Heres someting that Ive been working on for the past few weeks that I finally finished, so I kind of felt that I would share some of my real firearm craftmenship with you guys. And I know most you guys are much more intrested and influenced by more modern weapons (so am I to some degree), so try to keep an open mind.
I recently purchased from Dixie Gun Works, a .45 cal Pedersoli Pennsylvainia rifle kit. The kit itself was mostly finished when I got it, minus the most of the stock of course. For as long as I can remember, even from my childhood, I had always wanted a flintlock long gun. I was fastinated by the idea of nearly 300 years ago, american gunsmiths were making rifles that could even now days have nearly the range and acuracy of a modern cartrige weapons. The spark of the flint, the flash of the prining in the pan, and the boom of the shot gave me a feeling of nostalgia I couldnt pass up. Freshly 18, and saving money from a full time job sent me browsing throug the Dixie Gun Works catalog. So three weeks, and $600 later, I had my long awaited fastination on my doorstep.
All of the stock work, sanding and staining/finishing was all, done by me. It took about two weeks to apply about eight or nine coats of tung oil, and finally a rubbed wax over sealent. This was the traditional way of doing it. Some very experienced black powder gunsmiths take years on their stock finishing, with hand mixed stains and oils, and letting each coat dry for months before rubbing it down and applying another.
The rifle itself is a nail driver. 60 grains of of fff black powder and a .440 pached round ball will give me as much range as my. 30-30 marlin, and with about the acuracy of the nicer of my two SMLE Enfields. It has a 38" barrel, which makes the overall length about 56". I havent got a chance to get a grouping yet, because I havent been to the range, but it still proved itself even though we were only out in the bushes shooting rocks and cans. With the first shot I took, I it hit an aluminum water bottle at 150 yards dead center, through and through. It may be a little slow on loading, but the excitement of shooting more than makes up for it.
So there you have it. It may not be the newest type of weapon around, but it surely is my favorite.
And I hope that some other people who appreciate the nostalgia of muzzleloading guns can relate to my experiences. And I know you AA guys wont hesitate to comment on my liking of old shit too!
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