The Baron said:
There are several YouTube about frizzen hardening. Most are off the mark. Do searching here, there has been considerable discussion on the subject in the past.
Dixie Lock Tuning Q.
- Thread starter The Baron
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There are several YouTube about frizzen hardening. Most are off the mark. Do searching here, there has been considerable discussion on the subject in the past.
Pete G
76 Cal.
The Dixie Tennessee Rifle was my first "real" long rifle, so I have a soft spot for them. I eventually fit mine with an L&R RPL lock, which also required a bit of tuning to work properly, but it was a worthwhile investment. Incidentally if you are going to do some refinishing on that stock use lye as a stain for the cherry; it gives sort of a deep chestnut brown color and looks right for an SMR. Also the forestock can use some slimming down if you are stripping the finish anyway. If you are not, then just shoot and enjoy it.
FWIW it looks as if your barrel has been shortened. Inspect the crown closely. If not perfect it can cause some accuracy problems. Take a piece of 320 grit wet or dry sandpaper with some WD40 as lube and use your thumb to polish the crown. It will make loading easier and MAY help with your grouping.
FWIW it looks as if your barrel has been shortened. Inspect the crown closely. If not perfect it can cause some accuracy problems. Take a piece of 320 grit wet or dry sandpaper with some WD40 as lube and use your thumb to polish the crown. It will make loading easier and MAY help with your grouping.
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agreed that the rifle has been cut down. this will have an effect on the balance of the rifle: it is widely held that the balance point should be about where your left hand (assuming a right handed shooter) goes when you're making a standing unsupported shot (this will be about the rod entry pipe). if your barrel is not a 'swamped' design (i.e. thick at the breech, thin at the middle and flared out a bit at the muzzle), you will probably not get a good balance point in a 42 or longer barrel length. (to fix this, some have gone to the trick of drilling out a bit of the stock under the butt plate and adding some lead shot.) your rifle, I'm pretty sure, does not have a swamped barrel.
straight sided barrels usually balance better in the 36 inch range. in my experience, straight barrels longer than that tend to feel heavy at the muzzle.
as regards the idea of getting Dutch Schoultz' method: if you don't already have a copy, shame on you! I've squandered money on accessories over the years, building a collection of gadgets, sub-thingummies, deal-e-oh's, and general junk which will take days to remove from my cellar and which will confound and confuse my heirs as they ask, "What is all this crap, and why did Dad bother with it???" in my collection of papers is Dutch's method, which I would consider more valuable that all the other gadgets combined. short version: spend the money - you won't regret it!
if you go to the Track of the Wolf website, there's a blurb on how to select the correct flint. if this isn't clear, just give them a call and the sales staff will walk you through it - they have good flints at pretty reasonable prices.
if you can see well enough to shoot without your glasses, that's cool (but you should wear some sort of eye protection). as to my own situation, I would expect that shooting without my glasses might get me arrested for felony wanton endangerment.
don't ever hesitate to ask any question on this forum - you may get a bunch of different answers, but they're all from well - meaning folks who sincerely do want to help.
make good smoke!
straight sided barrels usually balance better in the 36 inch range. in my experience, straight barrels longer than that tend to feel heavy at the muzzle.
as regards the idea of getting Dutch Schoultz' method: if you don't already have a copy, shame on you! I've squandered money on accessories over the years, building a collection of gadgets, sub-thingummies, deal-e-oh's, and general junk which will take days to remove from my cellar and which will confound and confuse my heirs as they ask, "What is all this crap, and why did Dad bother with it???" in my collection of papers is Dutch's method, which I would consider more valuable that all the other gadgets combined. short version: spend the money - you won't regret it!
if you go to the Track of the Wolf website, there's a blurb on how to select the correct flint. if this isn't clear, just give them a call and the sales staff will walk you through it - they have good flints at pretty reasonable prices.
if you can see well enough to shoot without your glasses, that's cool (but you should wear some sort of eye protection). as to my own situation, I would expect that shooting without my glasses might get me arrested for felony wanton endangerment.
don't ever hesitate to ask any question on this forum - you may get a bunch of different answers, but they're all from well - meaning folks who sincerely do want to help.
make good smoke!
Tom Compton
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Then GO to where they are!
Tom Compton
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Dutch's system is good. For off hand shooting a little muzzle heavy is good. Rifles hang, shotguns balance. I've been shooting a .40 cal 7/8" x 42" straight barrel for over 30 years and it still hangs good.
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40 Flint, you're right ... I got my terminology a bit out of focus there... fwiw, I built a rifle with a straight 42 inch barrel, and then one with a swamped barrel (also 42 inch). I'd never held a rifle with a swamped barrel before, and now I realize what all the fuss is about!
The Baron
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40 Flint said:
If I could find "them", within a couple hours' drive, I would. I'm still watching/looking but every event/rendezvous I have found is 4+ hours away State-side.
Yes, my Dixie has been cut at about 33" of barrel and points nicely (I think). To my untrained eye, it looks like a decent job and I can't see any issues with the crown. I am tempted to swap out the lock for an L&R because there are enough other minor lock issues to add up to that as possibly a good option. I'd also like to refinish the stock (I don't care for the burned in pattern) including take a little meat off the forend. I don't have the nerve to buy a kit and take a try at my own build, but maybe some tinkering will be my foray into the hobby.
rustyh
40 Cal.
Baron,
These are the flints from Track that I use in my Dixie Tennesse I haven't had any issues out of them. https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/141/1/FLINT-ENG-6-PACK-12
These are the flints from Track that I use in my Dixie Tennesse I haven't had any issues out of them. https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/141/1/FLINT-ENG-6-PACK-12
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Good luck on refinishing the stock. Burn goes pretty deep.
I think it's shooting pretty well, personally. You can slide the flint forward in the jaws and then tighten the jaws reasonably, you don't have to put the back of the flint against the screw.
Also, I'd get a thinner piece of leather to wrap the flint. What you have looks pretty thick to me. But I'm a flint newbie, so get another opinion.
I think it's shooting pretty well, personally. You can slide the flint forward in the jaws and then tighten the jaws reasonably, you don't have to put the back of the flint against the screw.
Also, I'd get a thinner piece of leather to wrap the flint. What you have looks pretty thick to me. But I'm a flint newbie, so get another opinion.
Tom Compton
54 Cal.
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The Baron said:40 Flint said:
If I could find "them", within a couple hours' drive, I would. I'm still watching/looking but every event/rendezvous I have found is 4+ hours away State-side.
Ok border crossings are a bummer if you're not a terrorist. Didn't pickup on that Canadian thing. Man if I was only a couple of hours away I'd come work w you but S Central Texas is a looong way from you.
The Baron
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Actually, border crossing is really no trouble at all. It's just a matter of distance - I'm not aware of any events or active flintlock shooting groups up here or even in northern NY (I'm only an hour from Watertown). I do live pretty close to Peter Alexander though, and have met/talked to him a couple times over the years at a local gunshow. I should try to track him down and see if I can tap into his network for some guidance.
Does G.A. Lamb, a member of this forum, live close to you? Maybe send him a PT?
frogwalking
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That looks like a sawed flint. If so, they are expensive and spark poorly. Buy a few hand chipped English or French flints of several sizes close to what you think it needs. Track of the Wolf and most other large mail order supply stores sell them. When you determine which size works best, buy a dozen. Chipped flints can be sharpened and ding so will keep them sparking for many shots. Use a new flint for any kind of important hunting.
