Couple of builds

[hpdrifter]

Just wanted to say hi.  I'm not completely new to black powder but I'm not greatly experienced either.

I had a TC Hawken for probably 30 years(50 cal) and I loved that rifle except the trigger pull was a bit long for my liking.  Always threatened to reduce it but some one alleviated me of that problem.  It was stolen a couple of years ago.  I replaced it with a GPR kit.
That "kit" liked to have worked me silly.  When I layed the barrel in, it was a 1/4 inch above the nose cap.  Had to work that down pretty good to get it "almost" sitting in the cap.  The the barrel tenons were a bit high to really get the wedges fit right.  But, I persevered.  I also worked the fishbelly out of the stock.
Doing that, put the cheekpiece down on the lowere stock line.  Had to whittle on that to raise it above the lower stock line.  Anyway, it shoots real good.
I've got a Leman or Henry, don't really know which.  I bought the parts off of a friend that got started on it.  Has L&R matching flint and percussion locks with a 33" Green Mountain 54 barrel.  Got most of that finished, just need to install drum and  finish metal.
Also have a 36 cal Douglas barrel on a blank I've got the barrel and lock inlet and the ramrod hole drilled.  Pictures when I figure out how.

[KLMoors]

Welcome. It sounds like you have some projects to keep you busy. As you have probably seen, there are plenty of helpful folks here to help answer questions. Have fun, go slow, and ask if you're not sure!

[moleeyes36]

Welcome.  I have a 42" Douglas .36 caliber barrel in a Southern Mountain style rifle that I've gotten at least 3 or 4 thousand shots through over the years.  I think you'll find that barrel to be a very accurate barrel if you up the powder charge some because of the rather slow (1 in 66) rate of twist for a .36.  Mine shoots the best with 35 grains of 3fg at 25 & 50 yards and 60 grains of 3fg at 100 yards.

Mole Eyes

[hpdrifter]

Thanks for the welcome.

Sorry if I sound a "know it all" by that first post.  I had more written as an introduction, but the message box started going bonkers and I cut out quite a bit of "introductory" phraseology and put more meat in there. Looks like this board is to the point, so I did also.

I've been reading and lurking quite a while and just joined about a week or so ago.

I've already learned a lot from the distinguished board members and hope to learn  a heck of a lot more.

 

[Archie Otto]

Welcome HP, I am here for the same reason, to learn and build and then learn some more.  I don't think you came across as a know-it-all but more like a guy who has a plan.

[Pete G.]

I would suggest that you build your rifle either flint or percussion and save the other lock for another build. A convertable rifle may sound like a good idea initially, but it never seems to work out that way. I believe that this idea started out in the 60's or 70's when quality flintlocks were difficult to find so the percussion lock was held in reserve in case the flint did not work out as well as planned. There were also different classes in a match for flint and percussion because the flint was seen as being inferior, but the case is not so in today's world. I truly believe that we will look back in years to come and note that the turn of the century was a second Golden Age for flintlock rifles.

[hpdrifter]

Pete, I feel the same way.  I'm leaning towards making this Leman/Henry a percussion.  The barrel seems too short to make it flint.

I can see a shorter barrel percussion, but not a short barrel flint. Am I wrong?
As I said before, I'm kinda "history" challenged when it comes to being well informed on period/school discipline.