Help!! French Fusil DeChasse

[pacherokee54]

I really, really want a French Fusil DeChasse 62. cal. I am really undecided on which company to buy one from. I'm not wealthy as I am setting to retire next month and I have always wanted a French FD. I keep searching the internet and there are some choices but I'm afraid some are imported from India and well, I don't want to get one of them. I would appreciate members thoughts and suggestions as to what their experiences are, Thanks

 

[wattlebuster]

Give this guy a call. His prices are very reasonable :thumbsup:
http://www.fowlingguns.com/

 

[Trot]

It all depends on how correct you want to be. Hopefully Alex Efremenko will see your post. He is "the man" on French guns.

 

[wulf]

Mine was a "Center Mark" kit. Nothing to do but
Stain the stock. I did inlay the trigger guard 1/16"
and it shot great. I don't know if they are still in business...

 

[Cruzatte]

I have my eye on Track of the Wolf's FDC with a 44" 20 ga. barrel.

 

[JohnN]

Are you looking for a completed gun or a "kit" to build ?

 

[Keb]

Another French gun to consider is the R.E.Davis Fusil Fin trade gun kit.
Click here... R.E.Davis kit gun

 

[tenngun]

I have a center mark and very happy with it....but it's less then a fully accurate copy. It is good enough for me. One can do better. The Indian guns I have seen were bulky and heavy. They were very shoot able and I knew of on that's in a muesuem.

 

[Keb]

Yup, less than accurate in appearance but not in shooting. They were famous for cheek whacking, too. I had 3 of them over the years and they were all good shooters.

 

[pacherokee54]

Are you looking for a completed gun or a "kit" to build ?

Either one actually. Just want a decent one, even used.

 

[JohnN]

I have the TOW fusil de chasse in walnut with the 44" barrel. Probably the most historically accurate of the kits. Didn't like their pins and changed from flat to oval screws.Also ordered their "poster" and found it very helpful.

 

[Cruzatte]

I have the TOW fusil de chasse in walnut with the 44" barrel. Probably the most historically accurate of the kits. Didn't like their pins and changed from flat to oval screws.Also ordered their "poster" and found it very helpful.

Could you tell me a little more about the pins, please? As I said earlier, I'm looking very seriously at purchasing this very gun.

 

[alex efremenko]

The pins they furnish with the parts set are enormously fat
1/16" pins work much better. If your buying from TOW their tulle lock is long on backorder. I'm waiting on three... :cursing: i might actually have to build a rifle.

 

[Zonie]

Different strokes for different folks, as they say, but, for the main barrel pins I prefer to use 5/64" music wire instead of 1/16" diameter pins.

The slightly larger diameter allows me to use a 5/64" drill bit which is longer than the 1/16" bit.

That assures that I can drill completely thru the stock rather than risk drilling the hole with a bit that is too short to break thru on the far side.

The 5/64" bit is also stiffer so it is less likely to "walk" off of the direction it is drilling when it hits the steel barrel underlug.

 

[Cruzatte]

I seem to recall using coat hanger wire on my Caywood R. Wilson model fusil. I don't know what the diameter of coat hanger wire is, but I'm certain it's considerably larger than 1/16".

 

[pierricg]

I'm afraid some are imported from India and well, I don't want to get one of them. I would appreciate members thoughts and suggestions as to what their experiences are, Thanks

Hello LoneWolf,

I own an indian Fusil de Tulle and my experience is that they are very good if you don't want to spend a lot on one of these models.

Mine upon receipt :

The only problem is the stock finishing : quite ugly with a thick yellowish varnish. I've sanded mine and done a new finish using walnut stain and True Oil.

You just need to drill the flash hole, quite easy, and have it proofed. We have only one instance doing it in France, the BNE :


I've talked on the phone with the guys of the BNE and they told me that they are used to proof indian tubes, and there is no problem with them. I think the bad reputation has been given by people who don't own indian replicas, or who don't know how to shoot with black powder.

Mine finished :




I've done some engraving ont it, inletting an Holy Virgin and carving a Fleur-de-Lys, so as to make an officer gun of the Compagnie Franche de la Marine in New France.



It shoots very well :


I use patched round balls of ancient 20 Ga caliber :

They are Ø15.4mm (0.60), used with 0.02" patch, greased with Wonder Lube.
I shoot 65 grains of Swiss BP with those bullets.

Total cost of indian replica + proofing + stock finishing was only 60% the price of a Track of the Wolf or Pedersoli unit.

 

[JohnN]

The pins are very thick and very hard to cut. Use one of the other recommendations such as music wire or finishing nails.

 

[JohnN]

What do you do if a spring breaks, or a tumbler wears out, or the point on your sear breaks ? Don't get me wrong, I have an Indian musket myself but only for reenacting.I also made a lock for it using Rifle Shoppe parts so replacement is no problem. The TOW lock is made by Chambers so the parts are readily available if needed.

 

[satwel]

I don't own one, but I have read nothing but good things about this kit on other forums. Some say it has many historically correct features. I'm considering ordering one myself.
http://www.redaviscompany.com/0412.html

 

[pierricg]

Hi JohnN,

I know what you mean, but to me it was obvious that buying an indian replica also meant that it would see moderate use. You only got what you pay for. All parts are well dimensioned and look sturdy, and I think they won't break apart so easily, but spare parts are of course an issue and unless you want to adapt a more common lock, it would be foolish to shoot it extensively every week.
I just wanted to share my experience, and say that an indian replica is not as bad as some would say, if you know what you buy, how to rework it a little and use it wisely. Without indian replicas, I wouldn't own a Fusil de Tulle now.