My first post and questions

[Mike Lyons]

I'm new to the flintlock world.  I've been looking around reading here for a while.  I've collected WWII rifles most of my life.  Mostly Garands, but I've had about everything.  I've did some minor stock work, gunsmithing and finishing but nothing like what this kit is going to take.  I just received my first flintlock kit from TV muzzleloading.  I'll try to post some pics.   My first of probably a billion questions is about removing the barrel and the ram rod fit.  It seems that this barrel is stuck.  It's not pinned in but it will not budge. It's going to have to be removed for browning.  Could I get some advice here.  I ordered the premium ++ wood and don't want to break it. The other question is the ramrod.  It goes in about an inch.  What's the trick here?  Thanks for all of your advice in advance.

[smylee grouch]

Welcome fellow vet. You are at the right place for assistance and good luck with your build. You will have many questions and this is the place to look for help. It sounds like you have a tight fit and that is good. A little slow coxing will get it loose for now. A sand job on the inside of the barrel channel might be in order to make it less tight. Not too much though. A little sand paper on the ramrod might help too.

[B.Barker]

Diameter of the ramrod may be a bit large or they may have had break and forgot to drill it all the way. Get a rod or wood dowel of a smaller diameter and see how far it goes down the hole. Let the stock set a few days and acclimate to the new surroundings it may have picked up moister. If it doesn't loosen up it will have to be taken out gently and its easier to show than explain how to do it. I usually tap the heel of the butt on the floor to pop the breech loose, not all the way out but it will usually start to come out a little. Then go back to the muzzle and start there and work down towards the breech. If you want to get a better hold on the barrel at the muzzle use a wood dowel that fits the bore. Then you can get a good hold on the barrel and grasp the stock tightly with your hand and work the barrel out a little bit and work the all the way down. Don't try to pull one section completely out of the stock at once or it will probably break. I probably confused you with that explanation. Like I said its easier for me to show you then tell you. Where are you located? Maybe your close enough to some one here that could help you out.

[Mike Lyons]

Thanks for the info.  I live in Catlettsburg, KY.   I'll be in Louisville this weekend but will give it a shot in a few days. Your post is completely understandable.

[Ky-Flinter]

Afghanvet,

Welcome to ALR and thank you for your service to our country.  Good looking kit.  The lock looks like it is on full cock.  Don't let it bite you.

On removing the barrel, you will need it out to install the underlugs and drill for the pins too.  Don't try to lever it up by the muzzle.  Bad things will happen, especially at the breech end.  As BBarker said, letting it sit a few days to acclimate is a good idea.

Here's how I remove a tight fitting barrel.  Put a towel or something soft on your bench for the barrel to land on.  Hold the gun barrel-side down and let the muzzle rest on the towel.  With one hand, hold the breech end of the stock a couple of inches above the towel.  With your other hand give the underside of the stock a smart whack.  Hopefully the breech-end of the barrel will pop out and you can carefully finish extracting it.  It might take a few tries. 

Are you trying to put the brass end of the ramrod in first?  It probably won't go.  Taper the other end of the rod a bit.

Do you have one of the books on building longrifles?  My favorite is Recreating the American Longrifle by William Buchele.

One last thing, go slow and have fun.  Good to have you with us.

-Ron

[EC121]

If there is a hole, it is probably the same size as the ramrod.  The rod will need to be sanded some to get it to fit without sticking..

[Dennis Glazener]

That tight barrel is to be expected. You will need to draw file the barrel to get the finish right for Browning. You may still need to sand the barrel channel but wait until you finish draw filing then see how tightly fits.
Welcome to ALR,
Dennis

[Eric Krewson]

I picked up a Kibler kit at a big discount on the classified here, when it arrived I noticed it had a small crack in the edge of the forearm, just where one would be if someone tried to pry the barrel out of the stock, it was an easy fix. To say the barrel was in tightly would be an understatement. It took a few tries but I did what was mentioned above, barrel side down on my bench and lightly tap, tap, tap upward on the buttstock. It took about 3 or 4 minutes of gently tapping before the barrel decided to move and gradually came out.

The barrel had a lot of milling marks showing so I drawfiled the sides and top flats, sanded to 220 and gave the barrel a test fit in the stock, a perfect fit, not too tight, not too loose, in and out easily.

I have a TOW Issac Haines kit that has an extremely tight barrel fit as well. I haven't started the kit but will get my drawfile out first thing when I do start on it.

Another thing; You will need to sand your barrel to 220 for browning or graying, you don't need to go any finer on your sand paper. 220 gives you the best surface for the browning to "take" on unless you are a master at drawfiling and can get the kind of finish you need by simply using a file, I never could.

First rifle, lousy build job and 400 git sanding of the lock and barrel, crummy browning.

 


Third rifle, OK build, 220 grit lock and barrel sanding, great browning job.

[Eric Krewson]

Ramrods, I have never had a stock ramrod go in the ramrod hole right off, they are all oversized. I chuck my rod blanks up in a drill and sand with 220 full length until they will go through one of the ramrod pipes easily but not too loosely. After you slim the rod down a bit it will probably go in the ramrod hole just fine. 

[JTR]

Maybe a bit after the fact, but I think now days, for a first time builder, I would have chosen one of Jim Kiblers' kits.
John

[Turtle]

 I have a 2 sizes of ramrod drills from track. They are a little oversize. I drill or re-drill;  all my stocks so a full sized ramrod will go full length in them. I had to do this to my Kiblier kit--VERY CAREFULLY!

[hanshi]

Welcome to ALR, Afghanvet, good luck with your build.  I will also mention that with all the ramrods I've fitted to my rifles, none would enter the drilled holes.  It took careful sanding and scraping of the rod to get a fit.

[B.Habermehl]

If you measure ram rod blanks you will find not only they are oversize, they are not round. The best remedy is to scrape the ramrod to fit the hole in the stock. BJH

[Mike Lyons]

Thanks for all the advice.  I've installed the barrel staples so far.  A package from track of the wolf  was delivered to the wrong address by our usps carrier today.  It contained the black inletting, spring vice and several other things.  Until I figure out where it was delivered,  I'm at a halt.   

[WadePatton]

Also note that some folks keep a wooden dowel or othersuch "safety device" in the bbl channel whenever the bbl is out of a dimensioned fore-end.  Starting with a blank avoids this hassle until nearly finishing time.

The dowel is to add back "strength" so that it's less likely to break off if it falls over or gets torqued somehow in your shop. Just remember that a forestock without the bbl in place can be fragile. 

This can be fixed if it happens, and fixed guns are often more notable than similar guns when the repairs resemble those on original works. So don't have a conniption if something goes "horribly" wrong (or don't have a great big one)  . 

Nearly everything can be fixed, just like they used to do.

[Hungry Horse]

I disagree on your evaluation of the browning job on your first rifle. In my book this is what the old timers called plum brown. The second rifle has been serverly over browned in my opinion.

  Hungry Horse

[Mike Lyons]

Received my lost package today from the neighbors.  I'm not sure which star or moon I'm going to use yet. 

[mountainman70]

Welcome aboard,bro Vet. I am here in Charleston,WV. looks like ya got a good project for sure.
This is the place for getting squared away,and sometimes we learn stuff,too!!
I don't know if any of the other guys are any closer, guess you know where Charleston is.I get down to HTGN VA on occasion.
Anyway, we have a muzzleloading shootin club here, Mountaineer Flintlock Rifles.  We try to have a sorta ptimitive shoot first Saturday of the month, and the regular match is second Saturday.
We would welcome you to visit and shoot with us, and if ya don't have a suitable smokepole to bring, that aint NO problem. Got thatn covered well.
Drop me a PM if you have the need. Were all in this togather.more ways than one.
Best regards,welcome Home !!! Dave F