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First traditional build!

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Joined
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Got it done in time to go hunting this fall! 16 gauge fusil. Learned a lot on this build. Really puts it into perspective how much work they did back then to make a good gun.
 

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Congratulations on your first build. Nothing quite as exciting as bringing a gun you made out for a day of hunting.
Looks like a Fusil Fin butt plate?
Also, is that the L&R Queen Anne lock? How does it preform?
You are correct! I have not patterned it out yet, I should have the time this weekend at an event I'm going to with some friends.
 
It will be my second muzzloader smoothbore, I have been doing some reading on loading for shot and round ball. Any starting recommendations or just the usual work up a load from 60/65 grains. It's a 16 gauge, measures.660 inside diameter. Using .640 roundball, probably just some pillow ticking?
 
Yup, .016-.018" ticking. Radius the crown or use a long-starter. Some people like a thicker patch and smaller ball to make a good fit in their smoothbores, I tend to have blown patches and poor accuracy doing that so stick to rifle-type fits but with a .020" under ball instead of .005-.010".

The things that matter the most to PRB accuracy in a smoothbore are how consistent your seating pressure is and how consistent your fouling ring is. Either wipe every shot or use a lot of water-based patch lube that clears out the crust ring each time you seat a fresh ball so you don't get crust rings that fool you into short-seating your ball.
 
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