what to do?

[Travis Gregory]

As it stands right now because of procrastination, lack of confidence, and life involving keeping up with 3 kids in school and sports year round, I am currently a year and a half into building my flint longrifle. It has been both fun and frustrating but I have enjoyed the build. I still have a good bit to go before it is finished. Im wanting to hunt with it so bad its killing me but I doubt i can finish it the way I want to before hunting season. I figure I can get it mostly shaped and rough sanded, install my vent liner and sights and hunt with it in the white. Have any of you done this and then finished your build later or do you think I should just hunt with another gun?

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Rushing kills builds. The slower you go, the more fun it is, and the more you will enjoy your gun. It is in your best interest to take as long as you need to finish your project.

I rushed my first build and had to rework it 4 times before it looked even somewhat decent. I took all the time in the world on my second and not only was proud of what I built, but I enjoyed every second of the build.

 

[wulf]

I would say not to interrupt a project...too hard to
get back into the feel of it...I stopped work on a
wheel lock pistol for about a year and had a tough
time getting back into the swing...
Wulf

 

[Flint311]

Have to agree with both replies above. If you rush and mess something up, you'll spend hunting season looking at that and beating yourself up.

With kids, wife, work, etc. I can appreciate what you're saying. I have a GM barrel, L&R flintlock, and various parts I've been sitting on for 4-5 years :shake: I just don't want to rush it or stop for 4 or 5 more years after starting.

 

[galamb]

I will give you a slightly different piece of advice from those above.

However, my opinion is based on your statement that you can, without rushing/cutting corners, get your rifle to an "in the white state" before hunting season.

If that is the case, there is nothing preventing you from using it "in the white" if it is otherwise finished and functional.

I have a 50 cal Ohio that is "still in the white" almost 4 years after it got to that stage. New builds, other hobbies, work and life have all got in the way of staining/sealing the stock (the metal will be left bright as was typical with many Ohio rifles) - and yes, this rifle has been used off and on over those years - including a few days of hunting in my late blackpowder season (December).

So, the short answer is "yes", an "in the white" gun can be used - it will "function" just fine.

I am not sure what extra measures I may have to do/take when (or maybe if) I do get around to finishing it - there is now skin oil, dirt, pollution etc ground into the wood and the wood is starting to take on a more aged look.

But to be fair, perhaps my perspective is different. If this is/will be the only gun you build for yourself (or at least until you are advanced in age, the kids have left and you get bored with the honey do lists), then maybe you should wait and get her done, even if that means she isn't ready until "next season".

I am not a prolific builder but can crank out 3 or 4 rifles a year without working too hard at it - and even now I have two others "getting there" in terms of being finished after having finished two this year already. So, I only "have to" use an in the white rifle if I want to - I have other options.

 

[Eric Krewson]

It took me two years to finish my first rifle. It was pretty rough when hunting season rolled around but I took it anyway. I had the stain and finish on the stock and that was about it.

After I killed a deer with it, I put it back on my work bench, hunted with another flint rifle I had and took my time finishing it up.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The most important tool is patience. Hunting season is right around the corner. Too close to have in in the white while juggling work, household and kids.
At any one time I have several projects. Rifle building, collecting parts for the next project etc goes in seasonal spurts.
Certain tasks are better performed in until done. Like in letting a lock. Other tasks can be spread out.

 

[wattlebuster]

Take your time an do it right the first time. It aint going anywhere. When you finish it you will be much more happy with it than if you rushed it up an make a major boo boo :hatsoff:

 

[Eterry]

I'd like to point out that NO WHERE in his post does he speak of rushing the build, only of hunting with it in the white. If it'll go bang, safely, then I see nothing wrong with taking it hunting. I had my first kit build in the white when spring break came along...my instructor sent it home with me and I shot the heck out of it. The fore end was covered in BP soot, but some light sanding cleaned everything up and we finished it a few weeks later.
It's yours, use it if you want.

 

[ddoyle]

Hunt with another gun.

 

[ZUG]

Well --- I re-read your post and from what I "hear" is this -- "As it stands right now because of procrastination, lack of confidence, and life involving keeping up with 3 kids in school and sports year round, I am currently a year and a half into building my flint longrifle. It has been both fun and frustrating but I have enjoyed the build. I still have a good bit to go before it is finished. Im wanting to hunt with it so bad its killing me but I doubt i can finish it the way I want to before hunting season."

With this in mind my opinion is you better NOT try to rush the project but it is YOUR rifle and only you can really answer the question :v !

 

[Mike New]

A year and a half??? I have been working on a .54 flint lock for seven years. I have another rifle to deer hunt with so I am in no hurry. I have began gathering parts for a rifled .62 that I would really love to get started on but I know if I do the .54 will get pushed farther back. Enjoy the ride. Mike New

 

[Travis Gregory]

I guess I should elaborate a bit more. I have all the components inlet and functional and have started doing the final shaping on the buttstock. It is a Chambers York rifle kit. I had to design and cut out my patchbox from a blank and completly inlet it because I ordered the stock without a patchbox cut. I have about 40hrs in that part alone. I just dont think I will be able to do the engraving, decorative carving, and finishing on stock and metal before season. If this gun had a flash hole drilled and sights installed it would shoot right now.

 

[frogwalking]

I shot my "in-the-white" flinter last week. The weather was so nice that I really had no excuse. I do like to shoot them before the final finishing process so that any gross sight mods can be made at that time. Just be careful of the stock, not to get it soaked or too filthy.

Be aware however, I have finished more guns, only to be looking at them later and find issues that could have been avoided had I only spent a few more hours sanding, filing or such.