How many barrel wedges are enough for a heavy halfstock barrel?

[Trapper1993]

I have a 8lb 1 1/8" barrel that is going on a halfstock to make an english sporting rifle or chunk gun. I initially was going to just have 1 wedge but should I have 2 or 3 to hold such a heavy barrel? The stock is going to be thick to help hold the barrel

 

[Pete G]

I would use two.

 

[ord sgt]

One barrel lug should be enough. Don't forget the tang screw anchoring the breech end of the barrel.

 

[deerstalkert]

while 1 wedge would probably be sufficient, 2 just looks sexier to me.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

2 wedges.

 

[64Springer]

More than one and less than three.

 

[FlinterNick]

If located correctly, You only need one.

If you’re using smaller keys you may want two.

The underrib and ramrod will secure the rest of it.

The model 1803 rifle had one wedge with a 33-36” barrel, it’s one of the most accurate military flintlock rifles ever designed.

Many of these lasted through the civil war as conversion carbines, they were still fitted with just one wedge.

 

[bptactical]

More than one and less than three.

This is the correct answer and there is a valid reason: The Rule of Three-
It is a design principle that divides an object into thirds for asthetic appeal and function.
Looking at the forend if you divide it into thirds (by using 2 keys) it will appear proportionately correct.

 

[tenngun]

One is plenty, two as above looks better. Original Hawkens usually had two. Did it show quality, balance in looks, or just plain a back up? If you lost one you had a back up.

 

[Trapper1993]

Thank you for the replies! I like the look of one wedge but I'll use two depending on how long the barrel channel is. The wedges i have now are slightly oversized than normal ones so they should be pretty sturdy

 

[DixieTexian]

This is the correct answer and there is a valid reason: The Rule of Three-
It is a design principle that divides an object into thirds for asthetic appeal and function.
Looking at the forend if you divide it into thirds (by using 2 keys) it will appear proportionately correct.

Or you could follow the golden ratio with just one key. Or you could think of them as sith lords and put two in. There are any number of rules of thumb that work, you just have to pick the one that looks good to you if it is for you.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

1

 

[Patched]

Forget the barrel wedges….throw a set of wagon wheels on it so two men can roll it up to the firing line….

 

[mushka]

Half stock, I'd say the builders preference.

 

[ord sgt]

If you lost one you had a back up.

Use a slotted wedge pin and put a pin through the slot. No lost wedges. The pin will retain the wedge.
I did that on my last build of a half stock plains rifle. Two wedges retained by pins.

 

[Mikekj]

One will do since the wedge don’t hold the barrel on.
The wedge holds the stock to the barrel, not the barrel to the stock.