What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

[pacanis]

I live in Northern Flicker heaven here. They are literally all over the place come summer.
I found one dead last year He was laying on my brush hog and I can only guess that he misjudged flying into my pole barn and clipped the doorway, falling onto the cutter. But it did allow me to really notice how beautiful they were. They are so flighty I never get a good look at them.

So anyway... today I'll be waiting for Big Brown to bring me my Indian Trade Gun from Dixie. That won't be until sometimes this afternoon.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I participated in an impromptu Chunk Gun (Over-the-Log) Match at my gun club. The shots were fired prone at an X target placed 60 yards away. Targets were scored by the distance from the center of the impact to the crossing of the X. Did not do all that well. I can think of several excuses for why I missed so often. Still it's fun to be out and shooting after most of the winter is over. Other members were practicing for the Alvin York Match coming up. Reminded most of us that we need a lot more practice.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I guess this is related to muzzleloading. I ordered a new coal for from Centaur Forge Company. I have the standing Champion 400 blower for this forge in the shed. It has been waiting to be paired with a nice forge. I have a gas forge but I also like forging in coal. This forge will help me forge items enjoyed by shooters in our muzzleloading community like knives, accoutrements and accessories, etc. Looking forward to getting this forge up and operational next week.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[Forester]

I noticed a small gap on the butt plate of my 58 Kibler kit. I removed it with the use of a small chasing hammer. I need to start draw filing the barrel.

 

[Bunk]

Broke down 50+ unmentionables for powder and bullet. Powder (FFFg) will go in my Smith bullet case/tube/thingy and see how it works. Bullets will work in my 1851 Navy.
I will find a use for the brass gizmos.
Still hitting center line
A bit low
File the front sight
Bunk

 

[wganz]

Started off with this TEOTWAWKI storm with predicted 80mph winds & tornadoes. Got the moving padded blankets out to pad the tops of the 2 vehicles that didn't fit in the garage. Got a couple of cigars to sit out on the patio to listen for that infamous train sound. Made sure family knew what bathroom to use for emergency + be sure to take the cats with them. Sit back far enough to keep the rain spray off, turned on the Don Henley channel on iHeartRadio, and lit up. Lots of wind. Stratospheric inversion strong enough that you could smell the ozone and cold enough that you could see your breath. All the while, the family was watching a movie & split up a bottle of wine. Those yardbirds cleaned up, locked the doors, and went to bed. Leaving yours truly locked outside. Called & no answer. Texted & no response. Knocked on the door & no answer. Well, feces. Decided to go ahead and fire up the lead pot to finish off the lead by casting bullets for the carbine. Finished and counted the Lee .578-485 Minie balls to get 35 rows of ten bullets for a total of 350 balls. Next, to see what it takes to extract the lead out of these wheel weights.

 

[deerstalkert]

Started off with this TEOTWAWKI storm with predicted 80mph winds & tornadoes. Got the moving padded blankets out to pad the tops of the 2 vehicles that didn't fit in the garage. Got a couple of cigars to sit out on the patio to listen for that infamous train sound. Made sure family knew what bathroom to use for emergency + be sure to take the cats with them. Sit back far enough to keep the rain spray off, turned on the Don Henley channel on iHeartRadio, and lit up. Lots of wind. Stratospheric inversion strong enough that you could smell the ozone and cold enough that you could see your breath. All the while, the family was watching a movie & split up a bottle of wine. Those yardbirds cleaned up, locked the doors, and went to bed. Leaving yours truly locked outside. Called & no answer. Texted & no response. Knocked on the door & no answer. Well, feces. Decided to go ahead and fire up the lead pot to finish off the lead by casting bullets for the carbine. Finished and counted the Lee .578-485 Minie balls to get 35 rows of ten bullets for a total of 350 balls. Next, to see what it takes to extract the lead out of these wheel weights.

View attachment 202888

cast those wheel weights into ingots and sell them or trade them for pure lead. wheel weight bullets are perfect for hunting bullets in unmentionables.
just for giggles i am going to cast some rb out some WW lead i have and see if all the naysayers are just passing gas.

 

[wganz]

cast those wheel weights into ingots and sell them or trade them for pure lead. wheel weight bullets are perfect for hunting bullets in unmentionables.
just for giggles i am going to cast some rb out some WW lead i have and see if all the naysayers are just passing gas.

To finish 'rest of the story', the wife got up & realized that I wasn't there. Checked her phone and opened the door at O200.
I laughed because getting mad at given the opportunity to finish up wasn't necessarily a Bad Thing.

My Loyalist Arms 1840 musket is due to be shipped by 10 March and is going to be my N-SSA smoothbore practice musket. So, going to get a steady diet of wheel weight round balls regardless who catches the vapours over it. And, the target is going to be in front of an 85 gallon bullet trap so that they can be reincarnated back into more round balls.

 

[painter]

Went to the post office to pick up my lock, and liner, to convert my 36 cal Frontier to flint. Evidently the carrier couldn't go out of her way to deliver it yesterday.

Fitted a 3/4" flint which is a one size smaller than what's recommended, but thicker leather made it work OK. The lock sparks, but it takes some real effort to release the cock. I guess I'm spoiled by the Kibler lock. That thing is a work of art.

The next time I order flints I'll get a dozen 7/8 ths. I want to clean the preservative oil off it and re-lube before I install it.

 

[BS2366]

 

[BillyC]

Since I’m new to this game I don’t have all of the little things so today I made a bullet board and a short starter. If we can work our schedules out the grandson and I will have our first flintlock shooting session tomorrow. Still oiling the board up.

 

[pacanis]

Took Pedersolis brown paint off my new musket.

 

[deerstalkert]

Took Pedersolis brown paint off my new musket.

may i ask what you used and what it looks like after? i am thinking of doing the same to my Mortimer, then browning it.

 

[pacanis]

may i ask what you used and what it looks like after? i am thinking of doing the same to my Mortimer, then browning it.

Sure.
I used some kind of spray on paint stripper I've had forever called... Klean Strip. Got it years ago at the local Ace Hardware.
And a green/coarse sanding pad also bought at Ace. It's not a scotch brite. That didn't work at all. It's basically a thin sponge with a coarse sanding grit (doesn't feel real coarse) on one side. It took one and one fifth pads cut into 2x3 pads or so.

Spray on the stripper, wait a few minutes, rub the heck out of it. And the paint will gum up the pad, so move your fingers around to fresh areas.

Not here's the trick. As soon as you start seeing bare metal and it looks like you are accomplishing something, rinse it off. Otherwise that brown slurry will adhere itself right back to the barrel. I used hot water and it dried off pretty fast so I could repeat. It took me about an hour ten minutes to do the top half. I broke the barrel into three sections, but in front and around the front sight and the tang/touch hole areas took more work.

Pics here
Pedersoli Indian Trade Musket questions

 

[BS2366]

may i ask what you used and what it looks like after? i am thinking of doing the same to my Mortimer, then browning it.

CitriStrip

Spray the stock and wrap it in a trash bag so the citristrip doesn't dry out. If it dries, you have to spray it again.

After 30 minutes to an hour, check on it. Scrape with a metal scraper. The old finish will come right off. Wipe down with naptha or mineral spirits to remove residue.

 

[64Springer]

Mini Frankenstuffer pistol underway. Siler Mountain percussion lock. If TOW ever gets them back in stock.

12.5 inch barrel in .45 caliber. Filed the octagon barrel round and epoxied it inside a one inch 4130 tube.

Cherry stock built in sections. Will have a breech block extension with a steel plate on the end. It will rest on the plate while being loaded.

Unmentionable pistol grip with storage. Gotta put balls, patches and peanut M&Ms somewhere.

I think a screw in ramrod is doable.

 

[Snooterpup]

Today I decided to “capture” the barrel key on my old T/C .50 Hawken. Cut and filed the slot in the barrel key, drilled a small counter sunk hole and reworked a brass round head wood screw to fit and secure the barrel key. Took awhile, but so does digging around in the tall grass to find it. Problem solved.
Snoot

 

[64Springer]

^^^Great Idea.^^^

 

[BillRob]

In the morning my son and I will be doing some very late season pheasant "hunting" at a game ranch in Eastern Washington. He has a pooch that he wants to get a few more reps before the season is completely over and I always look for a reason to go along. I spent this evening measuring 1 1/4 oz. loads of #5 bismuth shot and 90 grains of Goex triple f into some medicine bottles (the only thing good about getting a little older is I have plenty of extra medicine bottles). He'll be backing me up with his Weatherby O/U so hopefully we won't let too many of the birds get away. I'll report the results tomorrow!

 

[aussie pete]

In the morning my son and I will be doing some very late season pheasant "hunting" at a game ranch in Eastern Washington. He has a pooch that he wants to get a few more reps before the season is completely over and I always look for a reason to go along. I spent this evening measuring 1 1/4 oz. loads of #5 bismuth shot and 90 grains of Goex triple f into some medicine bottles (the only thing good about getting a little older is I have plenty of extra medicine bottles). He'll be backing me up with his Weatherby O/U so hopefully we won't let too many of the birds get away. I'll report the results tomorrow!

BillRob, see if you can get a couple of field images of the dog working? Would be a hoot. Have a great session; looking forward to your report.

Pete