What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

[Appowner]

Finally got my ram rod for the Woodsrunner cut to the right length and ends attached. Then cleaned the ML mess off the wife's dining room table.

 

[TDM]

What is everyone's favorite method to ensure the sight doesn't slide sideways in the dovetail?

I use a small tip punch to stake the brass right at the edge of the dovetail. Sometimes only once or several times depending on the fit of the sight.

 

[mtfishn]

Stuck a taller sight on my Traditions Kentucky and filed it down, I think my elevation issue is resolved... But I dry balled for the first time before I could verify with a few follow-up shots. Going to brave the cold in the morning and get it locked down! What is everyone's favorite method to ensure the sight doesn't slide sideways in the dovetail?View attachment 275682

The sight should(?) fit tight enough, but if not, try one or more very thin shims under the sight inside the dovetail. this will press the sight upward and tighten it within the dovetail.

 

[Tim_IA]

Say, when you're done can I send you mine?

Way quicker with a Dremel, but using all hand tools thus far! Not sure on cutting the bone inlays I'm going to do though.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I recently picked up this really nice small double lidded brass box that I knew would be nice addition to my flint and steel kit. It holds enough dry shredded jute fiber on one side and char cloth on the other side for several fires. This brass fire starting box will make a nice addition to my period firestarting kit.

 

[deerstalkert]

today i discovered after 5 shots that i was loading my .54 with .490 balls. sucks being old.

 

[RobertIN]

Got dialed in with the traditions at 50 and busted several knuckles, then cut my hand pretty good when my patch knife slipped.

Also dropped the ball paying @th1840 for his colonial via PayPal confusion but everything will be well when the eCheck posts on the 14th it's still a good day to be alive. Hope you all are having a good one!

 

[oldschoolhunter55]

Had to add a "post script" to yesterday's post. I took the same young lady out again this afternoon... after filling a doe tag yesterday and jumping several bucks in the process. Just before dark we spotted a nice 4x4 buck feeding with some does ..upwind at about 150yds. This was one of the bucks we had spooked while shooting the doe the day before. Before we could get into a closer shooting situation he wandered off to our right heading toward the river and a lot of brush. We scurried off to try to intercept him. I eventually spotted him feeding at about 90yds in this brushy/timbered bottom, but we could not see him from sitting position. We moved closer when he moved behind cover. Eventually, he popped out of the heavy stuff crossing toward the river to our right, but walking through tall grass, only his head/neck and bit of his back showing as he walked by at 75yds. I asked her if she could hit it offhand and told her to hold a little low based on where the gun was sighted. I nelt and gave her my shoulder to lean the barrel across. At the 'crack" the buck folded up like 2 dollar bill, with a ball through the neck bone. Dead in his tracks. Not sure that was where she intended to hit him to be honest, but lots of congrats her way on a fine shot made....this was only her second shot taken with a muzzleloader..after killing the doe yesterday.

yeaaa. tell her and you congrats from me.glad to see all went well for yaw.

 

[TDM]

Back at the camp and I plan to fabricate and solder a year sight on my Trade Gun tomorrow, then do some shooting.

 

[oldschoolhunter55]

Showed my beautiful girlfriend how to clean her rifle again. It’s her second time. She has it down but just had some questions is all. I gave her my mothers old rifle. Mom used to shoot alot of competitions with it in 90’s. She was an absolute dead eye with it. It’s just one of those guns that fit a woman extremely well as it’s very well balanced and pretty light. My GF is no exception! She’s only shot it 4 times now but holy cow! Her third time shooting it, (or any muzzleloading rifle), was a few weeks ago at a match in a little town about 30 miles away. She won 2 of the six matches shooting against guys that have been doing this since the 70’s. Definitely outshot me too. One of my friends she outshot was in the movie Mountain Men! They were all good sports about it as they should be. I was so proud of her. She won two pounds of goex and 200 cci caps. Great prizes. Great time!! Oh her new to her rifle is kinda an oddball. It’s from 90-91 cannot remember exactly when mom got it. It’s a CVA Kentucky Hunter. 1:66 twist. Around 33 inch Really sleek light.50. I put new sights on it way back when for mom. The German silver beaver front sight works well on it and makes them smile!View attachment 275693View attachment 275694View attachment 275695View attachment 275696View attachment 275697View attachment 275698

sounds like that lady can shoot. congrats to both of you. i know u was some kind of proud for her

 

[flconch53]

today i discovered after 5 shots that i was loading my .54 with .490 balls. sucks being old.

Bet it loaded easy though

 

[PathfinderNC]

Got the dovetailed lugs soldered in now. It’s been many moons since I’ve done soldering and it kinda shows

 

[bpd303]

ends attached

Hopefully pinned as well.

 

[bpd303]

I use a small tip punch to stake the brass right at the edge of the dovetail. Sometimes only once or several times depending on the fit of the sight.

My method as well never had a sight move unless I wanted it to.

 

[RobertIN]

I use a small tip punch to stake the brass right at the edge of the dovetail. Sometimes only once or several times depending on the fit of the sight.

That's kind of what I did. I probably punched it more than was needed but I'd rather it be too tight! It's just brass so if I need to get it out it'll come out anyway. Thank you

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Installed a barrel rib on a half stock build.
The first thing to do is to locate the ramrod pipes and mark them. Note the bend in the rib.

Next I drilled a clearance hole for the 6x48 filister head screws followed by a relief for the screw head. This was drilled just deep enough to keep the screw slot above the rib.

After this step I drilled and tapped the screw holes to a .150" depth. Then I dressed off the screws so that they protruded .100 from the rib. Then I filed a notch in the rib to fit the pipes. I filed a flat on the pipes the width of the rib which makes for a smooth ramrod entry. After all this I soldered on the pipes with Brownells High Force 44 solder. For some reason I couldn't get my silver solder to work so I used the softer solder which flowed very well. Then it was time to tin both the rib and the barrel flat with 50/50 solder, screw the rib in place and heat the whole works up until the solder flowed. While it was still hot I cranked the screws down tight.

Then it was just a matter of cleaning up the mess and filing the screw heads off with a round file.

The last photo shows the muzzle end roughly dressed off and the faint solder joint.

 

[Rendezvous Valley Trading]

I can hear it now Honey would you show me how to clean it one more time please please please?

That’s funny! Actually she doesn’t mind doing it. Neither do I. I even taught hr to clean her 1851’s and tear them all the way down completely. She definitely would rather clean her rifle then her pistols, and I don’t blame her

 

[Rendezvous Valley Trading]

sounds like that lady can shoot. congrats to both of you. i know u was some kind of proud for her

She can and I am! She’s a good friend. We do everything together. Her birthday is this weekend and she wants to go ice fishing for it. Win win for me because that’s what I want to do to!

 

[WALT53]

Back at the camp and I plan to fabricate and solder a year sight on my Trade Gun tomorrow, then do some shooting.

Looking forward to a couple pics or even a video thereTDM of you shooting your pretty smoothbore with ball and shot .

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Looking forward to a couple pics or even a video thereTDM of you shooting your pretty smoothbore with ball and shot .

Not sure where to put this. CAPE Rifle Just arranged to collect my winning 12b cape rifle from Bisley range uk. Won at Holts Auction Norfolk uk . £123 but with premiums £202 nice percussion locks

Winter project cracked stock????? Pitted in poor condition No dear, to the wife it’s an investment That’s one barrel smooth the other rifled, usually cape rifles are coming from South Africa

I did one last year described as “ for renovation. £860 at Holts Bores .6” with two groves for winged bullets Just light rust untouched for years Love it photo
On roulette wheel. Big thing coming in at 14 lbs a beautiful beast.