Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: KDubs on December 23, 2020, 08:17:40 PM
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Got the approval from the War dept. to purchase another ML. ( my father used to call my mother that) not more than 1000$
Im interested in the versatility of flintlock buck n ball so a smooth bore is what i need?? yes thats a question.
What bore , thinking .62 ( 20ga)
I'd like a kit, i see kibler is recommended as a true kit, easier to assemble. rather than a set of raw parts to finish and fit. although I'm not above that. Thoughts ?? no bashing please.
would it be wiser to buy an existing original firearm and restore it or buy someones kit they assembled and retro fit ??
where is the best place to look for older ML. what should i look for when buying an used ML.
open to any and all responses.
kevin
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Kevin, I've never heard anything but good about Kibler kits. I've never even seed one, much less have first hand information. The only long gun kit that I've ever done was from Tennessee Valley that I bought at a gun show. It is a .62 smooth bore. I still have it and no complaints. https://www.tvmnatchez.com/ (https://www.tvmnatchez.com/)
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Bill I was just going to mention taking a look at TVM, Matt Avance does a wonderful job with his builds and kits, you may also want to look at Tracks English fowling guns or the Northwest trade gun, seeing how you have a 100 Track Gift Card coming your way, win win!
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Believe me I've been looking at TOTW.
Swamped barrel would be nice, seems like tracks kits require a bit of smithing more so than kiblers. Or am I wrong.
I've watched a few TOTW build videos . nothing outside my capabilities for the most part.
Really like the fowlers from TOTW .
Kevin
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well those TVM kits are certainly nice.
kevin
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Kevin, my guess is that what ever you get, you're gonna love it! :toast :shake
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Just got off the TOTW site. Looked at fowlers and trade guns.
Sadly quite a few parts are out of stock on these kits.
Not sure if I should order and wait or look for a kit that's ready to go without having to wait on parts .
Anxious to start.
Kevin
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Ive seen before what is backordered at TOW may be available elseware. May pay to look around alot more.
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i will be doing my research for sure.
went to a mandatory family xmas eve dinner. ran my phone battery down reading about bridled frizzens and such things while i kept my distance sitting in the corner
looked at a lot of sites, jim chambers, kibler, tvm, dixie on so on.
one site of interested is jedediah starr trading company. I'll learn about them some more before i plunk done any $$$
kevin
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Well finally pulled the trigger and bought a sitting fox K57 Virginia Fowler kit.
Steel furniture, 20ga 42" barrel.
Now we wait.....
Kevin
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Well finally pulled the trigger and bought a sitting fox K57 Virginia Fowler kit.
Steel furniture, 20ga 42" barrel.
Now we wait.....
Kevin
We'll need pictures and a report once you have it in hand. :applaud :toast :)
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Well finally pulled the trigger and bought a sitting fox K57 Virginia Fowler kit.
Steel furniture, 20ga 42" barrel.
Now we wait.....
Kevin
Kevin, what wood did you go with? I love iron furniture👍Look forward to seeing it.
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Went plain maple, simple .
Think I will try some faux curly lines when I do the finish.
Having them do the lock and lugs since this is my first kit.
But I'm sure not my last.
Kevin
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Looking forward to seeing this progress!
:hairy
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Anxiously awaiting .
While I wait I decided to cruise that TOW website and use my winnings to pick up a few items.
Couple English flints and leather pad, brush/pick, main spring vise, inlet black and the building the long gun book.
I have all the tools I need for this build.
What accoutrements would I need to round things out.
.610 ball ? , shot bag ? Wads ?
New to the Fowler , I have Ffg . would 3f be better as prime and main charge
Thoughts?
Kevin
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In the smoothie I bought from Rondo a few years back, I have only shot 1fg and 2fg through it, and have primed with (4fg, 2fg, and even the 1fg)...
I will freely admit that I'm still new to the smoothbore (being a rifleman all my life), and am still looking for a good combination (with and without a patch) - but seems to me .590, .600, and .610 are good starting points with maybe the .610 being best used with the "over powder wad and over naked" ball" wadding, and the .590 and .600 balls being used with a .020 patch (the .590 being the easiest to load with that patch)...
Just my thoughts,,, However,,, there are quite a few here that know a 'lot about loading these "FUN AS ALL GET OUT" smoothbores... :hairy
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It's always seemed to me that Ffg should be used in guns bigger than .45 caliber. The coarser powder keeps the pressures under control. I know there are some guys who seem to shoot Fffg in everything. Whatever floats your boat, I guess. Just talking for myself here. YMMV
There's bound to be some yeller jacket nests around you somewhere. That makes good wadding. (NOTE: Remove yellow jackets prior to using) Else you can buy over powder, cushion wads and over shot wads from TOW or other places. I prefer Ox Yoke cushion wads as they are pre lubed and the ones from Track are dry. No idea what October Country is doing. They might still deal in Ox Yoke, but not sure.
I just got a dandy little shot bag from Gary Elsenbeck on the ALR site. Good guy, have known him for many years and he does nice work. Or O/C might still be making Shot Snakes with either English or Irish shot heads on them. Also, OC used to make a hard leather shot flask with either shot head on it. Now, I guess that all depends on whether or not they are importing Pedersoli products. Or you could just use a plain little pouch and use your powder measure for your shot measure. That works too.
Plus, you would need things peculiar to flint lock shooting.
There's a start for you. Have fun with this !!
John
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Kevin dont forget a cleaning jag or 3. And with correct thread for you ramrod of course.
Smoothbores are a different animal but fun once you get to know them.
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Good point, forgot about cleaning it. :Doh!
Kevin
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Also a flat face breech scraper, but I didn't scroll back to see if it was on your list... :( :bow
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Good point, forgot about cleaning it. :Doh!
Kevin
LOL!, you are excited :laffing
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Good point, forgot about cleaning it. :Doh!
Kevin
LOL!, you are excited :laffing
I am, yes I am.
anxious is more like it. I'm sure this will be a challenge, I have a bad habit of hurrying wanting to get to the finished product and of course that leads to mistakes and so on.
So I'm determined to slow down, enjoy the journey and not rush.
kevin
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Good point, forgot about cleaning it. :Doh!
Kevin
LOL!, you are excited :laffing
I am, yes I am.
anxious is more like it. I'm sure this will be a challenge, I have a bad habit of hurrying wanting to get to the finished product and of course that leads to mistakes and so on.
So I'm determined to slow down, enjoy the journey and not rush.
kevin
That's the hardest part!