First game with my new flintlock....

[GANGGREEN]

I got tired of lugging heavy flintlocks around for full-day hunts, so I built myself a really light "still-hunting rifle" out of a cherry stock and B-weight .50 Colerain barrel this summer.  The rifle weighs in at precisely 6 pounds and I like it a lot, though I know it's not the prettiest or best built rifle out there.

I tend to be quite busy during Pennsylvania's rifle deer season, but I got free for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon and was intent on taking the first legal deer that I had a good shot at (buck or doe) and I dropped this little skipper about 5 minutes into my hunt.  He's destined for hot dogs and ring balogna.

The recipe was 75 grains of FFg, pre-lubed .015 patch and .490 round ball.  The ball traversed both lungs before becoming lodged in the Hawthorn sapling that you see in the first photo.  Hopefully I can get out after Christmas in our primitive flintlock season and take a larger doe or a mature buck.

[Bob Roller]

Pretty IS as pretty Does. This is efficiency with pretty not a factor and my kind of rifle.

Bob Roller

[bob in the woods]

My 20 bore officer's fusil [ Chamber's] has a cherry stock and it is a joy to carry and shoot. I happen to like the look of a cherry stock. Congratulations on your deer and a very nice rifle

[moleeyes36]

Not a bad looking rifle at all and certainly a good, light one to carry in the woods.  Good luck on your next hunt as well.

Mole Eyes

[FDR]

Hope your knife was sharp the rifle is.  Bang flop what more is required.

[David R. Pennington]

Good job, neat rifle. Good eats. That cherry gets prettier over time. Older I get the heavier my rifles become, that's why I took my .40 cherry stock hunting first time this year. Wish I had fixed a strap on mine. My little spike fell in just about the most remote spot on the 150 acres I hunt on and I realized I had no rope to drag with. I made one with a grapevine through leg tendons and twisted together with one boot lace tied around to keep it together. On uphill drags I carried rifle ahead and went back for deer. Whew!

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks everyone.  I built this rifle to be completely utilitarian and it appears that it works.     The knife was also sharp, a real beauty made by Marvin Wotring (he builds the WVU Mountaineers longrifles, among other things) and given to me as a gift from a mentor and friend.  I've really gotten the bug for building and I surely hope that my skills continue to improve, but I can't say that I'm at all disappointed in this little rifle.

[hanshi]

You did well; on both the deer AND the rifle.  I like plain rifles and that's all I own.  Don't forget the plain sister in the family is often the best cook and is the prize in other ways, too.  You have a gun building talent that will serve you well.

[oldtravler61]

Congratulations. Pretty an fancy  is nice. But a hunting gun is that. An I really like yours. Good job.

[CoSnipe]

Any game with a flintlock is an achievement, congratulations.

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks, you're all way too kind, really.  I just spent an hour on stand looking at the many mistakes that I made on the gun but I guess I'll still keep her.     This was my 4th build, but my first from an unshaped blank and overall I'm pleased with how she turned out.  I named her, "The Red Dog".......

[wattlebuster]

Congrats to ya.

[Don Adams]

Congrats! Sometimes you just get excited about going hunting you forget the drag rope and sometimes other needed accessories.

[Fred Hembree]

Congratulations from the hills of Tennessee.

[Osprey]

Congrats!  Many more to come I hope!

[Pat_Cameron]

Thanks for sharing the hunt and photo's.
Looks like some tender venison there.

I always figured that a fitting tribute to a fine rifle like that is
to have the rifle very near by so you can admire it while
enjoying a fine venison meal.
It makes the meal taste just a little bit better.

Pat

[shifty]

  That is a wonderfull looking rifle, i bet it is a good shooter and
Ole Red Dog will just keep getting prettier with age! Congrats on your successful hunt.