Author Topic: Deer hunting rifle lock (Read 8883 times)

deano · « **on:** March 10, 2010, 08:17:00 PM »

I am starting to work on a new rifle for deer season, since the muzzleloader season will probably be a week longer in North Carolina this year. Based on last year the season will place me in the woods right during the peak of the Piedmont rut, so using one of my guns now makes more sense than ever.

I'm not planning to make this gun a reproduction of any particular school, rather planning it as a hunting tool with traditional lines. I have a .50 caliber straight tapered 44" Rayl barrel I'll probably shrink a bit for convenience in a stand, I'm thinking 36-38" should be about right and will help with the overall weight. It is already inletted in a piece of maple with a brass golden age butt plate from an older project that I had shelved a few years ago. I found a set of Walter Cain set triggers I forgot I had which need to be used on the right project.

The problem is I am stuck on selecting the lock, is the venerable large Siler still the way to go for a reliable and sturdy flint hunting gun? Or is there a preferred lock on the market for a working gun. Since I am not restricted to a style I can go any direction I want. I haven't built a rifle for a few years and was hoping for a recommendation for a reliable, late flint, and heavy duty hunting gun lock.

Thanks,

Ken

billd · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2010, 08:24:53 PM »

Chambers Late Ketland

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2010, 08:31:00 PM »

There are so many great locks available now, that I don't think you can make a mistake. For a lock right out of the box, you cannot go wrong with any of the Chambers offerings.

California Kid · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2010, 08:47:10 PM »

For a hunting gun, I would consider a simple pinned trigger and save that WC for another project. I would choose any of Chambers offerings for the lock.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2010, 08:49:37 PM »

Its not a late style, but the Chambers roundface english with the water resistant frizzen works real well. Good flint life with lots of sparks. I use mine in all kinds of weather, and it has never failed to spark and ignite with over 60 deer to its credit so far. We have a libberal doe season in Dec. and weather is allways a consideration in the Dakota's. Good luck and good hunting. Gary

rich pierce · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2010, 09:37:53 PM »

Big locks are great for hunting guns. Smaller locks are great for target guns.

Dr. Tim-Boone · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2010, 01:34:38 AM »

I have a couple with big locks and one with a small Siler....honestly, when hunting I really like the quickness of the small Siler and it is easier on followthrough....I think. I have no problem with the big locks, the little one just feels ...hot!

I think I would pick based on the size of the gun... they are all good

rich pierce · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2010, 01:43:55 AM »

It don't get that cold down there in deer season, do it Tim?

Dr. Tim-Boone · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2010, 01:47:08 AM »

In December it do.... But we get 12 deer and so when you fire this lock that many time to take a limit in 30 minutes it do get HOT!!

.. well the limit part is true anyway............ And I do like the feel of hot ones!!

Has the snow melted in MO yet??

Pvt. Lon Grifle · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2010, 03:53:34 AM »

I have one made about ten years ago for eastern North Carolina deer hunting here at the fall line. A scaled down late Lancaster pattern, 27" 15/16 GM .54 barrel. Chambers Golden Age Flintlock and a single trigger. It has a bit of incised scrollwork, no nosecap and works very nicely on all sorts of our local deer. Being about 38" overall length, makes it handy in those high 48" square box stands or 25 feet up in a tomcat. A big round white deer bone bead front sight is great too. You will like the utility of a short rifle in thick places too. Lon

Buzzard · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2010, 04:20:30 AM »

Sounds like a good project for a Chambers Classic or my favorite, L&R Durrs Egg.

Leatherbelly · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2010, 05:14:46 AM »

Chambers are great. If you wanted a smaller lock, the late Ketland is so fast! A medium large lock, I like the Deluxe Siler or on the right rifle, that Dale Johnson lock looks sweet.

Don Getz · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2010, 05:33:56 AM »

If there are no other considerations as to style, I would choose the Chambers "Late Ketland". It works great, just like
all of the Chambers locks. I have built a lot of guns with Siler locks on them and they all worked well, but, when I built
my last chunk gun, I chose the Late Ketland. It has some plusses on it's side. The one thing it has that the others don't
is a BIG pan, you get a much bigger area to catch a spark, hence less chance of a misfire. I also think they are faster than
those big locks of Jim's, I've used some of them too and I can't really say they are slow, but that Ketland just seems to snap faster. This would be my personal choice..........Don

deano · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:00:26 AM »

Ok time to rethink the set trigger (even though that Cain trigger is just so slick) I'll be sure to check out the Chambers Ketland, and the barrel may loose another inch or two to the ole hacksaw. I hope a 36-37" barrel doesn't look too out of balance for a traditional-ish Longrifle. The deer won't care and I just need to make myself happy admiiring my gun while setting in a tree stand.

rsells · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2010, 09:20:32 AM »

I vote for the Chamber's late Ketland lock. Great lock from my experience.
Roger Sells

Ken G · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2010, 04:01:49 PM »

I don't think you can beat a Chambers Late Ketland. It's just a rock solid, reliable lock right out of the bag.
Ken

eagle24 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2010, 06:01:15 PM »

Quote from: rsells on March 11, 2010, 09:20:32 AM

I vote for the Chamber's late Ketland lock. Great lock from my experience.
Roger Sells

Me too. I have two rifles with late ketlands and they work really well.

Daryl · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:07:19 PM »

My longrifle has a Dicket L&R lock - terrific right out of the box and as fast or faster as/than ANY other lock. Mabe I was lucky.

Swampwalker · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:46:38 PM »

I would have to chime in for the late Ketland lock by Chambers - I've mounted it on three rifles so far, and find that it is fast, very reliable, and easy on flints. I've tried Silers, several different L&Rs and a no-name brand from Dixie, and far and away prefer the Ketland.

Larry Pletcher · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2010, 02:44:34 PM »

We videoed Lowell Gard's Chambers Late Ketland at Friendship. He installed a new flint and we videoed every 10th snap if the lock up to the 60th trial. It looked as good on that trial as it did on the first trial. I have never timed one, but this video meant to me that it was very easy on flint. Besides being a good choice for a deer gun, I think it would be a great choice for a slim little squirrel rifle.

Regards,
Pletch

Swampwalker · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2010, 01:46:22 AM »

It is Larry, it worked great on a little .32 I made last year.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #21 on:** March 14, 2010, 12:54:12 AM »

It ain't traditional but the best handling hunting rifle I ever owned was a B weight .50 caliber with 38 inch barrel and a late Ketland lock. The problem is it takes away all the good excuses! (Except it had a set trigger with a loud click when it was set, I would go for a single trigger for hunting).
Dennis

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Author Topic: Deer hunting rifle lock (Read 8883 times)

billd

California Kid

Pvt. Lon Grifle

Buzzard

Leatherbelly

eagle24

Daryl