What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

[dcrummett]

Cast some .490 ball with and for my soon-to-be 10 year old grandson, the proud new owner of an out of the box factory-built Traditions .50 Deer Hunter. Thunderstorms came in so we put off firing the first for-real shots until maybe Wednesday afternoon. Cleaned bore and nipple, fired a cap to make sure all was open (nipple was full of oil and lock has aged grease on it...so cleaning process was needed). He's very good with a .22 Cricket and has grown in stature enough his off-hand stand is very "correct" ... so we're planning on adding to the numbers of deer taken in Oklahoma's generous deer season this fall. He'll be ready (and equipped with all the tools to keep the .50 running). A blessing to be this part of a young man's growing up.

 

[TDM]

I have been doing the same. The sweep of my gouges don't seem to match the curves that I am drawing. I really want to try the stab carving technique but don't want to trash the stock. In the past I have always used a v-gouge. I guess I need to keep practicing.

I’m having the same problems and I’ve got a bunch of FlexCut chisels and gouges. Plus some larger ones. And I’ve used the FlexCuts for years and I keep them very sharp, but trying to keep crisp lines on nothing but curves is frustrating! These are the ones I have. Doing this isn’t as much fun as I thought it would be!

 

[Polecat_Tom]

Doing this isn’t as much fun as I thought it would be!

I know the feeling. I even ordered in some additional gouges from Woodcraft thinking I would have it covered. The gun may turn out to be a plain Jane.

 

[TDM]

I know the feeling. I even ordered in some additional gouges from Woodcraft thinking I would have it covered. The gun may turn out to be a plain Jane.

Yep, I’m not throwing in the towel yet, but my real stock has very pretty wood and it would be a shame to mess it up. And as you know if you get a sharp blade close to wood and lose concentration or run out of knowledge you will ruin the wood! Let’s not give up yet.

 

[WALT53]

Played around with the practice stock some more. I’m going to continue trying different things but I’m already convinced that whatever I put on the real gun will be very small and simple. Nothing like this.

Do you seriously think your carving sucks cause I think it looks really good

 

[TDM]

Do you seriously think your carving sucks cause I think it looks really good

Thanks Walt. And I’m not fishing for compliments. Overall for a first attempt at this I’m pleased. But it’s so easy to mess up! Carving on a practice stock is less stressful. But I will endeavor to persevere.

 

[Terrier]

Thanks Walt. And I’m not fishing for compliments. Overall for a first attempt at this I’m pleased. But it’s so easy to mess up! Carving on a practice stock is less stressful. But I will endeavor to persevere.

Deep breath! Hummmmmmm…….

You can do eet!

 

[Terrier]

@aussie pete Reporting as ordered, Sir!


Did a little shooting last evening after work and made adjustments to the sight to dial it in a little closer. Still need another tweak back to the left.
This was where I started on this second go at shooting the new SMR .40 Had previously tweaked things a little to the right:

Sanded down the front sight a bit to get the group lifted. Going if give it a tap to move it back left a smidge for the next go-round:

50 grains FFFg Goex
.389 RB from Kibler’s
.18 pillow ticking patch from Ox Yoke
25 yards, rested

 

[Terrier]

Does anyone have a source for a 44” x 5/16” Delrin ramrod?

This never happened to me before, but I guess it’s because I’ve always used Delrin or metal ramrods almost from the beginning…

Don’t say it never happens!

And I wasn’t giving it the juice, either. Probably why it didn’t git me any worse than it did.

 

[aussie pete]

@aussie pete Reporting as ordered, Sir!


Did a little shooting last evening after work and made adjustments to the sight to dial it in a little closer. Still need another tweak back to the left.
This was where I started on this second go at shooting the new SMR .40 Had previously tweaked things a little to the right:

View attachment 228025


Sanded down the front sight a bit to get the group lifted. Going if give it a tap to move it back left a smidge for the next go-round:
View attachment 228027


50 grains FFFg Goex
.389 RB from Kibler’s
.18 pillow ticking patch from Ox Yoke
25 yards, rested

Thanks for the follow up, Terrier. That's shooting sweet, isn't it? The .40's do well in good hands. We have a club member here who shoots one; he does very well with his, a Green River Rifle Works Hawken. I get a little edgy about knocking the sight over when I see a group ever so slightly off centre like that - sometimes I get a bit exuberant with the hammer and send it the other way the same amount! Fifty yards will tell you . Again, nicely done.

Pete

 

[SOLANCO]

Does anyone have a source for a 44” x 5/16” Delrin ramrod?

This never happened to me before, but I guess it’s because I’ve always used Delrin or metal ramrods almost from the beginning…

Don’t say it never happens!

And I wasn’t giving it the juice, either. Probably why it didn’t git me any worse than it did.
View attachment 228029

I am very pleased with the .50BMG cleaning rod as my range rod.

 

[Century to late]

Did some more experimenting on the practice stock. Did one of the beaver tails and started carving the tang crest. Dug a couple of craters trying to cut against the grain. Very tedious, especially as I’m making it up as I go along. Thank goodness it’s a practice stock. Wish I had 10 of them!

Impressive!! Do you want some practice stocks? I might have a few if you want them. I don't plan on doing any carving.

 

[Century to late]

Got a painter friend coming to paint my out building on a gun trade. Got to get a few choices for him to pick from tomorrow.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Terrier, the way the rod broke it looks like it had bad grain run out. You were lucky you didn’t get more serious wounds.

 

[user 31232]

Does anyone have a source for a 44” x 5/16” Delrin ramrod?

This never happened to me before, but I guess it’s because I’ve always used Delrin or metal ramrods almost from the beginning…

Don’t say it never happens!

And I wasn’t giving it the juice, either. Probably why it didn’t git me any worse than it did.
View attachment 228029

 

[Terrier]

Terrier, the way the rod broke it looks like it had bad grain run out. You were lucky you didn’t get more serious wounds.

I didn’t notice it at first, but I’m leaning that way, too, and feel pretty fortunate it wasn’t worse… I ordered two extra ramrods when I got the kit, so I’m going to look at the grain on the other two much more closely before considering their use. Probably going to use the range rod from here out and leave one of the others in the gun just to keep the ferrules from being lonely.

 

[Terrier]

Thanks for the follow up, Terrier. That's shooting sweet, isn't it? The .40's do well in good hands. We have a club member here who shoots one; he does very well with his, a Green River Rifle Works Hawken. I get a little edgy about knocking the sight over when I see a group ever so slightly off centre like that - sometimes I get a bit exuberant with the hammer and send it the other way the same amount! Fifty yards will tell you . Again, nicely done.

Pete

View attachment 228038

I took a couple fo shots at 50 yards during yesterday’s session and it’s definitely shooting to the right. Couple inches at 50 yards. I’ll figger it out. Tap right, tap left, tap right again!

Left again!

 

[ETipp]

Took Mr. Crockett back to the woods this morning. A fair amount of action and a few strange events. Only connected on 3 but it was a good hunt. Early season ends in 3 more days here. Man oh man, how this ole mountain man loves this stuff. Wouldn't even be doing it if I wasn't using my ML squirrel rifle. Nothing like it.

 

[user 31232]

Took my new to me 1863 remington by miroku and put 15 rounds through it. Felt great to shoulder and shoot. Just a beautiful day to piddle

 

[TDM]

Did some more practice carving on the partial fore stock. Cut all the lines free hand today. Feeling a bit more comfortable but still can’t get the edges as crisp as they should be. Only cut myself twice. I’ll keep practicing.