Author Topic: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader  (Read 7467 times)

Mississippi Mike

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Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« on: December 17, 2013, 06:06:06 PM »
I found a set of barrels that appear to be barrel blanks. There is no chamber cut into the barrels. Just the start of a few threads.
SO, since I do not have to deal with the chamber when building the breach plugs..... What would you guys do different than the procedure outlined in Wm. Brockway's book?

Mr. Brockway says to drill a 3/8" hole in the plugs to help use up the length of the chambers (after you cut off about half of the chamber).
Would you want to have a larger hole in the plug and drill and tap for a shorter plug?

The breech measures .810 .710 in both barrels.
The muzzle measures .813 .713 on one side and .790 .690 on the other side.
The barrels marks show..."18.2" (12 GA??), script "EL" (Belgium??), "JF" (Jansen Freres??) and "star over L" (Salmon Antoine).... (Star over "I" was not used.)

This above information came from a site named "DAMASCUS-BARRELS.COM"..... SO, do these marks tell me this barrel set is damascus?

Anyway, here is a few pics of the barrel:







Any comments and ADVICE is greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone,

Mike

« Last Edit: December 19, 2013, 01:34:29 PM by Mississippi Mike »

Offline Longknife

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2013, 07:00:27 PM »
Mike I have a set of those Belgium  barrels also. First, the 18.2 is the bore size and should mic out to about .719, ( actual 12 ga. is .729) where are you getting the .810,,,813,,,and .790 measurements???? IF the bore is in fact .719 ( and the od of the barrels are 1 1/8 like mine) then you will need to drill and tap the barrels for  7/8 14 plugs, make your breech plugs like in the book but shorten them considerably, some where between 5/8 and 3/4. Then counter bore them just like Bill shows in his book.  I have started a SXS myself with a set of those barrels in 16 ga.  When I get time I will post some pics here....Ed
« Last Edit: December 17, 2013, 07:25:06 PM by Longknife »
Ed Hamberg

Offline Longknife

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2013, 07:02:53 PM »
PS. I do not think they are Damascus,,,,,Ed
Ed Hamberg

Offline FlintFan

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2013, 07:24:22 PM »


SO, do these marks tell me this barrel set is damascus?



The only way to know for sure, is to polish a small area and swab on a little ferric chloride.  That will make the pattern evident, if there is any. 

Mississippi Mike

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2013, 07:56:39 PM »
Ed,
I screwed up my measurements. The inside dimension for one barrel is .692.... the other is .715.
At the breach they measure .705 to .708.





I do plan to polish up a spot and see what develops.

Mike
« Last Edit: December 19, 2013, 01:25:10 PM by Mississippi Mike »

Mississippi Mike

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2013, 01:32:07 PM »
So, since these barrels seem to be unfinished and are measuring undersized I ordered an adjustable hand reamer that adjusts from 21/32 (.656) to 23/32 (.719). This should true up the barrels to a cylinder bore of .719.

 


Offline Dphariss

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2013, 04:34:59 PM »
Pull the reamer do not push it.

Dan
He who dares not offend cannot be honest. Thomas Paine

Offline Rolf

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2013, 04:37:46 PM »
Where can you buy an adjustable hand reamer?

Best regards
Rolf

Mississippi Mike

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2013, 04:47:17 PM »
Pull the reamer do not push it.

Dan

Thanks for that advice Dan.

Mike

Mississippi Mike

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2013, 04:49:18 PM »
Where can you buy an adjustable hand reamer?

Best regards
Rolf

Most drill and machine tool websites have them.
http://drillsandcutters.com/
« Last Edit: December 19, 2013, 05:05:40 PM by Mississippi Mike »

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2013, 05:47:57 PM »
 Those look like some of those unfinished Belgian shotgun barrels Turner Kirkland imported about 25 or 30 years ago. Man oh man, I bought a pile of those unfinished barrels. I wanted the ones that were still singles, before they were mated into doubles. They made great short trade guns, and horse pistols. You really had to watch them though, there were many gauges that were not common to the U.S., and occasionally you would get one that wasn't finish reamed inside. Some of those barrels had proofs on them and some did not, So I always proofed the barrel before I built the gun. I still have a few orphans from that purchase floating around in the shop. I think they were three for ten dollars,  you had to buy them three at a time, and there was no guarantee of gauge, or barrel length. They are good strong barrels, even though they look light.

                     Hungry Horse

Mississippi Mike

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2013, 06:09:03 PM »
Oh, so the story starts to unfold. Thanks for that info Hungry Horse!

Yes, after I get some plugs in the breach end I plan to proof the barrels before I go any further. Good to know they have a reputation for being strong barrels.

Mike

Offline Longknife

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2013, 06:41:53 PM »
Mike, look real close at those barrels, I bet the difference in bore size is because the left barrel is choked. They are usually marked on the bottom "choke". Here is a handy tool for cleaning up smooth bores...I use these with an extension made out of an Erwin speedbore 12" extension with about 2 foot added for extra length....Ed

http://www.brushresearch.com/brushes.php?c1=1
« Last Edit: December 19, 2013, 06:48:26 PM by Longknife »
Ed Hamberg

Mississippi Mike

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2013, 07:07:18 PM »
Thanks Ed!

Mike

SuperCracker

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Re: Starting a Double Barrel Muzzleloader
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2013, 08:59:56 PM »
Do those adjustable reamers leave as good of a finish as regular hand reamers?