Planning my first build.

[Tomahawk]

I want to build a gun. Being a taxidermist I am pretty adept at detail work, and I have some woodworking experience and equipment. I don’t want to do a kit build build, but wit won’t be built from scratch. I am not concerned about using modern tools, I have a table saw, router table, scroll saw, sanders, drill press etc. I don’t plan on forging anything really (might cast a buttplate or trigger guard, but nothing beyond that). But I do want to start with a 3” slab of lumber.

My plan is actually to build a little feller rifle for my son. About an 9” length of pull. Either a .36 or .40 cal 28” rice barrel and let them cut my dovetails . I was actually thinking I would get the rest of my hardware from a pistol or pistol kit.

This is something that I will stretch out over the next year or two to keep costs down, as I can’t afford to drop $800+ all at once. The biggest expense will be the barrel, which I’ll pick up and then keep an eye out for a good deal on either a flint pistol or pistol kit. I have family contacts who log and mill so I’ll source my wood son within my network. Probably black walnut but maybe maple.

I have a friend who’s about 30 mins away who’s an experienced builder and has made some amazing guns who I can go to if I need him, but I kinda just wanted to put this out here in the either to get some general advice and maybe document my progress (it also helps me hold myself accountable). Does anyone see any problems or have advice? I may not even know enough to know what questions I should be asking or what I should consider going forward with this.

[rich pierce]

This is a good step by step tutorial.  https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=31173.0

[recurve]

Having a mentor will be  great  ,  his knowledge will help you avoid many rooky mistakes ( I seemed to have made them all)

[B.Habermehl]

You will find the three inch blank to be way too generous. 2 1/2 is way plenty. Depending on the breech size of your barrel smaller yet. BJH

[mgbruch]

If you cut the stock for a nine inch length of pull, and take over a year to build it... your son will have outgrown the gun before it is finished.

Better to build a gun your son can grow in to, and use for many years... as opposed to building a gun he'll grown out of pretty quickly.

My father taught me to shoot when I was around eight years old.  The gun I learned on was a standard .22 rifle.  The next gun was a normal 20 gauge shotgun.  I don't recall the length of pull being too cumbersome in any way.  And those guns would still fit me today.

[A.Merrill]

I agree with mgbruch. I think you need to put a little more thought into what your planning to do. Getting your wood from a saw mill is not a good idea, fresh cut wood needs a few years to dry out to about 10% moisture. Then it could still warp so bad it can't be used, just a waist of time. Chamber's as kit scaled down for kids and women. Take a look at it, see what parts that used on it and buy those parts as you can afford them. I would check the Knob Mountain website for the gun stock or check with Allen Martin for the wood blank.  Buy a good gun building book . Good luck.   Al

[rich pierce]

Good advice above. ⬆️ f your sawmill has a kiln drying setup, you’ll save a couple years of air drying. They say 1 year per inch of thickness.

If building from a blank on your first try, I’d advise getting lots of practice with inletting. Get some thick scrap pieces of hardwood and inlet a pistol barrel and tang a couple of times. Inlet a lock a couple times. Figure out what works for you with the tools you have or plan to acquire. I recommend a straight-walled barrel for your first project, not a “swamped” barrel that is thicker at the breech and muzzle than at the waist. As you get going ask lots of questions. I could lend you a pistol barrel when the time comes.

[Tomahawk]

If you cut the stock for a nine inch length of pull, and take over a year to build it... your son will have outgrown the gun before it is finished.

Better to build a gun your son can grow in to, and use for many years... as opposed to building a gun he'll grown out of pretty quickly.

My father taught me to shoot when I was around eight years old.  The gun I learned on was a standard .22 rifle.  The next gun was a normal 20 gauge shotgun.  I don't recall the length of pull being too cumbersome in any way.  And those guns would still fit me today.

Your right. I was shooting from the hip when I said 9”… I hadn’t actually sat down and measured anything. I will probably end up going with something more like 12.5”….
 pictured is: his rifle thats a bit too big for him with its 11”lop




Here’s him holding that 11” lop as of 2 weeks ago.

[Tomahawk]

I agree with mgbruch. I think you need to put a little more thought into what your planning to do. Getting your wood from a saw mill is not a good idea, fresh cut wood needs a few years to dry out to about 10% moisture. Then it could still warp so bad it can't be used, just a waist of time. Chamber's as kit scaled down for kids and women. Take a look at it, see what parts that used on it and buy those parts as you can afford them. I would check the Knob Mountain website for the gun stock or check with Allen Martin for the wood blank.  Buy a good gun building book . Good luck.   Al

I have a kiln and access to a few stacks of slabs that have been drying a few years, as well as a good moisture tester. But I appreciate the advice.

[ed lundquist]

Get the kids safety glasses!

[HSmithTX]

I have a 45 barrel I am not going to use, it's 13/16 and 32 inches long maybe, I don't remember exactly off the top of my head,  I also have a smaller blank of curly maple I have no plan for.  Let me know if you're interested and I can get exacts.  PM me your cell and I will text pics and details if interested. 

[Daryl]

Safety glasses and BRAVO! That youngster has the butt in the pocket.

[okawbow]

A few years ago, I built a youth rifle. I posted a want ad on here for the barrel and lock and was able to get them very reasonably. I made most of the other part and only had about $400.00 in the rifle total.