Barrel inletting- how much is right?

[bptactical]

Good day fine folks-
 I am currently building up a Sharon Trade Rifle kit from way back and I am curious on the crews views on barrel inletting.
Keep in mind this is a precarved maple stock.
How much color transfer from barrel contact on the stock do you consider "enough" that your inletting is complete?
We know that aside from using a bedding compound that 100% contact is impossible.
What is good enough for you?

Discuss in a civil manner.....

[Daryl]

I wasn't aware that 100% barrel contact was impossible without using bedding compounds.
Taylor inlet my .69's barrel perfectly, without using bedding epoxies.

[smylee grouch]

Is the lock inlet?  Percussion or flint ?

[bptactical]

Is the lock inlet?  Percussion or flint ?

Partial-

Also the the above about Taylor- I understand those with extensive experience can probably achieve near perfection.

Im referring to the average Joe

[smart dog]

Hi,
I like to see a lot of black on the back and bottom half of the mortise at the breech for about the first 2 -3 inches from the breech and then even spotting, but just spots for the rest of the channel. 

dave 

[Steeltrap]

I watched a video recently where the builder stated he was concerned about the first 6-8” at the breech, and about the same at the muzzle. In between he wasn’t concerned about perfection. It wasn’t sloppy, but not perfect.

Also, is your stock a pre-carved, or pre-inletted?  Pre-carve doesn’t have any lock or trigger mortise.

Because your stock is a Pre-carve you may wish to look at the space between the bottom of the barrel channel and the top of the RR hole. Usually, on pre-XXXX they leave a generous amount of wood (web) space there.

Ideally a space of 1/8" is good as it keeps the profile of the rifle "very slim" when it's all said and done. If your at the very start you may wish to consider scraping the barrel channel to get to that 1/8" distance. Just a thought.

[Long John]

The Smart Dog is right-on in my book. Especially if you are hand inletting with curly wood you shouldn't obsess about getting 80, 90, 100% black, especially with a smooth-bored barrel.

JMC

[oldtravler61]

   Of the few originals I've taken a part. The first three to four
inches of the breech were very persice Also with the muzzle,  the rest not so much. JMPO

[B.Habermehl]

Good day fine folks-
 I am currently building up a Sharon Trade Rifle kit from way back and I am curious on the crews views on barrel inletting.
Keep in mind this is a precarved maple stock.
How much color transfer from barrel contact on the stock do you consider "enough" that your inletting is complete?
We know that aside from using a bedding compound that 100% contact is impossible.
What is good enough for you?

Discuss in a civil manner.....


Breech fit should be as good as possible. Bottom barrel flat should be fitted pretty well as your probably going with a keyed barrel tennon. Sides just have to be neatly fitted with no obvious gaps. BJH

[Pukka Bundook]

As Dave, Old Traveler and others have said breech important then not so much
Some very nice original and competently made British guns have more or less a round barrel channel even when their breeches are octagonal.

[Mike Brooks]

I have an old antique stock that has a round barrel channel and had an octagon barrel.

[mikeyfirelock]

I tend to look for consistent contact throughout the length of the channel…doesn’t necessarily have to be very high percentage, just adequate and consistent.

[Daryl]

I have an old antique stock that has a round barrel channel and had an octagon barrel.

My flintlock pistol was inlet for a round barrel, with round channel. When the percussion lock is on it along with the .45
barrel, the channel is round, but the barrel is octagonal.

[45-110]

I do not build for living, that is why I have strived for full contact on round or octagon barrels for the last 50 years. I made scrapers for each profile as needed. To me its a indication a of higher refined workmanship. I also do not hog out wood in the lock mortise but fit each piece independently and precisely. All this gives me a sense of satisfaction, and it does not matter if its all unseen. Raising the bar on each build is a personal challenge for me.
kw