How low?

[dlocke]

Generally, is it good to place your lockplate as low as possible in relation to the barrel? I have been doing some test fitting as I'm going to begin inletting my lockplate this weekend. hat I'd like to do is set the plate so that the bottom of the pan is 1/16" above the bottom of the side barrel flat. The barrel fits pretty well in the pre-inlet stock and I do not believe I'd have to lower it any more than 1/32" to fully bed it. My plan is to take out the barrel and, using a square, mark the scale at 1/16" above the bottom of the side flat, then c-clamp the barrel into the channel and transfer the mark to the stock. The front of the plate will be in great relation to the web. I've found that my flintlocks with a low lock and relatively high vent liner and vent hole fire better, but was wondering if there were other opinions on this.
DJL

 

[Zonie]

I locate the lock so that the top surface of the pan is on or just slightly below the center of the side barrel flat.
This location seems to position the vent hole (which is centered on the side barrel flat) in just the right place and assures the bottom of the pan will also be above the lower corner of the flat.

If you locate the lock too low, you may end up with the bottom of the pan below the side flat.

zonie

 

[dlocke]

That's something that I don't want to have to deal with, going below the bottom of the flat. It would be easier to line up the top of the pan with a straight line than the bottom of the pan with a speck of a line too. Thx for the heads up Zonie, I'll measure it up with the top of the pan in line with the center of the flat and see how she goes.
DJL