Need help!

[Natureboy922]

Hey guys new here didn't know we're to post this but it is going to be a smooth bore so I put it here I am going to be making a 22. Caliber smooth bore matchlock pistol and I was wondering what other ways I could secure a breech plug or make one other than threading? All comments are welcome thank you.

 

[hanshi]

Welcome to the forum, Natureboy922. Can't help you with the pistol but it's obvious you're not planning a deer hunt. :thumbsup:

 

[Natureboy922]

No I am not deer hunting :grin: but I might do some squirrel hunting.

 

[Dewey]

Posting this on the "Pre-flintlock" forum, which discusses matchlocks, might be a good idea.

A non-threaded breach plug sounds dangerous, but what do I know ??? :idunno:

 

[Tinker2]

Is there a reason that you don’t want to thread it?






William Alexander

 

[Natureboy922]

I don't have access to the tools to thread it so I didn't know if maybe before they did it some other way?

 

[Alden]

Welcome.

Have a forge, live anvil, tools, and are you a blacksmith?

Welding is not a good idea for this either.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I don't have access to the tools to thread it so I didn't know if maybe before they did it some other way?

EBay!

 

[tenngun]

Old hand gonnes were welded, went out of style as customers complained when they had to pick pieces of barrel out of body parts. In a .22 with flash pan sized loads it shouldn't matter, however taping and putting a bolt in ain't very hard. Your local hardware store should have taps and dyes none too expensive.

 

[Dane]

Drill and tap for less than $10 at your local Home Depot.

Your gonna need a lot more tools than that!!

 

[Natureboy922]

Ok i will see if I can get threading stuff

 

[Paul R]

Natureboy, I'm not trying to discourage you,but the type of project you are suggesting & what appears to be a lack of knowledge in the questions asked, I get the impression you may be young &/or inexperienced on things gun related. This can be a very dangerous combination - even life threatening.
The fellows (and gals) on this site are very interested in helping new members learn & safely enjoy this hobby (if that is the right word). If we knew where you are located, we could probably help you find someone who would be pleased to help you get a good, safe start.
Paul

 

[Natureboy922]

I am young I'm 14 but im not inexperienced with guns and I am an avid hunter and archer, but I am inexperienced with muzzleloaders. I like the idea of being as self sufficient as possible an would like to build the muzzleloader from as close to scratch as possible and thank you all for all the help so far.

 

[Dane]

There are some much more important issues here.

What are you planning on using for a barrel? Ammo? Flash pan ?
It would help us, help you if we knew more about your project.

 

[tenngun]

A gun is a bomb with a blow out point that points in a different direction away from the shooter. The first were built by experienced blacksmith, and over the next two centuries became a craft of its own. Your at the beginning of learning that craft . Start by learning the basics. Get some DVDs and books find a mentor if you can and start small. Just like your archery, you had to learn how to bend the bow before you could hit the target. Your doing great, but learn to be a good swimmer before you jump off the deep end :hatsoff: for taking up the craft.

 

[ddoyle]

You absolutley must be able to form threads to build guns. No getting around it.

top quality drills, taps, dies are available by the bucket full all over for pennies on the dollar.

Building muzzleloaders is about the best darn hobby out there and some people even make a living at it. Chances are if you build one now you will still be at it in 60 years. Lots of chances to get a second use out of any tools purchased.

No one likes an answer to a question they did not ask but I think any of the successful builders on here would really encourage you to start this process with a tube/breech plug of known quality.

You can buy a barrel with the threads cut and a plug with the threads cut and fit the two together with a file. People will be super happy to coach you thru it.

If you need to build parts from scratch start with Ram Rod Pipes, Trigger Guard, sights etc.

FYI there are a zillion practical reasons why a .22 cal is a very poor choice for a muzzle loader build. Some from a saftey standpoint and some from a shooting/loading perspective. If you want .22 lr performance in a RB arm look to the .32 cal.

EDIT: Just thought for a minute and I really do not want to be discouraging. My own son is your age and his thing is building primative stringed instruments, homemade pickups, effects pedals and other electronics. You young guys are more then capable of creating what we old farts could never dream of building. That said you gotta follow the basic saftey rules, after that your youthful imagination and courage can accomplish an awful lot.

 

[Natureboy922]

Thank you all for the help I really appreciate it!😬

 

[Zonie]

Follow this link to a topic that will be helpful to your project.
It describes screw threads and how to make them.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/204810/post/388668/fromsearch/1/

Learning how to build things is well worth doing

 

[zimmerstutzen]

One of the early muzzle loaders I made was with an old 22 caliber barrel. I Diller and tapped the breech for a 5/16 the fine thread and cut down a hardware store fine thread bolt to fit. I cut the head off the bolt and then cut a screwdriver slot cross wise si I could install the breech plug. Very crude but it worked for the low pressures involved. For lack of funds I tapped to the bottom as far as the tap would go then ground off the tip of the tap and tapped the hole further and then ground off enough to turn the tap into a bottoming tap. Do able cheap with lots of oil, but requires knowledge about how to tap.

 

[ohio ramrod]

At your age the best thing you could do is to take some metal working courses at your school if they have them. You need enough knowledge to drill and tap holes if you are going to make guns! Safety is of primary concern when you are going to put anything with gun powder in your hand! A little knowledge can be very dangerous! :idunno: :idunno: