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I have two smoothbores, a Pennsylvania Fowler (20 ga) and a Militia Musket (10 ga), both Chambers kits. I do sometimes load shot. But I wonder...how often was shot loaded in, say, the middle third of the 18th century? Not talking "gentlemen", rather farmers and backwoodsmen.

Lots of good thoughts here. I shoot mostly rock locks, all good ones. But I do have two new fangled caplocks: one 19th century smallbore target rifle (gift from my brother) and one late Hawken replica that I built. Certainly the caplock is faster, almost as fast as a modern cartridge gun. But a...

Some news on this old rifle: I should have mentioned that the stock was badly cracked when I got it. I repaired it, but it's really dry rotted, and I think it's gone beyond reasonable repair. New cracks keep showing up. That's unfortunate, because it was a pretty nice piece of maple, and it...

I put together a Chambers Militia Musket last year - 10 gauge. So far, I've only put a PRB through it, but yes, it's a hoot.

I got my Chambers English pistol out today for the first time. This a smoothbore 20 gauge, and I loaded a 0.600 round ball with a 0.010 pillow ticking patch lubed with somebody's commercial compound over FFg. But since I was also testing some modern loads, I had my Garmin chronograph with me. It...

I wouldn't call it an achievement, just where I stopped polishing. In fact, this winter I may work on the lock some more. Then again, maybe I'll just "add" some tarnish from all the powder I'm about to burn. I'm no artist, although Mother Nature and Barbie Chambers did provide a very nice piece...

Pistol is complete and ready to repel boarders. Aqua fortis worked out fine on the stock. Barrel is staying in the white. I never get these things quite perfect, but that's OK. Keeps me humble and ready to start another project. Next one will be perfect!:rolleyes:

And here's my new Jäger, lock, stock, and barrel.

My ignition problems are gone. Must have had "construction debris" in the channel. Loaded 90 gr Olde Eynsford FFg under a 0.570 ball, and this time I took my Garmin. My Lab Radar never could pick up ML balls, but the Garmin captured 4 of 6 shots. Averaged about 1,600 fps. Stats don't mean much...

I've been a long time getting back to this thread, but I'm almost ready to start my rifle. Discussed elsewhere, Ron Scott shipped me a stock blank yesterday. I received my barrel from Rice earlier in the week. The barrel, listed by Rice as a "Chambers Jäger" is 32" long and 1 1/8" at the breech...

Thanks to all. I just ordered a nice, but certainly not top end, blank from Ron Scott. I've been in contact with some of the others suggested, but I think my 2 1/2" minimum put me outside the norm. Ron had what I was looking for.

You ain't kidding, about the cost or the nice. But thank you. I sent him a note, and will probably pay the toll for his wood. Great selection, and most meet my dimensional requirements.

That's my default. Might have to compromise on the thickness, however.

I received my barrel today (Rice 32" swamped 58 caliber), and I think I have all my furniture, etc. But I'm still looking for wood. Walnut, at least 48" long, 2 1/2" thick. I'd like some European wood, but that seems to be nonexistent in those dimensions. A good piece of American walnut will do...

The only marking on the underside of the barrel is a stamped '3'. I attached some more pictures. No indication of pin holes for a false muzzle. Note the solder buildup on the front sight. Well done, but not pretty, completely practical. There is a traditional V notch sight dovetailed into the...

It's mine, a gift from my brother in Harmony. I'd like to think it's a Flowers, but I doubt it, probably someone's purpose made target rifle. Rice sells 1 1/8" straight barrels from 32 to 62, but they're marked. This all looks old and original. I took it apart and removed the breach plug...

More: The barrel is 1 1/8"! The only marking is a '3' stamped on the bottom. The lock is stamped '14' two places on the inside. Lockplate is rolled with a small hunting scene to the rear. No other marks. No half cock, one notch only. Looks cheap.

Old (and a bit Bubba'd) 32 caplock. I believe it to have been made in western Pennsylvania, probably in Harmony. There was a smith there named Charles Flowers who worked from about 1850 to 1890. However, he signed the barrels of his rifles. No markings on this one. The barrel is very heavy for a...

I ran the "cap on a patch" this morning and was surprised the first one had no effect. The next two, however, burned a nice hole in the patch. These are RWS 75 caps. Must have had some residue in that snail, even though hot water ran right through. But I think I'm good to go now.

The stuff that TOTW sells. I think that is ferric nitrate. Listed ingredients are water, nitric acid, iron.