GPR Lock Improvement

[RobD]

yes, and the install process is essentially the same logic - measure twice, cut once.

[Muley]

Next year is a long ways away.  

[RobD]

what, less than 2 months is long?     :shock:  

[Muley]

Yeah, but I just bought the gun and want to shoot it. I have postal shoots to do, plus some woods walks.

The weather is still nice now. I have to find a way to get it done. I refuse to shoot it as is. It makes me want to sell the gun.

[RobD]

i hear ya, pete.  right now, i have NO muzzleloaders!  

why don't'cha pull the dang liner, cone the inside (if possible - if not, then so be it to that) and drill it out to 5/64", chamfer the outside opening a tad.  this WILL help.  might even FIX.

[Muley]

I actually did that this morning. I have to hole pretty big. I chamfered the front. Just did it over the screwdriver slot. I left enough room for the screwdriver. The inside has a chamber already.

I'm afraid to go try it. I can't stand it when it takes 5-6 times to shoot out a load if it doesn't work. I'm trying to not get mad at the gun again.

I have Tom Fuller flints coming. Plus a hickory ramrod and the stock front sight and the primitive non adjustable rear sight from Lyman. I just want to get the gun the way I want it and go shoot it before winter comes. We're having really warm weather for Oct and Nov. It won't last.

[RobD]

cool!  so the inside of the liner is already coned to some degree.  go test 'er out!

[rollingb]

the reason for the breech removal is to file flat the liner to meet flush with the ante-chamber wall - IF that needs to be done. you'll know once you pull the old liner and measure the patent breech ante-chamber's thickness versus the length of the new liner.

My thinking is,.... since the GPR has a "patent breech" and it's a lot thicker than the barrel's wall, the length of the WL liner shouldn't be a problem.
But.... you're right, the ONLY way to know for sure is to pull the old liner and do some actual measurein'.  :rt th

[Muley]

I found someone on the Longrifle forum to install it. He has 44 years of building flintlocks, so I can trust him. Sure hope it's the answer for me.

I'll go try my hogged out vent liner now. If it fails I still have hope with the Chambers vent liner.

[JStanley]

Well fellas, I'm hoping that since Lyman did the very thing at the factory that the instructions above say not to do (interfere with the breech plug) plus the fact that I've already sort of "measured" the wall thickness by filing my current liner until it is flush with the inside wall, which was done by viewing with the bore scope, I can skip all the concerns of having the vent liner touch or interfere with the BP since it's firmly installed smack in the middle of it already (actually pretty close to the bottom of the ante chamber).  For rifles whose vents don't penetrate the BP, all of the above is sage wisdom. I'm gonna be puttin' in the WL right after deer season!  

[RobD]

i think rondo's right, won't be an issue.

but if it is, and the plug needs pullin by any TMA full member, i'd be more than happy to send out my rice clamps and wrench.

[rollingb]

i think rondo's right, won't be an issue.

but if it is, and the plug needs pullin by any TMA full member, i'd be more than happy to send out my rice clamps and wrench.

I have a set of those clamps too, in case anyone needs to remove a 15/16" breech plug and Rob's clamps are "out on loan".

[JStanley]

Y'all are absolutely a cut above!  Be blessed!

[RobD]

if the new WL liner replaces the existing liner in its current location, won't take much drilling and tapping to get the job done.  look at the tap/drill differences 'tween the 24 and 32 threads ...

[Muley]

I bought mine with the drill and tap. So, the installer wouldn't have to buy anything. The 32 thread is a bit unusual.

One of the problems is the present Lyman vent liner needs to be centered on the flat or you'll run out of room. The flat is 3/8" The outside diameter of the stock VL is 1/4". The WL liner is 5/16". So, not much wiggle room if the Lyman VL isn't centered on the flat. I'm lucky and mine is dead center, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Just one more thing to look at. Probably not a real big deal. If the WL hung over the flat a bit you could file it to match.

The builder who is doing mine has done many before, and he said it's only a 15 min job. It would be for me, but he told me he's been building flintlocks for 44 years. That makes a little difference.