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  1. Many Klatch

    Bare Ball Size

    You are working too hard at shooting a smoothbore. I don't swab between shots, never have. I can get 10 to 20 shots off before the carbon ring makes it difficult to load. A simple spit patch is all that is needed. I only use bare ball if I'm in a speed match. For that matter dropping an...
  2. Many Klatch

    'Hobbit gun'

    Whatever you build it will need a lot of aging. The Shirefolk tend to keep things for a long time and hand them down to family so their things are well used, in good repair and show wear. A fancy brass patchbox with Runes would be appropriate.
  3. Many Klatch

    Bare Ball Size

    I shoot a .60 ball either with .010 spit patch or bare out of my Getz smoothbore. Bare ball works best after the bore is dirty from shooting patched balls. Accuracy is about the same as well.
  4. Many Klatch

    Prime with 3 or 4F

    The only time I prime with 4F is with my Pedersoli LePage flintlock pistol. For all other guns the prime is whatever is in the big horn. I'm too lazy to mess with a second horn. 3F or 2F seems to work fine. The older I get and the worse my reaction time gets it really doesn't seem to make a...
  5. Many Klatch

    Pistol box.

    I have made a few. I found the easiest way to install the dividers is with a drill and small screws. First, after you have cleared out the box, line it with the wool baize. I usually glue mine in place. Watered down Elmer's glue will do the trick. Spend some time arranging your items until...
  6. Many Klatch

    1803 Harper's Ferry Rifle

    This thread has been fascinating reading. I'm more of a shooter than a researcher/collector, so I tend to worry more about trigger pull instead of intricate historical questions. I really appreciate the time and effort expended by all the participants in this thread. I also appreciate that...
  7. Many Klatch

    Flint maintenance

    Just a note of caution. If you use the back of a steel knife to knap your flint there is a slim chance of a spark. It's a good idea to dump the powder out of the pan first. Also, make sure the gun is pointed downrange.
  8. Many Klatch

    Trdd cash snail cappers

    Mike Belliveau - Duelist1954 on YouTube has 108 tutorials on Cap and Ball pistols. In one of them I learned how to enlarge the area around the nipple on a Remington New Model Army. My trusty Dremel and an hour of work later I had recesses that would allow my Snail shaped cap dispenser to work...
  9. Many Klatch

    WANTED Michael Lea's Ramrod Tapering Device

    Mike Lea's source for making the castings for this tool went out of business. He has been trying to find a new source. Mike makes them all himself once he gets the castings back. I have one that I use to make arrowshafts. Easy to use.
  10. Many Klatch

    Molybdenum grease bore lube?

    What I do when I get my hands on a new cap and ball pistol is to immediately remove the original nipples and install new stainless steel nipples from Track of the Wolf. OEM nipples are kind of hit and miss and can be a cause of chain fire. BTW #1, when you remove and replace the nipples...
  11. Many Klatch

    Molybdenum grease bore lube?

    Making sure that you have a tight nipple to cap fit is more important in avoiding chain fire. Just remember that all that goo that you pack on top of the load has to go somewhere. The moly grease will cover the gun and you after a few cylinders.
  12. Many Klatch

    Range Box - Colonial Style. Ideas sought.

    A sliding top and a removable tray are a big help. Also a heavy duty leather strap to carry it. Remember, that box is going to be full of lead and steel and brass and will be heavy. You don't want something that has to be carried with two hands. You want to be able to carry the gun and box...
  13. Many Klatch

    Patch stuck at bottom of barrel

    Bess's get really dirty fast. They are a bear to clean. Might as well log onto Track of the Wolf and get a full length cleaning rod, wood or brass. Get all the little gadgets that screw on to the cleaning rod, you will probably need them all at one time or another. Regarding pulling a...
  14. Many Klatch

    Oiling?

    I like to keep it simple. I oil barrel and lock with a mix of 50% kerosene and 50% 2-stroke motor oil. Never had a problem with it causing fouling. Makes a pretty good penetrating oil too.
  15. Many Klatch

    Cast lead ball weight tolerance.

    If you shoot offhand it doesn't really make much difference. Don't overthink it. Drop the ones with voids and wrinkles back in the lead pot, shoot the rest of them.
  16. Many Klatch

    Lead

    Make friends with roofers. Every old house has lead soil stack flashings around the soil stacks. Some houses have two or three flashings. Each lead flashing is made with lead that weighs 4 to 6 pounds per square foot. Roofers can't get enough money for scrap lead to make it worth their while...
  17. Many Klatch

    Getting the ladies involved with black powder shooting.....

    The big thing about getting women to shoot is that they must have a gun that fits. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a woman struggling on the shooting line with her husbands old gun that he couldn't make work either. Don't go big bore on the gun. 36 or 40 caliber is plenty for a...
  18. Many Klatch

    Do you prefer a smoothbore over rifles?

    I like to shoot both rifles, smoothbores and pistols. Either flintlock, caplock or suppository. They all have their own particular challenges. However, if you can shoot a smoothbore flintlock accurately you have climbed a particularly steep learning curve.
  19. Many Klatch

    Flint Substitute?

    Strike anywhere kitchen matches will work. But you only get one shot per match.
  20. Many Klatch

    Black powder cap and ball pistols

    I had a couple of chain fires and that was with grease on top of the ball. I replaced the nipples with stainless steel ones from Track of the Wolf and the problem stopped. A chain fire is not a big deal. A bit more noise, a bit more recoil and you don't get to fire off all 6 shots. If you...
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