Help choosing my first flintlock

[Loyalist Dave]

My Flinter is a 38" swamped, .54 as well.

According to Track of The Wolf's website:

Early longrifles, made at Christians' Spring, Pennsylvania are transitional rifles, blending formal German style with innovative American features. The shorter Germanic Jaeger rifles evolved into America's longrifle, during this early Colonial period. It may be more correct to call this an Albrecht style, after the family of gunmakers at Christian's Spring, Pennsylvania, who made transitional rifles such as Edward Marshall's rifle. [Has a 37" swamped, large bore of .54 or larger]

So no, a 38" barrel will work for both the F&I and the AWI. Now I have found for some reason that the 38" barrel doesn't really "stick out" to the naked eye...but take two more inches off of it and at 36" it simply looks too short for a long rifle, or too long for a Jaeger.

:idunno:

A Virginia rifle in that caliber with a swamped barrel that feels "right" to you...once you get her dialed in on a good load, you will fall in love with that rifle.

LD

 

[MountainEMTIV]

Well I went ahead and ordered a 38" .54 swamped barrel from pectonica. Not sure if I should get the stock or lock next.

 

[MountainEMTIV]

Which lock would be correct for an early Virginia style rifle?

 

[jethro224]

Maybe a Chambers Colonial Virginia lock would suit you.

When it comes to research, I am not the guy with all the answers but the way I understand it is that both round faced and flat locks of English or German style could have been used. Kinda depends on what exactly "early" means to you.

 

[hanshi]

A friend owned an absolutely beautiful TVM EV rifle with wood patch box, premium striped stock and a Chambers round face English lock. These are identical to the Colonial Va locks (have a CVa on my smoothbore) except for a raised ridge on the frizzen pan cover intended to keep out water; and a groove around the edge of the lock plate. It's a fine lock for the EV rifle.

 

[majg1234]

I think a 54 cal is a good choice,I shoot a 58cal with 120gr FFg and PRB and the recoil is not bad @all.The rifle is a Early Virginia style.The wide butt plate helps a bunch with the recoil as does the weight.Interestingly enough the same load in a 58cal Investarms Hawken stye is bordering on unpleasant due to lighter weight and shape of the butt.The smaller calibers can take deer. you just have to be selective with the shots you take.I've taken 2 large Tn Doe with my 40cal Southern Mountain rifle.Good luck with your build.

 

[hanshi]

I've decided on 60 grains of 3F in my .40 with a .390" ball and a lubed (Hoppes) .024" patch as the load I'd use on deer if given the opportunity. I based it on accuracy - sub 4" groups at 100 yards and that's saying something considering I'm a lousy shot to begin with - and velocities approaching 2000fps. What load did you use on the two deer you killed with your .40?

 

[majg1234]

almost the same as yours,60gr FFFg Goex,felt wad over powder home made .390 ball .018 ticking lubed with beeswax olive oil stuff I make.Ranges were 30yrds and 55yrds. 55yrd deer was DRT 30yrd deer walked about 15yrds before falling over.I had time to reload and was priming the pan when she fell :shocked2:

 

[CrackStock]

Well I went ahead and ordered a 38" .54 swamped barrel from pectonica. Not sure if I should get the stock or lock next.

Most people order as a complete set so that the components all work well together. Going separately adds to the risk of parts not being compatible. If you go slowly and carefully, you may be able to avoid this, but it is a concern. The barrel being separate is not a big deal for a kit as long as you make your supplier aware of what you are using.

I would suggest that you need to figure out the stock style and source next. Will you select a blank or precarved? How far along the precarved route do you want to go? These often dictate your choice of lock. If you set upon a particular lock that is not the commonly used type, then you may be committed to a stock blank or precarved without the lock mortise cut.

If you are wanting a roughed out blank or precarved without the lock mortise, you might contact Jack Garner to see what materials he has in stock. I got a good deal on a bare bones rifle kit from him years ago and put together what I wanted with it.

CS

 

[Zonie]

For what it's worth, this is the Colerain 37" swamped, .54 caliber barrel mounted in a Pecatonica River stock.



Anyone thinking about building one of the guns from TOTW, Pecatonica River or similar suppliers need to understand, even using a pre-carve stock they will need to spend well over 120 hours of time building the gun.

I have built many of these pre-carved guns and I don't recall any of them taking less than 140 hours of work.

 

[hanshi]

I think it also mattered that you made really good shots on both.

 

[MountainEMTIV]

Been awhile, well I had surgery (arthoscopic) on my shoulder but the Dr thinks he may have to open me up, I'll find out on the 13th. In the meantime I'm thinking about picking up a lock or the stock.