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chunk gun

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ken:
I am thinking of building a chunk gun. I have made several longrifles but I have no chunk gun experience. Having trouble deciding on what barrel to use. I am considering green mountain 40 cal /1 inch or 50 cal/11/8. Any suggestions would be helpful. Also I am  a flint person but I am thing of making this a percussion. Any thoughts????

Ohio Joe:
Did I hear 'Chunk Gun'???

Hello Ken!

I made a chunk gun using the .40 x 1" x 42" GMB w/1in48 twist, and all I can say is if you want good grouping with this barrel that will allow you a shot at competing with other chunk guns, use one of the two starting points; .400 ball with at least a .022 denim patch along 55 to 65 grains of 3fg Goex.  The powder load will vary,,, or a .395 ball with .024 denim (minimum) and again anywhere from 55 to 65 grains of 3fg Goex (or your chosen best black powder)...

Now with all the above said, if I had to do it over I would go with
a .45 GMB 1" x 42" w/ 1in60 twist.  You give up a little weight but not that much and the 1 in 60 twist is not near as finicky as the 1 in 48...  The .45 GMB will throw a good ball while not being so finicky.

The .50 is a good choice but not needed in chunk shooting.  For one thing you'll have to go with a heavier load to gain a fast ball and a fast ball is a must in chunk.  Getting a fast ball from a .50 will also create a bit more recoil which over 50 and 60 yard chunk matches will play havoc.

This is where the .45 shines in my humble opinion.  You can get a fast ball with low recoil, and on a windy day the 1 in 60 twist allows you to up your load if you so choose and it will buck the wind as good as any .50 caliber - again with less recoil.

Hope this helps.

ken:
Hey Joe I was hoping to hear from you. This is the exact kind of information I was looking for.  As you remember I was talking about chunk guns before. Well the interest has got the point that  am going to build one. I have talked to some other people around here and I believe there is enough interest to start having some matches even have lined up a place to hold an invitational shoot  later this year if the interest stays good. I am going to Friendship next month for a few days and would like to pick up parts and spend some time at the chunk line matches. Any info you could advise me on would be gratly apreciated. You are the only person taht I have talked to who actually knows and have shot chunk guns. Any style drop ect info???

ken:
Sorry for the typ-o's. I hit submit before I had a  chance to proof read!!!

Ohio Joe:
Hello Ken,

I was making bowstrings so I hadn't had a chance to get back here to this topic until now.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of my chunk gun.  As I said before it is a .40 cal, but I didn't tell you it was also a halfstock percussion and weighs in at 12.5 pounds.  The recoil is hardly noticable.  Also you don't want a sharp cresent butt plate, and not a lot of drop.  Mine has a 3.25" drop which fits me ok when taking up the prone position across the chunk.

Now before I go any further let me say that to shoot in an over the log match any comfortable muzzleloader will do.  As you already know, chunk guns in this day and age are specialty guns and they come in all shapes, sizes, and weights.  For the most part they are rather ugly rifles but even an ugly rifle has its own beauty when you're spidering the "X" (dead center shots)...

Going to Friendship and taking a look at the chunk rifles there that are competing is a great idea, and I would highly recommend it.  Until then I think it would be a good idea to run a chunk match at your club to see if the interest is there, though as long as you have the interest to want to pursue over-the-log matches, that is what's important and a heavy rifle is desirable and almost a must anymore to compete.  Nothing wrong with a 12 pound rifle however as that to is plenty heavy. :)

Let me know if I can be of any help.

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