Homemade 50 cal hardwarestore flintlock

[Pierce]

Hey guys, I am new here to the forum and muzzleloading in general haha! I recently just finished a smoothbore 50 cal flintlock hardwarestore build. I made the lock mechanism and all. It ignites and shoots very consistently 2-3" groups from 50 yards and 6-10" groups from 100 yards. I use a .040in patch, achieved buy just layering two .020in patches upon loading, with a .454 roundball under 90 grains of homemade screened juniper charcoal black powder. The barrel is made out of 1/2" DOM steel tubing, a bit on the heavier side but that helps reduce the recoil. It also makes it more accurate so I am okay with that extra weight. It also shoots great patterns, I can shoot clays fairly consistent with it.  My wife did all of the burn art on it. I guess I was just proud of the build and thought I'd share. And hey any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

[elk killer]

thats different, why is rear sight so tall? would like to see inside of the lock
how does the trigger work with the outside screw right there?

[Dutch]

So this is interesting as mentioned.  More pictures of the lock, breech and fitment of these critical elements.  I personally am concerned about safety. The lock is proud of the stock and if your pan to barrel alignment is off you can get a build up of powder behind the lock resulting in a bad situation.
Good on you for this attempt, proceed with caution and learn, study and enjoy the journey.

Where are you located? There are still many clubs and individuals around willing to get a new shooter started on the right path and doing it safely.
Dutch

[Pierce]

The rear sight is tall for the longer range shots, which aren't really necessary for this gun since it's only accurate out to 100. I just dovetailed it in so it's easily replaceable but even so it works quite well and if the gun was accurate out further it would be perfect. I may even just do some long range shooting with it for fun haha bound to get a few hits. And the pan lines up well to the barrel there is no buildup, a nice tight fit.

[B.Habermehl]

Great ingenuity. Really interesting. Get some books and study original work for your next project. Be safe and have fun. BJH

[Steeltrap]

What are the measurements? 

Length of Pull
Drop at comb
Drop at nose
Barrel length
Overall length

Can you post a picture of the left side of the firearm?
Can you post a picture of the lock\barrel fit?

[John Proud]

This gun shows a tremendous effort and talent too from a husband and wife team of craftspeople and artists. Hope you continue your journey. 

[alacran]

More than one way to skin a cat! I commend you on your ingenuity. I will say that this is butt ugly, but at the same time it has a certain charm to it.
Your wife's burned design is genuinely primitive and attractive. I would like to shoot this thing, it is intriguing.

[Clowdis]

I am speechless.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Definitely has some time into it.  But I wouldnt shoot it.

[Eric Kettenburg]

That lock is quite interesting!  How did you make the frizzen, and from what?

I think many here would like to know how, and with what, you breeched the barrel.  That's a safety issue and nobody wants to see you go boom.

[rich pierce]

Some serious determination and ingenuity there. Looks post-apocalyptic. Have fun and be safe.

[Snakeman]

That's cool as heck

[Pierce]

The frizzen is made out out an old file. And the barrel is made out of 1/4" wall DOM (drawn over mandrel) so it has no seam. If anything the barrel is overbuilt. The breach plug is made from a grade 8, 9/16" fine thread bolt, for more threads, threaded in about 3/4". I have done lots of pressure testing away from the gun with double loads 200 grains of black powder and a round ball and there were no signs of wear on the barrel or the breach plug. It's safe to fire normal loads

[Pierce]

Oh yeah I meant to say old chisel haha. I used an old chisel for the frizzen. I forged a simple L shape from the chisel. Then cut out a slot on the flat part of the frizzen where it meets the pan so I could attach the pivot mechanism.  The pivot part was made out of 1/4" flatbar and I just tig welded it into the slot. Then sanded it smooth to fit snug against the pan face.

[Bob Roller]

Good idea on the breech plug and the seamless tube should be safe with black powder.As a now retired lock maker I find that one to be different from any I have ever seen but if it works,that's all that's needed
Bob Roller

[whetrock]

Pierce,
Welcome to the forum!
In my book you get a lot of points for being clever! And I like your wife's decoration. The grouse is very nice.
Whetrock

[smylee grouch]

Hi Pierce. Welcome and thank you for sharing your build with all here. There is no question that you have potential to be a good rifle maker as evidenced by your problem solving enginuity. This is a trait of real gunsmiths. Your enthusieasum will carry you through most any challenge in gun making. Make another one, BUTT use better parts.

[Pierce]

So this is interesting as mentioned.  More pictures of the lock, breech and fitment of these critical elements.  I personally am concerned about safety. The lock is proud of the stock and if your pan to barrel alignment is off you can get a build up of powder behind the lock resulting in a bad situation.
Good on you for this attempt, proceed with caution and learn, study and enjoy the journey.

Where are you located? There are still many clubs and individuals around willing to get a new shooter started on the right path and doing it safely.
Dutch

I'm in Bismarck, ND

[Pierce]

Haha thanks everyone! Yeah it's not the purtiest thing but all I had was a hack saw, a welder, and some files hahaha. My wife definitely made it look unique, very proud of her work. And yeah I want to build some more with better supplies but I am pretty young and don't have much money. I spent like $25 on the whole project. I got the wood for the stock from a neighbor who fell one of his Russian olive trees. The barrel from a local steel company and the rest was scrap I had laying around. I know it's not necessarily historically accurate as I don't really even know what a normal lock mechanism looks like, i havent ever even seen one in person, other than the one i made of course. Ive just seen some pictures of the outside of the lock mechanism, so I just designed my own thing. I mostly just wanted something that was functional so I can hunt with it for our muzzleloading season here in ND.

[Pierce]

Here is a picture of the flip side of it and a link to a video of my wife shooting it

https://quickshare.samsungcloud.com/7wdzsjnTskqr

[hanshi]

I'd think it would be a lot of fun to shoot!

[ScottH]

Pierce,
 I was wondering what you used for stock wood. Thanks for the update.
You are up to the challenge obviously!
 

[whetrock]

Here is a picture of the flip side of it and a link to a video of my wife shooting it

https://quickshare.samsungcloud.com/7wdzsjnTskqr

Pierce,
Better take care of that girl! A girl who can shoot is hard to come by. And if you don't take care of her, she might track you down and shoot some more!   

[whetrock]

Pierce,
 I was wondering what you used for stock wood. Thanks for the update.
You are up to the challenge obviously!
 

Scott H.,
I think he said in an earlier post that it was wood from his neighbor's Russian olive tree.