Thinking about flint

[kruzer1]

Hi all. My good friend who got me into this (but now lives a few states away) has given me the bug to go from percussion to flintlock. I'm planning it for next winters project.

I'm looking for opinions/advice. I'm leaning toward one of Jim Chambers kits. (I am set up for the woodworking and and have the equipment to do my own rust bluing).

Models I'm looking at are Christian Spring, Isaac Haines, or Early York.

While I have been a reannactor I am not near any groups or have time so that is not a huge factor.

I would use it mostly to hunt with. Where I hunt there are few woods and a lot of open country and I tend to walk and stalk a lot of miles (so low weight and balance are good but the length is not as huge as those of you who hunt timber).

Would like to hear from some of you on recommendations. I'd probably go .50 or .54 ... love the looks of a longrifle I must say

 

[Billnpatti]

Jim Chambers Early York is a very good choice. Spend the extra money for the swamped barrel. It has a much nicer balance and looks nicer than one with the straight barrel. I can't tell you why these things are so but they are. The swamping of the barrel removes a bit of metal from the sides and makes it a bit lighter but the main thing is the change in the balance of the gun. Get the lightest weight barrel that you can.

I built a Chambers Early York and love it. The only change I would make on mine is that I would not get the wooden patchbox. It is a beautiful thing but I am always afraid that I am going to damage it when I sit the butt on the ground to load it. In retrospect, I'd go with the plain stock with no patchbox.

The choice of .50 or .54 would depend on what you are going to be hunting. If deer, sheep, hogs or antilope, etc are your prey, the .50 will serve you quite well. actually, the .50 will serve you for most any big game but if you are going to be hunting elk, moose, bear, etc. I'd go with the .54. It just has some added "whompability" as one of our members says. :hatsoff:

 

[kruzer1]

I'm in south central South Dakota. Most game are antelope, Mule Deer and White tail. Once in about 10-20 years a person may pull a rifle elk tag (no muzzleloader) and we have no bears but a few big cats

The biggest cal. of the early york is .50 cal and I think that would work well (and go well with the .50 cal perc. hawken I am building so I could share resources and have the percussion as my wet weather rifle).

Thanks for the tip on the swamp barrel though- I'd rather pay more a well balanced rifle. Debating the patch box. I'm not happy with my in-letting/carving skills so not sure if I should just pay extra for good wood and concentrate on doing a nice shaping/finish than accidentally do a poor in-letting job (although I'd go with brass if I do get one).

Good news is wife gave me the go ahead but it may be a few months to save up the cash. As it is I am currently finishing a dixie hawken and refinishing an 1895 chilean mauser, 30-30 lever action and an old .22, so I've got plenty to do this winter on the old bench

 

[Col. Batguano]

then you understand the most important aspect of building. Patience. Next to that is comfort, and lighting. Then tool sharpening.

The rest comes with experience.

You will be happy with any of your choices, but never fully satisfied.

Rifle building is an addiction.

 

[kruzer1]

Yup, the minute I have gotten upset is the time to quit or work on something else. These things take time.

I can see with this Hawken how you could get it somewhat good quick but so far I have about 40 hours in it with lots of time to go (about 8 hours filing brass, 8 hours on the barrel and 12 hours on the wood). I'm only partly done

Oh with the longrifle I do have a question, from one whom has never had the chance to really handle one, I am 5'9" - all my other muzzleloaders have been short (24 inch or 28 inch barrel). How hard is it to load the York?

I see it has a 42" barrel with an overall length of 58". That should come to about chin height on me. Sorry if that is a silly question

 

[Billnpatti]

I doubt that you will have any problem loading it. If you are used to the shorter barrel rifles, the Early York may feel a bit funny but you will adapt to it pretty quickly.

 

[hanshi]

I'm 5'4" and had no problem loading my 42" x .50 EV rifle. It's really a non-issue.

 

[MSW]

never had a problem loading, but i'm six foot even. still, i've see little kids load 42" barrels with no problem. i think that this is something of a non- issue.

 

[Many Klatch]

I am 5'10" and I have one smoothbore with a 48" barrel. Reloading it is just a matter of putting the butt of the gun on the ground and taking a step forward so the muzzle is at a convenient height.

Many Klatch

 

[Col. Batguano]

Or you could always dig a hole.

 

[kruzer1]

lol! Silly question I asked when I really think about it. My original with opinions about the chambers models is the one I am really interested in.

 

[Many Klatch]

Stepladders would work too, they are less work than digging a hole, but are hard to carry through the woods. :grin:

Many Klatch

 

[Walks with fire]

You will need one if you want to use a drop tube. :haha:

 

[Matt85]

with the target game you just listed i would even suggest using a 45 caliber. it would be more PC/HC according to most and it should take the game you mentioned without question.

you wont regret going to flint, i just got my first flintlock a couple weeks ago and i love the lock! (mines a cheap india made musket but the lock is awsome)

-Matt

 

[Spikebuck]

with the target game you just listed i would even suggest using a 45 caliber. it would be more PC/HC according to most and it should take the game you mentioned without question.

South Dakota is usually windy...at least that's been my experience in the many, many times I've been there. A larger caliber with a heavier ball would be less affected by that and may be an advantage over the .45.

 

[kruzer1]

Where I am at in South Dakota (near the badlands), the White Tails can get up to 250 lbs. and I've seen Mule deer pushing up to 350 lbs. So in addition to shooting in strong wind our deer sometimes are a bit larger than a lot of other places.

I'm leaning toward the 50 although 45 could get the job done as I know shot placement is critical. Also, since I am building a 50 cal. hawken right now it might be nice to all use the same round balls to switch back and forth in the advent of wet weather.

As far as period correct, I have been deeply involved in the sword reenactment groups for some time now and have thousands invested in period correct stuff for that. I don't think I have the resources or time to get involved with another time period but that may change as my kids get older and I am tending to get more interested in shooting than sword fighting :grin: .

Not even sure of what goes on in SD or NE, besides the cowboy stuff, but maybe I'll have to check it out sometime

 

[Dean2]

SD is a lot like southern Alberta for game size and constant wind. Depending on whether the hunting or the target shooting is more important to you will influence your caliber. Target I would go 45 or 50, but if I wanted to hunt it much,a Hawkins in 54 will work great for hunting and you can down load her a tad for the target shooting. That or get a 45 barrel for target and a 54 for hunting fit to the same gun.

 

[AirborneFO]

Lots of good info on this thread. I am having my first Virginia flintlock built and I can't wait for it to get finished.