Converting a percussion to flintlock

[uno676]

How hard is it to convert from a percussion to a flintlock? Can you use the same barrel? I was think about this and I dont have alot of experience with flinters.

 

[galamb]

If there is a flint lock that will fit the existing mortise, or the lock is larger than the existing one AND

if the current ignition is drum style AND the new lock pan would line up with the hole

OR

if the barrel has a hooked breech, whether snail or drum style and the plug can be replaced AND in replacing the plug you don't alter the position of the barrel so far as the wedges or pins will no longer fasten it to the stock OR you can move them

Then Yes, it can be done.

Now, depending on "what rifle" you would be attempting to convert, the cost of doing such may be somewhat more than the cost of simply replacing the rifle.

Some are built with the ability to convert taken into account - most are not.

But throw enough money at any given problem and it can be done.

 

[MSW]

How hard is it to convert from a percussion to a flintlock? Can you use the same barrel? I was think about this and I dont have alot of experience with flinters.

a fellow asks a buddy who is a first year law school student a question about a contract, and the guys says, sure - you're covered ... but he's not so sure, so he asks another fellow the same question and is deeply concerned that the answer come back as 'no - you're in a world of doo doo,' so he plonks down his money for a consultation with a law school graduate, admitted to the bar, real live attorney, who tells him ...

'well, it depends ...'

on balance, unless there is a compelling reason to convert from percussion to flint, it's usually cheaper to get a flinter in the first place.

having said that, there's a link to a fellow who went from cap to flint with a Thompson Center rifle ... let's see if I can find it ...
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/1289825/

hope that worked ...

good luck with your project!

 

[Spikebuck]

I have a project lined up to convert my Pedersoli Frontier Rifle from percussion to flint. This should be a simple conversion since there is a replacement flint lock and it's got a drum. But....

The drum was drilled too low into the barrel to be a good location for a touchhole. I ordered two different replacement "drop-in" locks and both would have required me to build back up portions of the lock mortise due to gaps that would have been there if I dropped in and lined up to the proper touch hole location.

So...what should have been easy is not. I am moving forward because for less than $100 I had the patent breech cut off, the barrel re-bored to a larger caliber and new breech plug/tang installed. For $140 I bought a Chambers Builder's Lock which I can cut to perfectly fit the existing mortise. So for about $225 and my labor time I'll have the conversion done.

I'm "re-building" the entire gun more as a project to see what I can do with it and gain building skills, otherwise I'd have been money ahead to sell the percussion version and buy a good used Flint version.