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The worlds militaries converted to percussion circa 1840, civilians really started converting in the 1820s especially shotguns in England. ML muskets like the one pictured here were made for export to various colonies for a very long time, especially in Belgium. Natives in Africa were using such...

Actually they DID make longrifle barrels in England. Apparently quite a few of them. The Moravian gunshop originally used imported barrels and apparently made almost all rifles until eve of the American Revolution. They were also making longrifles and they were being imported and sold in the...

A lot of them were. But before the American Revolution there were water powered barrel mills for forging and grinding barrels in PA. Dan

The problem with Greenhill is it was designed for artillery not small arms and does not really work for any of them its only ball park. In a 40-45 caliber BPCR for heavy bullets its about 2" too slow. Its WAY too slow for a 54 if is gives 80+- inches. Berger Bullets puts a 48 or 56 as well...

48", 56", 66", 70" and 72" will all work fine. I would lean toward the faster end but I try to use GM barrels and these are all at the slower end, 70" in 54. Dan

Don't shoot it. It has to be CAREFULLY inspected and proof tested before this. I would not modify it till I found out what it was and what it was worth. When its worked on it needs someone who actually knows what they are doing. And these are hard to find. DO NOT oil the stock or anything else...

I have noticed that no matter what when I come across a big bear track my rifle suddenly seems smaller somehow.... :grin: Dan

And they are still making barrels for CF as they have for DECADES. Why the stopped making ML barrels is another story. This is the stamping on the 7 groove barrels made for Golden Age Arms. Dan

Look in the bores with some magnification 10x or more. You may find micro (or larger) pits associated with shooting "replica" powder with high perchlorate content. If so pass unless you can get the bores polished cheap and they are not really bad someplace farther down. Once pitted in this...

Interesting that they changed this offhand rule. I think this rule had been in place since the time of the founding of the NMLRA, I know it was the rule in the 1960s. Still outlaws balancing on the fingertips to allow better elbow to ribs contact though. For some physiques this basically outlaws...

Calgunner Obviously you did not come here to learn anything but wanted some support from some predetermined idea. People tend to read the QUESTION, then write an answer. Many of us do not read the entire exchange. This is good since it generally gives the OP a range of answers from several...

Since most American rifles had no provision for a sling back in the day why bother worrying about it? The 1803 Harpers Ferry had no provision for a sling and it was designed as a Military rifle by the military. Dan

Unless its a "Hawken" (these were all larger bore IIRC and 36" long) or a 7 groove marked for Golden Age arms its a 66" twist. The Hawken and 7 groove GAA barrels were 48" Dan

Water works as good as anything just use a lot of it, its really cheap and water from a creek that is not full of silt works as good as anything. BP fouling sucks up water like a sponge and the elements that would cause corrosion will be easily washed away as a result. I never use dirty water...

But there should not be any fouling in the lock mortice if the gun is properly made. Next I would ask what propellant was used. There is at least one substitute that is very aggressive compared to black. I will wash a lock, blow it dry with compressed air and oil it. Never any rust. But I...

Urine was used as a soak to cure a barrel that had "shot slick" or so I have read. Dan

There are a lot of factors. There were times when the Hawken shop could not make enough guns. The financial state of the economy has an effect. Then remember that by the 1830s the makers were contending with factory mades from PA. Henry and Leman etc. The Hawken brothers charged quite a bit...

[/url] Back in the early 70s there were people having trouble with corrosion with Moose Milk. I use water. I kwow how to use it. I just wiped the bore of my 45-100 Sharps. It was shot in a match. Cleaned with a few wet patches. 2-3 max. Wiped dry then treated with G-96. Been in the safe for...

I have not read the entire thread but you do realize that Hoppes BP Solvent is almost all water? Something in the 65-80% range according to the MSDS. Water is the actual solvent. Dan

No way of knowing, some surely had them but I don't think the serious hunter did. There are some things we DO know. Such as there is a lot of disagreement today concerning rifles vs smoothbores. Smoothbores, unless they were "very small bore" (what every that meant circa 1756) cost more to shoot...