Question on Pinning the Barrel and Ramrod pipes

[wizard71]

I'm to the point where I'm going to pin the barrel and ram rod pipes to the stock. My question is what is a good size pin to use. I've looked in the Track of the Wolf catalog and they have steel pins that are 3/32. I think 1/16 may be a little hard to find and drilling holes that small may present some problems. :hmm: Any suggestions?

 

[Mike Brooks]

I use 1/16"

 

[rich pierce]

Smaller looks better. I used to use bigger ones because I was still thinking in terms of removing the barrel and wanted to be able to punch them out. But after looking closely at more originals and taking some apart, it seems the barrels were almost never removed, and the pins are universally small in diameter.

 

1/16th gets my vote. Doesn't take much to hold a stock onto the barrel or pipes to the stock.
Don

 

[more powder]

Cannoneer I use.062 piano wire barrel and pipes,piano wire you get at hobby shop,but i never take my barrels out.

 

[oldarmy]

I used the 3/32 on my first one, Know I use 1/16"
Get a box of small finish nails at a hardware store and you will have a life long supply

 

[crgabel]

I use 1/16th and it works fine.
Craig

 

[Harddog]

I always use 1/16" pins. These small pins allow for a slim forestock like it should be.

Randy Hedden

 

6 penny nails, whatever size that is. I never have to order or hunt for replacements.

 

[wizard71]

Do the finishing nails ever rust?

 

[Zonie]

I use .078 (5/64) music wire.
It's smaller than the 3/32 (.094) so it isn't as likely to break out if the drill bit is real close to the edge of the underlug.

It's larger than the 1/16 (.062) so the drill is a little stouter and less likely to deflect when it hits the underlug and it allows me to use a 1/16 dia drift punch to knock it out when I want to remove the barrel.

The music wire doesn't rust easily and is stout enough that it won't bend when inserted or removed.

The only bad thing I can say about the music wire (available at some Hardware stores and most Hobby shops) is it isn't easy to cut with anything less than a Dremel Cut off wheel.

 

[flashpanner]

I have even "cut" the music wire with the corner of the grinding wheel. I usually turn it as I am grinding the notch in it. I then come back and grind square or slightly radiused.

 

[WRussell]

I think about the only caveat on finishing nails is you want to be sure they don't get in there too tight. The end will tend to mash over if you have to bang on it.

Of course you could always case harden...

 

[Stophel]

6d nails and TAPERED, always tapered.

 

[wizard71]

I think I've found a solution to what to use to pin the barrel. In my search for a pin smaller then 3/32, I found Bronze brazing rods. They are a hair larger then 1/16 " in dia. and have a tensile strength of 40,000 PSI. Three 18" rods cost me 4 bucks at home depot.
When a friend of mine built his Caywood trade gun a few years back, I think he said the pins they sent him were made from brazing rods.