It has been some time since I built my last rifle, and I am wondering where I might get a good trigger for my next gun. The last one I bought (I won't mention names, to protect the guilty....)was a piece of junk and had to be completely re-worked to make it useful. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Quality lock / lock kit
- Thread starter Carpe Dm
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Every time I deviate from the products of the Chambers and Davis families I regret my decision.
I have done this three times in 20 years and ended with locks that cost just as much ans a siler or chambers and did not spark well or would not tune. With one the mainspring broke and could not be roplaces. The lock mortise was larger than a large Siler or Chambers and I still have a patched together, less than satisfactory replacement spring in the off brand lock.
If you got a bad product from Chambers or Davis it was the one in a thousand that slips through QC at any firm.
Many of their products are purchased as kits and assembled by nonapproved "outscource" builders. It's really difficult to mess one up!
I have purchesed silers built by MuzzleLoaders Builders Supply (Many years ago before they changed hands), Log Cabin Shop and TOTW. All of the locks functioned well.
I have also built a dozen Silers from kit and never had a single failure to function when I followed the specified procedures.
The three sets of Davis triggers I have work well also.
If I had a problem I feel confident that the service Departments could handle the situation, if the parts were assembled in-house.
My favorite set of triggers actually came off of a CVA Misouri Hunter and were stoned within an inch of their lives. You can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
I have done this three times in 20 years and ended with locks that cost just as much ans a siler or chambers and did not spark well or would not tune. With one the mainspring broke and could not be roplaces. The lock mortise was larger than a large Siler or Chambers and I still have a patched together, less than satisfactory replacement spring in the off brand lock.
If you got a bad product from Chambers or Davis it was the one in a thousand that slips through QC at any firm.
Many of their products are purchased as kits and assembled by nonapproved "outscource" builders. It's really difficult to mess one up!
I have purchesed silers built by MuzzleLoaders Builders Supply (Many years ago before they changed hands), Log Cabin Shop and TOTW. All of the locks functioned well.
I have also built a dozen Silers from kit and never had a single failure to function when I followed the specified procedures.
The three sets of Davis triggers I have work well also.
If I had a problem I feel confident that the service Departments could handle the situation, if the parts were assembled in-house.
My favorite set of triggers actually came off of a CVA Misouri Hunter and were stoned within an inch of their lives. You can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
i seen the kits but weren't sure bout buying them....is it a good idea if i bought one to put together myself....i've had my T/C lock apart to tune and polish and it went back togther and is much better....
would it be the same for the kit from chambers...........bob
Well, that is all according to how precise of work you do. Kinda like a wristwatch... a very few can fix them and most guys can just ruin them....
I know allot of guys that have built locks. I also know of allot of guys have tried it & out of those about 1 or possibly 2 in about 100 were done correctly & performed flawlessly. For the lock to just work is not a big deal... but for it to fire flawlessly for 3000-4000-5000 shots, that takes someone that Knows what he is doing.... not just guestimation.. it is precise & it will work as good as you learn it & no better....
Personally, I am not going to build a rifle & screw around with a lock for 6 mo to a year trying to get it to perform.... I don't have the time or the patience for it. I am going to put a lock on there I KNOW will perform & go on & build the rifle.... And when I sell that rifle I know the lock is a good lock & have no question of it.
I usually buy my locks from Jim Chambers usually or from someone that has one of Jim's locks if he is out of them. They have a Lifetime Warranty on parts if it comes from Jim Chambers Flintlocks. In the past 5 years & of over a dozen of his flintlocks I have only needed a part 1 time & it was my fault & he still gave me the part. Sometimes I have a customer that say just any Siler & then if Jim doesn't have one in stock, I usually get one from Tip Curtis & have had real good results with Tip's also.
Now if ya just want to tinker with something, build a lock. Not an expensive thing & hey, you may find a nitch ya really like. I would just rather build rifles & buy the lock already built.
I hear guys say "Awww, nuthin to it" all the time. Must be something to it or they would be building them for a living.... :m2c:
I know allot of guys that have built locks. I also know of allot of guys have tried it & out of those about 1 or possibly 2 in about 100 were done correctly & performed flawlessly. For the lock to just work is not a big deal... but for it to fire flawlessly for 3000-4000-5000 shots, that takes someone that Knows what he is doing.... not just guestimation.. it is precise & it will work as good as you learn it & no better....
Personally, I am not going to build a rifle & screw around with a lock for 6 mo to a year trying to get it to perform.... I don't have the time or the patience for it. I am going to put a lock on there I KNOW will perform & go on & build the rifle.... And when I sell that rifle I know the lock is a good lock & have no question of it.
I usually buy my locks from Jim Chambers usually or from someone that has one of Jim's locks if he is out of them. They have a Lifetime Warranty on parts if it comes from Jim Chambers Flintlocks. In the past 5 years & of over a dozen of his flintlocks I have only needed a part 1 time & it was my fault & he still gave me the part. Sometimes I have a customer that say just any Siler & then if Jim doesn't have one in stock, I usually get one from Tip Curtis & have had real good results with Tip's also.
Now if ya just want to tinker with something, build a lock. Not an expensive thing & hey, you may find a nitch ya really like. I would just rather build rifles & buy the lock already built.
I hear guys say "Awww, nuthin to it" all the time. Must be something to it or they would be building them for a living.... :m2c:
birddog....
thanks for the input and info....was just wondering bout that cause i can get the same lock built or as kit from the same place for $50.00 difference....i guess not to try and save a few bucks....right now i want to do a few guns before i go the hard route of just getting a blank and going from there....once again thank you....................bob
P.S....when i did my maple stock for my T/C i thought i was doing such a good job and bragging a bit till i was in here more and started to see all of the guns being built by you guys and was just blown away and just looked at my restocked T/C i have and kinda just said nice but these guys wow....i know everyone gots to start some where....so now that i have started look out i hope....and once again thanks to all who have helped with all the replies and very nice compliments by ya guys and hope me tooting my horn hasn't offended anyone that might have thought "look at this guy with just a restocked T/C"
eace:....
thanks for the input and info....was just wondering bout that cause i can get the same lock built or as kit from the same place for $50.00 difference....i guess not to try and save a few bucks....right now i want to do a few guns before i go the hard route of just getting a blank and going from there....once again thank you....................bob
P.S....when i did my maple stock for my T/C i thought i was doing such a good job and bragging a bit till i was in here more and started to see all of the guns being built by you guys and was just blown away and just looked at my restocked T/C i have and kinda just said nice but these guys wow....i know everyone gots to start some where....so now that i have started look out i hope....and once again thanks to all who have helped with all the replies and very nice compliments by ya guys and hope me tooting my horn hasn't offended anyone that might have thought "look at this guy with just a restocked T/C"
eace:....Bob: It is kinda like this... 2 different times in the past years I thought I would get real thrifty & I would shop around & buy every part at the cheapest place & etc. After doing this for all of the parts for entire rifles, by the time I bought the parts, sent back the one that were not right or quality was poor & etc. and replaced those parts, I ended up spending well over $100. more than if I had bought a complete parts set from Tip or TOW or MBS.
For me the lock is the same way. I would buy 2 of everything to build it, on to practice on & one to hopefully do right. I don't doublt you can build one. I know I can build one. But to fool with the dang thing while a rifle is sitting there waiting for months while I scrutinize & adjust & redo parts & re-heat treat, etc....... for $50 . it is not worth it for me. Now that is to me,,,,,,,, Some want to know they did it themselves or like building them and that is fine... but I will spend the $50. and buy the lock.
If I ws you I would buy the lock for a few guns. You may pick up a lock cheap & tinker with it or buy a kit & tinker with it til ya get it right, but don't let that hold up the rifle work. Do it on the side til ya get it right. That way you will progress with the rifle & go on & when the lock is ready, then use it on something at that time. :imo: :results:
For me the lock is the same way. I would buy 2 of everything to build it, on to practice on & one to hopefully do right. I don't doublt you can build one. I know I can build one. But to fool with the dang thing while a rifle is sitting there waiting for months while I scrutinize & adjust & redo parts & re-heat treat, etc....... for $50 . it is not worth it for me. Now that is to me,,,,,,,, Some want to know they did it themselves or like building them and that is fine... but I will spend the $50. and buy the lock.
If I ws you I would buy the lock for a few guns. You may pick up a lock cheap & tinker with it or buy a kit & tinker with it til ya get it right, but don't let that hold up the rifle work. Do it on the side til ya get it right. That way you will progress with the rifle & go on & when the lock is ready, then use it on something at that time. :imo: :results:
Stan Hollenbaugh makes a terrific lock and is probably as close to perfect as you can get. It half way between a large Siler and a small. The wait is about 6 months but they are hand turned and polished. For a 40 caliber and below they are perfect, but would look a little small on a larger caliber. They are flawless !!!
Stan's Website
Stan's Website
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