause a man to start over. I could be wrong. I often am.

(edit: I did edit my post above because it wasn't entirely accurate) 

[Eric Kettenburg]

It happens all the time and it would only be considered an issue by someone with a contemporary mind set.  Some folks try to cheat the rammer hole toward the sideplate to avoid it but as noted above it's no issue at all unless the hole wandered toward the lock side and the spring is intruding halfway or more into the hole.  I've not only seen it commonly - in fact, more often than not - in antique rifles, but I've seen quite a few antiques with a combination of wide mainspring and big barrel breech, necessitating filing or chiseling into the barrel breech to allow clearance for the spring.  Apparently, the spring strength and integrity was considered more important than excess metal at the breech.

[Stoner creek]

I have seen that on every high end gunmaker’s work and it’s on fully 1/3 of all my guns. It’s part and parcel.

None of my 3 Brennan guns have that going on. Would you consider him a high end gun maker??

Well, Waynester, I would indeed, and I'll bet it's on more than one of his too, though probably not on his, or any of their best work. I'm not a 'best work' buyer. I meant it happens to everyone and it's not something that would cause a man to start over. I could be wrong. I often am.

I did see a runout once. On an extremely high end piece ($30k+) that didn’t show up until the gun was finished. It got a little bit of rain on it then, poof!!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

This oops occurs when we use parts that perhaps are not as compatible as they could be.  For example, if we build a rifle with a 13/16" parallel barrel and drill a 3/8" rod hole, we'll likely encounter this phenomenon.  This is where pre-planning and design (drawing) pays off.  Also, departing from original design to facilitate a light weight skinny rifle will set you up for this sort of nuisance.

[B.Barker]

Main spring inlet intruding into the ramrod hole has to do with many factors. The breech width, size of lock and if the drill bit wondered when drilling the rammer hole. Oh also the diameter of the hole. I use a 5/16" hole most of the time so this problem is  less likely yo happen. You can make a scraper to move the hole over some also and glue a new piece of wood in to cover the opening if it bothers you too much.

[Bob Roller]

I have seen that on every high end gunmaker’s work and it’s on fully 1/3 of all my guns. It’s part and parcel.

None of my 3 Brennan guns have that going on. Would you consider him a high end gun maker??

No,He is a VERY high end gunmaker.

Bob Roller

[Eric Kettenburg]

...though probably not on his, or any of their best work.

Worrying about this issue, hidden inside the stock and assuming it is not actively interfering with a tapered rod or mandating an excessively tapered rod, is like inletting the lock sear spring and leaving that tiny little triangle wedge of wood inside the spring.  It's a show-off, completely nonfunctional issue.  Most anyone can do it if you want to take the added time, but again, it's a "contemporary" thing.  Using it as a measurable standard in any way is entirely contemporary - especially when considering most of us nowadays are paying someone else to run our barrel channels and rammer channels/holes.

[Stoner creek]

I have seen that on every high end gunmaker’s work and it’s on fully 1/3 of all my guns. It’s part and parcel.

None of my 3 Brennan guns have that going on. Would you consider him a high end gun maker??

No,He is a VERY high end gunmaker.

Bob Roller

Just checked, my House gun doesn’t have that going on either!

[rich pierce]

The lack of this issue has little to do with high end versus middle of the road builders. A huge number of guns by un-famous builders have no such issue. Taylor nailed it. Narrow barrel, big lock, fat ramrod- much more likely to pop up.

[Stoner creek]

 I remember Jack Rouse actually diverting the path of his ramrod hole drill by cutting a slightly offset channel in the forearm.  That channel makes a handy place to locate a rear barrel lug too!  He normally used straight barrels and a lock with the large Siler mainspring. I’ve borrowed his idea a number of times through the years.

[BOB HILL]

Dennis Priddy inleted a couple of swamped barrels for me one time. He explained that he bends the stock blank while drilling the ramrod hole and directs the hole to the sideplate side. He said it doesn't take much to do it.
Bob