Building a chunk gun

[Sandhiller]

Thinking about building a chunk gun. No shooting matches in this area but I would like to do this kind of shooting. Probably have to travel to Freindship once a year to compete. If you were going to build a chunk gun what would yours look like. Caliber, Barrel length & width, Barrel make, if Underhammer what action, what are your sight options and anything else you can think of? Pictures of some chunk guns showing features would be appreciated.

[Tim Crosby]

 This maybe helpful;

    http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=12365.0


     Tim C.

[Kermit]

Here's my space gun, when Jeff still owned it. Massive. Bucks the wind--and most earthquakes.

http://underhammers.blogspot.com/2011/03/underhammer-chunkin.html

[smokinbuck]

kermit,
I've seen this rifle at the York. Didn't know it was in your hands now. That's one I'd like to have in my stable.
Mark

[Sandhiller]

Thanks Tim I followed that thread for it entirety when I first started reading on this site.

[Sandhiller]

Kermit, your rifle is the one that got me thinking of building a chunk gun. If I remember right it was for sale some time ago but I didn't have the funds at the time to make a stab at buying it. Is Bowers still making actions? Sure like how it looks. Is the forward screw what allows the barrel to be detached? Thanks for your replys.

[Don Getz]

A few things to be considered when building your chunk gun.    When you "design" the buttstock, make sure the comb will be
high.  Have the sights installed on the barrel, then work the comb down so that you will have to cheek the stock rather hard.
You should be "getting into" the stock, grip it tightly.  Years ago Ron Borron built me a chunk gun, a southern mountain style,
out of curly ash, a 46" barrel, 1 1/8" straight in 50 cal.  Initially I did not score well with it.  I then built the comb up with three
pieces of leather to the point of where I had to cheek it in order to get the sights aligned.  After doing this I finished 5th at the
next Alvin York shoot.  Finished several more times in the top 10.  When I tell some of the locals about finishing 5th, they look
strangely at you for bragging about it, untill you tell them that you beat over 200 other shooters.   It was fun while it lasted.
I must give the table shoot a try, I'm really ready for a good laugh........Don

[Kermit]

Yes, Sandhiller, it's the forward screw--or screws. There's one on each side, Allen head. My kit includes a T-handle. It's too much to transport as a unit. The barrel travels in its own box. I can try to get some photos of the connection if it would be instructive.

Don't know if Bowers is still active. You might ask Ed Rayl, since he's the one partly responsible.

BTW, someone commented as to the need for a stepstool. I pack a folding one along, and I'm 6'4".

[gunmaker]

Fella up in WA. state makes a nice UH lockwork.  Calls outfit "blue grouse"  253-973-9748 also a place called Fire and iron-don't have no# tho.  I have a blue grouse action on a .54 rifle under const. ....Tom

 here it is, some of it..

[Kermit]

John Taylor, also in Washington, makes UH actions. Good ones too, in the triggerguard spring style, a la "H&A."

http://www.johntaylormachine.com/

[smokinbuck]

Sandhiller,
I think Charlie Bowers is still making his UH actions, and may be barreling them also. I don't have contact information but Robin may at; p.r.warner@hotmail.com. A couple of the fellows are shooting his actions at the table shoots. The Blue Grouse actions are identical to what Deer Creek was marketing and is based directly on the old H&A actions with the exception of the set screw barrel attachment instead orf a tapered thru pin. I've tried a few times to contact them but have had little luck.
Mark

[Kermit]

Me, too, Mark. When I lived not far from Blue Grouse, I could never get response to either email or voice mail. I got the feeling it's a part-time business at best. Then I discovered John Taylor...

[Dphariss]

Thinking about building a chunk gun. No shooting matches in this area but I would like to do this kind of shooting. Probably have to travel to Freindship once a year to compete. If you were going to build a chunk gun what would yours look like. Caliber, Barrel length & width, Barrel make, if Underhammer what action, what are your sight options and anything else you can think of? Pictures of some chunk guns showing features would be appreciated.

Mine looks like this.


44 x 1 1/4" gain twist 50 cal barrel by Jim McLemore. 17 pounds 12 ounces.

Dan

[Mark Elliott]

Here is my chunk gun.   It is built around a custom Getz barrel that is a duplicate of one they made for the Bevel Brothers.   It is 46", 1 1/8" diameter, straight, in 45 caliber.  The recommended load is 90gr FFF.   I always shoot a .020" pillow ticking patch, dry lubed with Ballistol, and a ball .005" under the bore.   You either need to be a big guy like me or have a hammer to get this load started.   I am using a custom tuned Chambers Late Ketland lock and a Davis double set trigger assembly.   The pull, drop and castoff is a bit less than normal and you have to really pull up tight to the cheek/comb to sight it.   

[moleeyes36]

Fella up in WA. state makes a nice UH lockwork.  Calls outfit "blue grouse"  253-973-9748 also a place called Fire and iron-don't have no# tho.  I have a blue grouse action on a .54 rifle under const. ....Tom

Here is the contact information for Fire and Iron http://www.fire-iron.biz/ Mark is a member here on ALR Forum.

Mole Eyes

[smokinbuck]

My chunk guns look like an engine a frame and wheels. Dan and Mark's look like works of art. I gues success is measured by results, I'll keep my art on the wall.
Mark

[Dphariss]

Guns do not have to be ugly to shoot well. Though in some circles such things as "pretty guns don't shoot" have been heard.

So I built one more like one would see in PA rather than Appalachia.





This is a composite of the above targets shot at 60 yards.

Dan

[smokinbuck]

Dan,
Please don't take my comment wrong, I think your work is outstanding and they obviously are shooters. Not haveing the ability, I have stuck with functionality. If I had the ability, I too would would have a functional work of art.
Mark

[Dphariss]

Dan,
Please don't take my comment wrong, I think your work is outstanding and they obviously are shooters. Not haveing the ability, I have stuck with functionality. If I had the ability, I too would would have a functional work of art.
Mark

Trust me I understand completely.
But not all heavy match rifles were Southern Mtn Rifles so I built something more like would (and did) come from PA.
I built this because I was tired of seeing some the the "chunk" guns I was seeing. These are invariably patterned after much later rifles like "Old Scaly" and other relatively late rifles from such as those used in the early 20th c and perhaps late 19th c. Since I wanted a FL I built a FL era rifle.

Dan

[Acer Saccharum]

Dan,
Please don't take my comment wrong, I think your work is outstanding and they obviously are shooters. Not haveing the ability, I have stuck with functionality. If I had the ability, I too would would have a functional work of art.
Mark

Sometimes I don't come across as I 'd hoped.

Ability. This is something that must be groomed, tweaked, built upon. Just because  you can't do something now, doesn't mean you can't do it tomorrow.

[smokinbuck]

Acer,
I guess my ability needs a lot of grooming. I've done a couple, and have one underway, but they just don't come out the way I envisioned them in my minds eye. Like so many others, I enjoy admiring the work of some of you fellows and am lucky enough to be the caretaker of a few, antique and contemporary.
Mark

[Mark Elliott]

Most chunk guns are pretty plain.    I have seen original heavy match rifles with an engraved four piece patch box but have never seen a carved one.    Speaking just for myself,  I get no enjoyment out of building a plain, purely functional rifle.   So,  if I am going to build something for myself,  it is going to be carved and engraved and will probably have a fantasy element to it.   For clients,  I stay pretty traditional.   I did what I did because that is what I enjoy.  I have a plain rifle to finish for a client, but the next one for a client is a copy of RCA #48.    I am pretty excited about that project.    You build what you can and what you enjoy.   If you are building for yourself, there is no reason not to go all out and push the envelope.   Of course,  my chunk gun is not just a chunk gun.  It is a sample of my work that I can haul around to gun shows.   So,  it has a dual purpose.     I guess it may have a triple purpose if you count holding the wall down.   

[Dennis Glazener]

Lets all remember that our rules state:

1.  The building or recreation of custom side lock muzzle loading sporting arms that would have been made or used in North America between 1607 and 1898."

Underhammers are certainly of interest to many, but ALR is dedicated to traditional sidelock arms. Lets please leave underhammers to other sites. Here is one that has been mentioned http://underhammers.blogspot.com

Thanks
Dennis

[Sandhiller]

I apologize Mr. Glazener for questions on the underhammer chunk guns. Forgot about that.

Didn't know if a flintlock could be competitive in the chunk game but I believe the targets posted above answer that question. That's very nice shooting. I have two flinters and enjoy shooting them the most.

What kind of open sights are you guys using? Any certain widths on the notch and front sight?

Also with the wider barrels on the flintlock rifles are the flash-hole liners custom made and does the width cause any ignition problems?

[Dphariss]

Dan,
Please don't take my comment wrong, I think your work is outstanding and they obviously are shooters. Not haveing the ability, I have stuck with functionality. If I had the ability, I too would would have a functional work of art.
Mark

Sometimes I don't come across as I 'd hoped.

Ability. This is something that must be groomed, tweaked, built upon. Just because  you can't do something now, doesn't mean you can't do it tomorrow.

Its hard to get people the try things sometimes.
Here goes. For those you "can't do that kind of work".
People are NOT BORN with the ability to shape, carve or engrave. THEY LEARN IT.
We have some fine builders in our Guild and we have quite a number who would like to be, a few apprentice level guys are actually doing some nice work. Others have the opportunity, the parts and people who want to help them. But they don't. Its maddening when we provide the opportunity to people and its still like pushing a rope. We WANT to help people. But .....
So if you are not making guns but want to, or building plain guns from kits or perhaps reworking a mass produced repro its EXPERIENCE and you cannot get this without doing and trying things so keep trying more and more. So TRY SOME DRAWING and some carving. Contact a wood seller and see if you can get some scraps or blocks to try some carving on. You can RENT videos after all.
 I shied from relief carving for a long time until I figured that it was kinda like inletting. Is it really? Well maybe, maybe not but its how I looked at it and it helped.  I knew how to inlet.
So TRY things. If you throw away a stock after screwing it up you still learn and can keep carving on it for sometime after its "scrap". Its a learning experience and learning is not free. One of mine is in Cody WY with a guy who as far as I know is not using it for carving practice
So if you have the desire to learn you have to do some work and put some money into it. Its not going to happen looking a pictures or reading a website. Nobody can make you try. But if you want to do these things you have to start doing it.
It IS possible to get intimidated, thinking "I can't do that". But how does one know if he does not spend some time TRYING? And I mean trying more than once. So GO FOR IT.

Dan