Barrel Channel Issue on a New Stock

[Mina]

Jan 9th 2024 I finally got my swamped barrel down to the proper depth and aligned left and right, and to where the plug, when screwed in, will align flush with the top of the stock. However, it is stuck pretty good in the channel. Later today I'll pop it out and loosen the fit a bit. Next will be inletting the tang. I will have enough of a job doing this without having to deal with not knowing if the cause of the difficulty in removing the barrel is the tang or the barrel. I know the space between the end of the plug and the thread of the powder drum should be 1/32". For me that means 19mm from the plug-breech seam to the dimple for drilling. I checked the fit of the percussion L&R lock and already semi-inletted double trigger channel. There is absolutely no margin for error. Soot did finally work. I found that I had to put the barrel directly into the paraffin candle flame in order to get it to deposit enough soot to be worth the effort. The 1/4 " wide scraper I made worked!

 

[Rob M.]

Got to be real careful with sand paper on a to size backer or you will quickly have a sloppy oversized barrel channel.

Glad you said it !

 

[bptactical]

I have had great luck with dry erase markers on a barrel to mark high spots. It is neat, not greasy or sooty and when your inlet is complete a stiff brush cleans most of it out of the inlet.
One trick- once you get the width of your barrel channel right STOP blackening the vertical/side flats. Only blacken the surfaces your working.

 

[Mina]

Jan 9th 2024 I finally got my swamped barrel down to the proper depth and aligned left and right, and to where the plug, when screwed in, will align flush with the top of the stock. However, it is stuck pretty good in the channel. Later today I'll pop it out and loosen the fit a bit. Next will be inletting the tang. I will have enough of a job doing this without having to deal with not knowing if the cause of the difficulty in removing the barrel is the tang or the barrel. I know the space between the end of the plug and the thread of the powder drum should be 1/32". For me that means 19mm from the plug-breech seam to the dimple for drilling. I checked the fit of the percussion L&R lock and already semi-inletted double trigger channel. There is absolutely no margin for error. Soot did finally work. I found that I had to put the barrel directly into the paraffin candle flame in order to get it to deposit enough soot to be worth the effort. The 1/4 " wide scraper I made worked!

Yesterday I got the breach plug installed. It took a phone call to Pecatonica for advice. I had to keep taking down the shoulder of the tang with a tiny square very fine jeweler's file (ancient/found about 70 years ago in our back driveway after a grandfather clock repairman had departed) with one side smooth. I used Prussian Blue and filed off the blue and kept refitting until, finally, the witness marks lined up.

 

[Mina]

I have just inlet the tang with barrel down to the top of the stock at the tang's root. This Sunday. Time to rest and ponder.

 

[waarp8nt]

Mina brought my old thread back to life, thought I may as well post a picture of the stock with the barrel temporarily installed. Shelved the project afterwards, saving it for a rainy day. Used a little bit of everyone's advise, so thank you all!