Switcheroo - Dually - Conversion - CL to FL??

[Sparkitoff]

I have a Side Hammer Percussion Rifle (Mule's Ear). I am wanting to make this rifle a flintlock for occasions when I feel like it. The great news is the lock manufacturer sells a flintlock that they assured me is identical in all regard to the Side Hammer and will be a "drop-in" fit. Whether that holds true or not is irrelevant. My nipple is 1/4-28 and I have the same sized vent liner that fits just perfect. So in theory, I can substitute the percussion lock for the flintlock and the nipple for the vent liner and TADA instant flintlock.

Here's my question - Do you think with the same load the percussion is sighted in with the flintlock will also have same point of impact? Any other thoughts on this?

 

[Stubert]

You are probably going to have to re sight, you are going to lose pressure from the vent which could cause a difference in trajectory.

 

[Pete G]

I have a Side Hammer Percussion Rifle (Mule's Ear). I am wanting to make this rifle a flintlock for occasions when I feel like it. The great news is the lock manufacturer sells a flintlock that they assured me is identical in all regard to the Side Hammer and will be a "drop-in" fit. Whether that holds true or not is irrelevant. My nipple is 1/4-28 and I have the same sized vent liner that fits just perfect. So in theory, I can substitute the percussion lock for the flintlock and the nipple for the vent liner and TADA instant flintlock.

Here's my question - Do you think with the same load the percussion is sighted in with the flintlock will also have same point of impact? Any other thoughts on this?

Conversion usually sounds like a much better idea than it really is.

 

[Grimord]

I have a 50 caliber Great Plains flint lock that I converted to a mule ear just by substituting the lock and replacing the touch hole with a nipple. Works great, and is easy to convert back and forth.

 

[Semisane]

As Pete G said, "Conversion usually sounds like a much better idea than it really is.

Here's my experience. I started off with a .50 Renegade caplock. Got a .45 Green Mountain drop-in barrel for it, also a .58 drop-in. So do I now have a Renegade with three interchangeable barrels? Nope. Ended up getting two more stock assemblies and have three guns.

I also had a Pedersoli Frontier in .45 with a flint lock & touch hole liner and an interchangeable percussion lock & drum and nipple. Though It was fairly easy two switch back and forth, I very seldom did. The gun pretty much stayed a flinter. However, on the one occasion I did a side by side shooting comparison (same day/same load/bench rest/50 yards/five shots with each setup) all holes were pretty much in the same place.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I have a Side Hammer Percussion Rifle (Mule's Ear). I am wanting to make this rifle a flintlock for occasions when I feel like it. The great news is the lock manufacturer sells a flintlock that they assured me is identical in all regard to the Side Hammer and will be a "drop-in" fit. Whether that holds true or not is irrelevant. My nipple is 1/4-28 and I have the same sized vent liner that fits just perfect. So in theory, I can substitute the percussion lock for the flintlock and the nipple for the vent liner and TADA instant flintlock.

Here's my question - Do you think with the same load the percussion is sighted in with the flintlock will also have same point of impact? Any other thoughts on this?

I have converted 3 of my cap guns to flint now.
What I have experienced is a small drop in elevation - likely due to some gas losses through the flash channel. Other than that - no real difference. One of the conversions was a tough one, had to do some woodwork, move the trigger back a tad and deepen the mortise.
The other 2 are Pedersoli guns, and all that was required was changing the lock out and replacing the drum with a vent liner.
And of course - I have kept 2 of the locks in case I ever want to go back. The third lock was badly damaged so I sent it off to a parts guy to use for replacement parts.

 

[Otter]

I have a FL to CL convertible .45 cal rifle I had custom built for me. Neo-Lancaster style, Semi-fancy maple stock, 42" GM barrel with L&R matching locks. Take out the flint touch hole and lock, replace with the drum and percussion lock. Easy. Only caution is to NOT tighten the lock bolt too much.