The Black Powder bug has bitten

[Shooter45]

I'm not new to BP but it's been over 25 years since I've rammed a ball down the barrel.

Last week I received a T/C Hawken .50 flintlock rifle from JUNKKING. I'd been thinking about shooting BP again for a long time now that my son is all grown up. I've been tinkering with the Hawken for a few days getting used to it.
This morning when I got up, I decided to visit my good friend Bob Wilson. Bob and I have been friends for over 30 yrs and some of you met him at the TFF BBQ. Bob builds one of the finest Southern Mountain Rifles that I have ever seen. And his guns are accurate and have fired thousands of rounds down range at the NMLRA Spring and Fall shoots and various others around the country.
I was going on the visit to scrounge a few balls, powder and a good Black English flint to put the Hawken thru it's paces. We talked about old times and are making plans to improve the Hawken. Glass bedding, trigger work and maybe fire-lapping the barrel if needed.
Then I saw it. One of his Sourthern Mountain Rifles leaned against the wall gathering dust. I asked if he wanted to do some trading and pulled out a Springfield 1911. We did some haggling and struck a deal.

The Rifle has a nice curley Maple full-stock with a 42 in. Rice barrel, Davis double set triggers, small Siler Lock, iron furniture & patch box and looks to be a hundred years old.....but it's not of course. Oh, and it's .45 caliber.
I've owned a few of Bob's rifles in the past and I can tell you these rifles will hold a group.

Two muzzle loading rifles in one week !!! I can honestly say that I'm a happy camper thanks to two good friends.
I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Now starts the journey to find a powder horn, priming horn, ball starter, powder measure, possibles bag, knife, tomahawk, period clothes,etc.

[76Highboy]

I have never been into BP. What is fire-lapping?

[jack404]

shoving a big chunk of lead with a nose of something to polish the barrel as its on its way down range

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by jack404

shoving a big chunk of lead with a nose of something to polish the barrel as its on its way down range

Oh that's right. You already told me that. Thanks Jack.

[76Highboy]

Sam, that sounds like a neat find. A 44" barrel, that's cool.

[flintlock]

Sounds like a sweet rifle to me! Is it flintlock or percussion? Those T/C's keep running forever too, one of the best factory black powder guns made.

[todd51]

Enjoy Shooter. There is only one problem that I see with black powder shooting and that surrounds two terms associated with it, "Accoutrements" and "Possibles". What they really mean is that you are going to start accumulating every thing you could ever imagine you might need and in most cases more than one example of each.

[jack404]

hey Sam

PIC'S!!!!

of the gun we know you

[01brian]

Right On! I love BP myself I spent one day this past weekend with the old 1858. Looking forward to the pics.

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by flintlock

Is it flintlock or percussion?

He said it was a caplock. That Southern Mountain Rifle will be one to hang on to. I know somebody that will make you a canvas possibles bag with pillow ticking lining for 25.00 if you're interested. Something like this one.

[Shooter45]

Yep. It's a cap lock. Recent conversion from flintlock.

Hawg, look for a PM.

[Shooter45]

Here are a couple of pictures.

I now have almost everything I need.

The barrel still needs to be browned along with the lock and hammer.

I'm just having too much fun shooting it right now.

[carver]

Nice looking rifle there Shooter 45! While I have never owned a black powder rifle, I have shot a few. I'm thinking about buying one myself, but have only just begun to look at what's available.

[Dog Soldier]

Welcome back to the "Dark Side" Black powder shooting is great. My favorite rifles are the East Tenn. Flinters of course. The Rice round bottom barrels are tops. The fire Lapping with Teflon patches will really smooth the bore up. I use a "Texas Patch" treated with Wheeler Lapping compound. Make sure you use a muzzle protector when fire lapping.

[Hawg]

Birchwood Casey's Plum Brown is a pretty good cold browning solution. Laurel Mountain Forge has a solution for rust browning.

[flintlock]

Originally Posted by Hawg

He said it was a caplock. That Southern Mountain Rifle will be one to hang on to. I know somebody that will make you a canvas possibles bag with pillow ticking lining for 25.00 if you're interested. Something like this one.

Actually, his first post said it was a flintlock. I probably missed the part about the conversion the first time through. That's a real nice bag you have pictured there.

[Dog Soldier]

The addition of the Celtic Cross is in keeping with the Scotch Irish folks. That bag only needs some red clay mud and squirell blood on it to be finished.

[Hawg]

She makes them with different designs on them. The cross of Lorraine is a popular one too.

[Shooter45]

The rifle was built as a flintlock then the lock was converted. He did a good job as you have to really look close to tell. I may buy a new flintlock and touch hole liner just to have on hand in case I ever want to shoot a rock lock again.

[Hawg]

Cool.

[Dog Soldier]

Does the rifle have a swamped barrel? The 44" length makes it a premium barrel and if it was a flint it should have been swamped. It is East Tenn. Gilespie style from what I can see.

[Shooter45]

After measuring the barrel from the breach plug, it's 42 in.
No, the barrel isn't swamped or tapered although at one time I had both.

[Dog Soldier]

The late SMRs had factory barrels. A Perc. lock on a straight walled barrel would be OK. They were used long after the CW.