You and I are thinking the same way. I’ve already been looking at European beech turning blanks to try to fabricate a full stock with a huge head start. I’m thinking with the right piece of wood, the transition would not be very noticeable if done right at the ramrod entry thimble.
50, 54, or 58 cal flintlock “Plains” rifle?
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William Sublette
45 Cal.
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Oregon barrel Company would help you on a tapered barrel.
bldtrailer
Pilgrim
if you want ease of finding things on the market 50 if you want knock down 58 ( allen martin hunts with thor his 58 cal) 54 middle of the road look into gain twist B hoyt/ colerain can use round ball and conical (if you get 58 get a mold)
You want what you want. There’s nothing wrong with that
You will need to extend your search a bit, but the Hawken Shop's kit uses a tapered barrel. And The Hawken Shop is one of the Forum's sponsers.
https://www.thehawkenshop.com/HAWKEN-RIFLES.htm
ronaldrothb49
45 Cal.
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From your description of what you are looking for it sounds to me that a trade rifle would fit. I finally built a Henry Lancaster pattern trade rifle that I had wanted for probably 30 years. I used a barrel that had been sitting in the shop for years, If I had it to do over I would use a .54 caliber. That would have taken some weight off the rifle. It seems that .54 was offered by most all of the trade rifle makers and they were half the price of a Hawken. I admire the old timers going west because the rifles were way heavier than what people want today. We have become WIMPS myself included but then I am 75 years old.
I’ve got .50, .54, and .58 rifles. I find the .58 is more than I need. I’d have to use 100 grains of powder to flatten the trajectory and make it easy to shoot from 25 to 100 yards without calculation. And I use a lot of lead and powder in practice sessions.
I have a .58 for hunting whitetail. It speaks with authority. If you want to save on the cost of powder and lead, get a .40 to shoot for fun.
Check out Chambers English Sporting Rifle kit. It is a very nice rifle to carry all day. Half stock, swamped barrel, and weighs just over 7#. I believe they are available 50-58 caliber.
jiml58
32 Cal
I have a .54 caliber plains rifle that shoots very well and is a pleasure to hunt with. Mine is half stock, 2 wedges, no patch box. I stocked it in walnut. If I were to do over, I would go with the tapered barrel, probably 32-34" long.
I had checked them out, but I guess I got a bit of tunnel vision by just looking at their kit. Going back and looking closer, I see that they do offer flint breeches and locks. I’ll try to contact them and see if they can help me put together a kit or parts set with what I need. Thank-you!
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When I bought my Lyman GPR LH Perc. around 2005 or so, I firmly decided upon a .54 simply because I didn't have that caliber. I don't hunt, just simply wanted one. Drove to Dixon's without calling ahead!. Knew they were a factory dealer/repair at the time, and sure 'enuf', there was a brand new one on the racks! Subsequently shortened the bbl., removed the shoulder-killing crescent, re-finished every surface, and placed a leather butt cuff. Good luck with your project! They always seemed to have a number of used GPR stocks back in the wood racks, so I asked, and they said they were a repair center; I can only assume there were many stock problems?? That was a long time ago, don't believe they are now. I think it was Mr. Chuck Dixon himself that cashed me out! Shops that specialize in muzzle loaders are few and far between; it truly is a "niche" market!
longcruise
70 Cal.
I just recently acquired a Chambers English Sporting Rifle kit in full stock. I don't recall it offered in a halfstock but it could easily be built that way. An fine quality kit. I went with it because I really liked the woodsrunner but wanted a 58 cal.
Certainly not a Hawken or Plains Rifle though.
I just had this crazy idea slip through my brain barrier (shields were down
). How about tapering a straight octagon barrel in a thickness sander the way we taper laminations for bows.I definitely want a full stock. I also want a standing/hooked breech, though. I’m always open to crazy ideas - crazy relative to what?I just recently acquired a Chambers English Sporting Rifle kit in full stock. I don't recall it offered in a halfstock but it could easily be built that way. An fine quality kit. I went with it because I really liked the woodsrunner but wanted a 58 cal.
Certainly not a Hawken or Plains Rifle though.
I just had this crazy idea slip through my brain barrier (shields were down
Sniperdoc
36 Cl.
Exactly. Use to attach the pieces, and don't add the brass spacer like Traditions does (I never figured out why they do that, it draws attention to the area).
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this is my effort of producing a full length, flintlock, plains rifle.
I call it my double bagger because it isn't the prettiest.
may not be the prettiest but it matches me and
is the one i shoot 99% of the time.
54 cal 34 inch Sharon Barrel.
8.25 lbs
overall length of 51 inches.
1 inch barrel
Doc Haddaway lock, Davis single set trigger.
I used a plank of Birch I milled here on the place 15 or so years and had it curing in my neighbors basement.
it lacks the wedges of a true plains rifle but i have no problem with cleaning it as I do all my long rifle flintlocks.
though when I catch up on builds i may add wedges to pretty it up a mite.
it shoots PRB much better than I can.
I call it my double bagger because it isn't the prettiest.
may not be the prettiest but it matches me and
54 cal 34 inch Sharon Barrel.
8.25 lbs
overall length of 51 inches.
1 inch barrel
Doc Haddaway lock, Davis single set trigger.
I used a plank of Birch I milled here on the place 15 or so years and had it curing in my neighbors basement.
it lacks the wedges of a true plains rifle but i have no problem with cleaning it as I do all my long rifle flintlocks.
though when I catch up on builds i may add wedges to pretty it up a mite.
it shoots PRB much better than I can.
Rock Home Isle
58 Cal.
As a child of the 70’s, I remember going to a Rondy with my CVA .50 calibre Mountain Rifle. On the firing line, there was this guy shooting a fullstock plains rifle…I’ve been wanting one ever since. I finally took the plunge a couple years ago and had one custom made for me. I feel like I waited almost too long, I should’ve done this years earlier.
As to calibre, I much prefer the efficiency of the grand old .54 calibre, it is the most efficient…and packs such an amazing punch on elk. So yeah, there’s that…
Last edited:
Sniperdoc
36 Cl.
Not a whole lot of old men went West
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