Couple of questions about the barrel. During the build there seems to be some sort of router used to rout out the lock. It has put a nice gouge in the barrel near the bottom octagonal below the touch hole. Too deep to draw file IMO. Can I just fill this in with some low-temp silver solder then file flat, or is applying any heat to the barrel near the breach end dangerous. You can't see the gouge but I'm anal and like things clean.
2nd question...does everyone slot their lug holes to allow for expansion of the wood? If so, do you also either make the lug slightly smaller in the mortice or make the mortice slightly larger to also allow for expansion. Right now, everything is in very tight.