Traditional Hunting

[DaveS]

I thought I would share with you my favorite Traditional/Primitive Hunting Rifle. I call her "Kliene Schwester" (german for Little Sister). I built her from scratch in 2007.

She sports a curly maple stock, Large Siler Flintlock, .50 cal 42 inch Green Mountain Rifled barrel. It also has German Silver fittings, double set trigger, Iron rear sight and Silver front sight. She shoots 80 grains of 3f black powder with 4f in the pan. I consistenly put 3 shot groups within a 3 inch circle (benched) at 75 yards. I use home cast .490 round ball with a .015 inch greased patch.

I browned the barrel and lock with "plum brown" rust browning.

I also have a .36 cal in which I built, forging most of my own parts. I will post pictures of her later.

Edited September 2, 2011 by wd-40

[Guest GunTroll]

I want one!

[ShaunM]

That's nice!

[DaveS]

Thank You! Can't have it Troll...nope, nope, NOPE! LOL I might let you stroke her fines lines and shoot her at the range one time though!

[Guest GunTroll]

I know you are gonna think I am lying, but I have actually been wanting to have on built for myself... I know a guy.

I saw this one up at MCSC or whatever its called last fall if you will recall. It is nice. One day I'll put one together. Unfortunately I have never done one in that style (part of the reason to do it really) and my time is so short it seems. Maybe when the kids get into school I'll have more time for my projects.

[DaveS]

Building and shooting them is very addictive! The most fun you have is making every thing you need to shoot it. Shooting pouch, horn, patch knife, bullet boards ect, ect.. It's a great hobby! I would be more than happy to help you on your journey!

The biggest challenge to me when building the gun was hand cutting the dove tail slots for the sights. It was pretty scary!

[Guest GunTroll]

I got a mill and dovetail cutters . But if that sort of thing is frowned upon....I have cut them by hand before in school. "Light tight" was the word we used. If light could be seen after sight was installed, bad grade. Now its mad customer .

[Guest GunTroll]

I wish you would come down one day. I'd really like to BS with you before we are all too busy (as if we are not now) with hunting and holidays.

[DaveS]

That's right. Once you take a "hacksaw" to the barrel to make your cuts for the file....there ain't no turning back! I may take you up on the milling machine. I'm getting ready to get my 50 cal flintlock pistol started. I forgot I had it at the range a year or two ago. I need to shoot it some more and get ready for the deer season.

[quietguy]

That is sweet.

I have built a handful of kit guns, but nothing like that. It's hard to beat those Green Mountain barrels for a big bore front-loader.

[Handsome Rob]

Hey WD, if you're not busy next Saturday morning, how'd you like to come to our Fun Shoot at Elk River Longrifles?

It's a small, traditional, BP club just outside of Tullahoma. We shoot the second Saturday of every month & it's a great bunch of guys & gals, that I think you'd get on with very well! Some exceptionally talented gun builders in the bunch too.

The fun shoot is just what you'd expect..... Ball splitting, cutting cards, string cutting, 300yd offhand balloon shoot etc....

If you're interested, PM me & I'll give you my number.

By the way, this is an open invitation to anyone who shoots sidelocked frontstuffers!

[peejman]

Very cool. Just out of curiosity, what sort of time/money is involved in building something like that?

[DaveS]

Rob, I would love to. It would be better for me to plan a particular month to go. How about period dress? I'm good with it! I'll get with you. As far as the rifle goes, I have about 400.00 tied up in parts, and hours upon hours. If you want to build a gun, I have some books I can trade out for whatever.