First build ?

[dwesley41]

would like to build my first percussion rifle. .32 .36 .40 cal. This will be my first ML project of any type. Just finished J Turpin DVD series. I thought it was very good. What recommendations would anyone have for a new builder?

 

[Birddog6]

Buy A Builders Book !

:thumbsup:

 

[runningbadger]

I agree with Birddog, I have a couple of books and a couple of videos and referance all of them so much my wife bought me a dvd/video player and TV for my shop. More info from other sources is always a good thing. Look at the gun building tutorial at the top of this section, good stuff.

 

[J.D.]

I agree with Birddog and runningbadger. I suggest buying two building books. And used both.

As to what style of gun you should build, what do you like?

I suggest looking through an assortment of books on ML rifles to see which styles tickle your fancy. Many books can be borrowed through inter library loan, for no expense, if you have a library card.

I also suggest running a search on longrifles, or percussion rifles, or some similar search criteria.

As to caliber choice, what do you plan to do with this gun? All of those caliber choices work well for small game hunting, but IMHO, anything less than a 40 isn't all that great for target shooting.

God Bless,
J.D.

 

[Birddog6]

IMHO, the Videos are great, no doubt about it. But keep in mind these guys doing these videos are Experienced builders & Everything goes right for them because of this experience,,,,,,,,, Buy the building books, one or two or them.... There is a WORLD of info in them that will get you out of jams BEFORE they happen cause you can SEE the illustrations & READ of how they work & etc. I have built quite a few rifles & I still refer to the books on dif. things......

If I had to choose 2 of the builders books to buy....

#1: The Gunsmiths of Grenville County. More info. than in ANY of the builders books I have found yet & twice as thick with info of most builders books. Get the spiral bound so it will lay flat on the workbench.

#2: Chuck Dixons builder book. He knows his stuff & have been building rifles for years..... He has forgot more than allot of us will ever know about building rifles.....

:thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

dwesley41

Dixons builder book that Birddog mentioned is titled
The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle .

All builders and especially new builders should go thru the post that is located at the top of the Gun Builders index page titled
"Gun Building Tutorial"

This was created by Birddog and although it covers building from a solid block of wood most (if not all) of what is shown applies to every muzzleloading rifle that is being built.

Good Stuff!! Don't miss it

 

[Birddog6]

:redface: Wish I had done it, but Mike Brooks is the author of the Gun Builder Tutorial on this site. And he did a GREAT job on it too ! :bow:

 

[Old40Rod]

IMHO, the Videos are great, no doubt about it. But keep in mind these guys doing these videos are Experienced builders & Everything goes right for them because of this experience,,,,,,,,,

Also keep in mind the magic of video, that lets one edit out mistakes :hatsoff:

 

[dwesley41]

Thanks for the info. I viewed the Mike Brooks Tutorial it was great. I also found a tutorial by Woods Custom Rifles that was really good. The author is from California MO where I attended third grade. I will order some books and thanks for the suggestons

 

[Zonie]

My apologies to Mike Brooks.
A failing of the gray matter on my part.

The Gun Builder Tutorial by the Great Mike Brooks is definitely something that should be seen not once, but several times by all new gunbuilders.

There, I feel better now.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

The Gun Builder Tutorial by the Great Mike Brooks is definitely something that should be seen not once, but several times by all new gunbuilders.

And copied to hard paper and placed in a notebook for the shop. :thumbsup: