Well Ive owned this rifle for 2 weeks now Ive gone through a pound and a half of powder without even so much as a hangfire. Which is freakin incredible. The chambers early germanic lock is perfectly tuned. It will fire upside down. The frizzen to pan fit is so tight it survived a 5 second dunking in a pail and the powder was still dry. "Note to roy,I placed my thumb over the backside of the lock. I promise I did not dunk the whole rifle. Although I have a swimming pool and was tempted." The triggers are very well tuned so it can be fired without setting the rear. Set it measures a clean 2 pounds . Now on to the barrel it is manufactured By Charles Burton. And I am impressed. It has round bottomed rifleling,.50 cal, swamped,and was coned by him. I was told that he has a system to test fire his barrels before leaving his shop. I was also told he thought of keeping this barrel for himself. Well im glad he did not. The first 5 shots out of this gun touched at 25 yards. I continued to fire more rounds about 20 total into a group the size of a nickel with no flyers. I did this without wiping the bore . This in itself was impressive but I wanted to see what this rifle would do at range. I shot a target at 100 yards and was very pleased with 3 shots. Wait for it..... I spent the last week bear hunting in western maine. We had a bad year and no bear were taken. For many reasons from a hurricane to beechnuts but that is another story. The last time I loaded this rifle was thursday of last week. I brought it home with charge in it saturday. This morning I finally got down to the pit to shoot it. I proceded to fire this 5 shot group at 100 yrds of a rest.
This group measures 1.5 inches from center. This the most accurate flintlock rifle I have ever owned. Im getting these results before the gun is even "broke in". Im used to just broken. We have seen the pics of the gun and the fit and finish is masterful work. The only thing I would have had done different was to have my son's initials engraved on this rifle. Because it is way to nice to throw in the hole with me. So I guess he can have it some day.
Thanks Roy