Converting from a percussion lock to a flintlock

[wayback40]

I have a 50 cal percussion rifle with a Green Mountain barrel.  It shoots great but I would like to have it switched to a flintlock.  It currently has an L&R Bedford County Percussion lock.  L&R also makes a Bedford County Flint lock.  I am thinking if the percussion drum was removed from the barrel then a vent liner could be installed and the flint lock installed.

I have been shooting muzzleloaders for 25 years but I am a shooter not a builder.  My questions are:  
         1. Will this work?
         2. What am I missing or forgetting?
         3. Any reason NOT to change it to flintlock?

If it helps here are some pics.  <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s393.photobucket.com/user/wayback40/embed/slideshow/"></iframe>

Thanks,
Kevin

[sz]

Yes it should switch over fairly easily.

[okieboy]

 What are you missing? When you pull the drum, its threads will be the smallest thread that you can replace it with, which MAY mean that the liner has to be made. Easy job for most of us.
 Any reason not to to change to flintlock? Not if all you care about is shooting that particular gun. But. If you are getting interested in gun building and you are going to spend money on a Bedford style lock, then that money could go toward building a Bedford style (or some other style) rifle. The gun you have is a non-Bedford gun with a Bedford lock, so this seems like an opportunity to upgrade and learn new skills, but it really depends on where you are wanting to go.

[FALout]

As stated, the drum will need to be pulled to see thread size to buy or make a vent. A countersink will be needed when installing new vent.  A new lock may not fit exactly if current lock plate edges were modified when rifle was built, then new holes will need to be drilled and tapped in new lock to match current lock.  It's easilydoable if you can work on rifles, but if your just a "shooter", you might want to find someone to do it for you.  I wouldn't mess with that drum unless you are committed to hanging it over.  If you mess up the position of the drum on the barrel you'll either have a hammer not hitting correctly or the drum will be loose which could be dangerous for you or a shooter next to you!  Once you go flint, you never go back (hardly ever, in my case only with Hawkens rifles).

[okawbow]

I've done the same conversion on my Bedford style rifle with L&R locks. I made my own liner. For some reason, the vent hole did not line up perfectly, but is close enough that ignition is very good. It probably has to do with the design of the lock plates.

You will need to cut out a notch for the flint hammer where it will seat against the top of the lock, on the stock wood. I do that by I talking the flintlock, and lowering the hammer until it touches the wood. I only remove just a small amount of wood this way where the hammer touches.

Personally, I have several other flint rifles, and wish I had left the Bedford as a percussion.

Chuck

[wayback40]

Thanks for all the information.  If I have it converted I won't do it myself.  I would have to find someone to do it for me.  I wanted to make sure there wasn't something major that I was missing first.  I know I will have the cost in the parts, now I just have to find out what the cost is to have someone convert it.  I guess I am figuring or at least hoping that it is quite a bit cheaper to convert it than to have a whole new gun built.  Any thoughts on that?

Thanks again!
Kevin

[Daryl]

Jim Chambers converted this one for me - a number of years ago, form caplock to flint.  Both locks were L&R, English styled locks. I can't remember the name.

[Hungry Horse]

 It appears your gun was constructed with a train wreck of mismatched parts. So, keeping it in one particular style is pointless. If it were mine, I would go with a flintlock  of a little larger size than the Bedford, and a little more in keeping with some of the architecture of the gun. The Bedford flintlocks aren't known to be the best L&R makes. If a large Siler would fit the lock panels that is the direction I would go.

   Hungry Horse

[Bob Roller]

Jim Chambers converted this one for me - a number of years ago, form caplock to flint.  Both locks were L&R, English styled locks. I can't remember the name.

Good looking rifle. That lock looks like the L&R Durs Egg.

Bob Roller