Okay guys.....I've been away from the forum for awhile. But I've put hundreds of rounds through my MVTC Fowler now....so I'll try and answer some of the most recent questions:
1. It is easy setting to dog catch with one hand once you learn how. Now, I'm trying to recall this process while at work...but...Rotate your right hand so that the thumb points downward....then pull the cock back with two fingers while pushing the dog forward with your thumb, all in one easy montion. Yes, you are probably used to pulling the cock back with your thumb on a normal flintlock. IT'S EASY with one hand and it becomes second nature quickly. It makes normal flinters seem odd to cock with your thumb.
2. The trigger pull is not nearly as heavy on mine as I expected it to be. Use the lower portion.
3. I use .67 balls cast in a 28 year old Dixie hair straightner mold and .018" Walmart ticking. I have used the same balls with 14 ga cards though. Mine has a .701" bore at the muzzle. Using undersize balls and heavy patching means I can shoot 100 rounds and never swab the bore. It's big lead plinking heaven!
I've also used cards with #5 shot....it patterns nicely at 25 yards. And used cards with a buck and ball load.....WOW!!!! Works well with paper cartridges also.
4. You think it has a slow lock time? IT IS A 7.5" long lock plate and A GIGANTIC COCK.....what did you expect?? Has to be one of the biggest locks on any commercial gun out there. I'm using Fuller 1 1/18" wide flints. But black 1" flints work fine.
5. The constant use and occasional rewipe with lemon juice has given the metal a lovely "used but not abused" look. I wipe the brass with fouled cleaning patches now and then just to keep the patina nice.
Although, I recently aged a new shiney knife blade very nicely by wrapping it with wet tooling leather for a couple of hours. It added some pattern to the patina....then wiped with lemon juice.
6. The Fowler balances very very well.
The stock shape is exactly the reason I purchased it over many others. And once I got used to the 51" barrel, my other guns seem puny. In fact, I have shot nothing but the Fowler since it arrived....I like it that much!
7. There are no spare rods available. Ramrod blanks come in 48" lengths max....so you have to make your own spares. I use a spiral worm and tow or rag for cleaning with the supplied rod.
8. By way of precaution, splice two 1/2" wood rods together and add a normal 1/2 Brass rod end so you can put normal attachments on if need be. I've not needed it, but it comes in handy as a range rod.
9. I clean it by plugging the touch hole and pouring warm water down the bore....shake, pour out, rinse and repeat until clean water comes out.
Dry with tow or cloth....oil. Cleanup time on this gun is absolutely minimal. I pull the lock and wipe it down it at the same time...takig care to clean the pan and frizzen hinging.
10. My touch hole was drilled a little low for my tastes....but it never failed to fire. I did lower the pan bottom anyway....although I have noticed no difference after doing so.
11. After well over 800 shots, my frizzen started to spark less. No more huge shower of sparks.
I emailed Pete at MVTC, sent him the frizzen, he had it back to me within like 5 days, huge shower of sparks again. It seems that some of the frizzens out of India don't get hardened as well as others. But MVTC takes care of the lock for the life of it....as long as you don't abuse it.
12. I have yet to be shooting the MVTC Fowler at my club range and failed to get compliments on it. People love it! I mean long time ML shooters, builders, etc. It just gets compliments when they see it, when they shoulder it, when they shoot it. I'm extremely pleased and proud to own one.
13. I took photos the other day....Sorry, I didn't have my pouch & horn and full Clark's Company regalia on atthe time. Here are a couple photos.
Jack
