If

[Rifleball36]

If you wer going to build a Chuck or Bench gun what would be the cal. and size barrel you would use. Using cal. and barrel sizes that are available not special order. You would be shooting between 50 and 100 yds. I haven't heard much about this type of shooting on this Muzzeloading Forum. Looking for some opinions. :hmm:

 

[shmrck1]

Rifleball,
Personally I would use a .40 or most
likely a .45. Main reason being that is what I
shoot best.:hmm:
snake-eyes

 

[trent/OH]

you just missed a great opportunity: Either last weekend or the one before was the Alvin York Shoot, probably the most popular Chunk Gun shoot in the country.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Check with The Rifle Shop, they have a big assortment of underhammer bench guns from about .40 up to 8 bore or so! Believe they can help with your questions.

 

[Many Klatch]

The .40 shoots real flat but doesn't buck the wind real well. I have seen chunk guns up to .60 caliber. Since the guns weigh in at around 25 pounds, you don't have to worry much about the recoil. I think that .50 or .54 would provide enough wind bucking power. When you are dealing with .001 of an inch being the difference between first and second place, you want something that can ignore the wind.

Many Klatch

 

[Wehrmacht]

I "think" I would concur with you on a .50cal. Also I "think" that if you polled every one of the 213 shooters on the firing line at the York Shoot last Saturday a .50cal would have been #1. I know years ago when I went into heat about getting into the chunkgun circut I asked this same question of Lowell and Joel Gard, Ron Ehlert, The Dribblers, Ralph Walker and several others who were amoung the best shooters and while it wasn't 100% in favor of .50cal it came close.

I'll say this, and I'm sure it's excellent advice: Pick up the phone and call Paul Griffeth, ask him, and see if HE will build you a barrel! He has won three of the last four York matches and six of the top ten shooters last Saturday were using his barrels. He uses a 1:66 twist though I don't know the cal, .50 I think. His rifling is not square or round in the furrows,but is angular instead. I don't think this difference is at all critical popping squirrels in the head, but like Many Klatch says....when .001" seperated #1 from #2, it does!

The York Shoot last Saturday was a BLAST!! Wish I didn't live 6-7 hundred miles from the Chunkgun Circut :shake:

 

[Tumblernotch]

I shot my 40 cal. flint offhand rifle at the York shoot Saturday and shot a 11.689" string. I guess that's not terrible for someone who hasn't shot prone very much, but could have been better. There was just a touch of wind towards the end of the morning relay and I believe that may have affected me some. (Gotta blame somebody!) A 50 cal. or better with a heavier barrel and a cant block would have made a big difference. The guys I was there with all shoot 50 cal. minimum, some shoot .54's.

After I finish the .40 percussion I have in the shop, my next project will be a chunk gun. It will be at least 50 cal., possibly .54, at least a 42" x 1 1/8" barrel. I haven't decided on the maker yet. Probably either Rice or Ed Rayl depending on the wait time. I'm also seriously thinking of making a Mule Ear lock for it.

You're right about the tiny distances from the "X" playing a big part. There was .001 between me and the guy who placed just before me and the same happened to one of the guys I went down there with. I have to say that I've been bitten by the "bug" though. The WV Chunk Championship is being held up here in May and though I'll still be using an offhand rifle, I hope to be there! You need to get people down there interested in it. It's definitely a different game, ain't it?

 

[TennesseeJed]

I have a GM .40 calibre 1"x38" barrel on a T/C
Renegade stock that I used at the York shoot last week. It shoots better than I do. If I was going to build one and I'm beginning to get the urge, I would try a .45 calibre 1 1/8"x42".