OT: My New Charcoal Burner's Not A Bar-B-Q (PICS ADDED)

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:38 am

I've been involved, one way or another, in blackpowder/muzzleloading since the late 60's - with all sorts of percussion arms.

My first foray was a pistol I built from a chunk of cut-off .444 barrel, then various boughten junk until I got edikated (?) & upgraded myself to T/C's and such, using a modern inline nowadays.

Wal, yesterday, I stopped by one of the local pushers to buy some 4198, and spotted a pretty nice-lookin' blackpowder rifle, just hanging around.

The shop owner & I know each other pretty well, so he tole me ta take it on home & bring something back in trade later (knowing I was out of gun funds).

So, I did both, later taking back an unused Remington P51, and ended up with a .50 cal Austin & Halleck Mountain Rifle, with a 1" X 32" octagon barrel carrying a 1:28 twist for conicals - but it's a FLINTLOCK !- My first !

I couldn't get any spark, dry-snapping, at first - so I flipped the flint, and VOILA ! Spark-O-Matic City.

It's a traditional-looking rifle, much like a gennie Hawken - albeit with only a single forend fastener & a stainless touch-hole liner - but has the set triggers, a silver front sight w/full buckhorn rear, a butt w/cheekpiece & a crescent BP like a Pennsylvania rifle. The entire rifle has a muted, satin (almost matte) finish.

With that fast twist, I'll be able to use most of the components on hand that my inline uses, so I'm looking forward to making some smoke soon.

I haven't tried any pics, because I don't think it'll photograph well - given my poor camera skills and the dark wood stain, metal browning, and iron furniture. Maybe I'll try it next week, when the rain's due to clear up - and see how the pics come out.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:30 am

Nice score Pete.....I like the style of the Austin and Halleck rifles(no longer made). Post a pic when you can.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:34 pm

Cool!

I'm looking for my first front stuffer and debating between a flintlock or percussion.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:19 pm

Those Austin and Halleck Moutain Rifles are nice. YOU GOT TO SHOW US SOME PICS SOON!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:13 pm

[I'm looking for my first front stuffer and debating between a flintlock or percussion.]

JMO, awp - but a caplock , especially one with some sort of primer ignition (rifle/pistol/209) conversion, is dead-nuts reliable, with usually zero weather probs. Those are real plusses for anyone, but moreso for a first-timer.

Spark-O-Matic's can be made to be very reliable, but they're more for a dedicated tinkerer-type, that like to solve problems - like the "no spark" issue I had(above), the first time I snapped this one's lock.
Some states, like Pennsy, require them for their primitive wepons seasons, though.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:16 pm

Pete44ru wrote:[I'm looking for my first front stuffer and debating between a flintlock or percussion.]

JMO, awp - but a caplock , especially one with some sort of primer ignition (rifle/pistol/209) conversion, is dead-nuts reliable, with usually zero weather probs. Those are real plusses for anyone, but moreso for a first-timer.

Now where's the fun in that?

I'm thinking traditional like a Musketoon or Baker replica.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:21 pm

[a Musketoon or Baker replica.]

Be sure to find a set of accessory wheels for those puppies.

Mutt · Post by **Mutt** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:59 pm

My son is the only one I know that is into the flint lock rifles . Several years back he bought one in Ark. some from a man that builds them .
He and his wife both are into the mountain man game. They both love the sport . And do most of the costumes themselves.
Than rifle is almost to heavy to hold up . But Me I know nothing about it or the sport but looks like fun

Mutt

I agree , PICTURES.................................................................

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:17 pm

Very cool - congratulations!

I'm looking forward for the sun to come out around your parts so you can snap some photos!

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Sat May 10, 2008 4:43 am

I haven't tried any pics, because I don't think it'll photograph well - given my poor camera skills and the dark wood stain, metal browning, and iron furniture.

We'll take that under consideration and not hold it a gainst you.

Go ahead and get those pics!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:00 am

It stopped raining fer a little bit.

Marked: "Made in Provo, Utah", I have read that the barrels on these were hammer/mandrel forged, inside (bore/rifling) and outside (octagonal flats) at the same time.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:11 am

That is super nice Peteand thanks for posting those! If you have trouble getting English flints, there is a guy named Rich Pierce at americanlongrifles.com that knapps Missouri flint....supposedly very good. He has a sticky in the Items for sale section.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:15 am

Thank you, Kind Sir !

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:25 am

VERY nice!:D What kind of wood?

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat May 10, 2008 9:27 am

Drool alert! Drool ALERT!!!

That is one fine smokepole!!!

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Sat May 10, 2008 9:43 am

somebody call the police - I think there's been a theft....

Wow, $250? Man...

You know that if you don't take a shine to that flint it can most likely be converted to percussion just by replacing the hammer and installing a drum/nipple in the flash hole.... and you can sell the hammer and lock and probably come out money ahead...

I did that with my Pedersoli kentucky rifle.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:07 am

Beautiful lines, beautiful rifle. Lucky man. Enjoy.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat May 10, 2008 12:40 pm

Thanks, Gents.

The wood's Maple, IIRC - and I'm sure looking forward to giving it a spin, Tuesday, at my club.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:53 pm

Pete, that sure is a looker! Hope she shoots as well!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat May 10, 2008 3:16 pm

That's purrrrrrrdy!

oldgerboy · Post by **oldgerboy** » Sat May 10, 2008 4:38 pm

Flint locks can be down right as miserable as a mother-in-law ... but ... they are absolutely wonderfully adicting. I only this past fall bought a percussion after 35 years of nothing but flinters. I wanted to play around with sabots and the like and needed the type of rifling in the percussion rifle.

Congrats ... you'll love/hate it!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat May 10, 2008 6:01 pm

Beautiful wood!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:12 pm

[Wow, $250? Man... ]

Not quite.

I had $250 in the gun I traded - but it was worth much more..............and, I certainly didn't clue in the dealer I was swapping with, what I had into it.
I figure - He's the one in the gun business, and ought to know what he's doing.

That said, the A&H was tagged @ $400 (flinters are not very popular in this state/area), and the dealer accepted my trade-in, tuit suite - a sure sign he thought my trade's true value was about 50% over his retail tag (or, about $600), to "allow" me the $400 towards an even swap.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:40 pm

Excellent buy! Even at $400 it would have been an excellent deal. If I am not mistaken, they are no longer in buisness and the last time I checked, a nice one would run you about $800. Your gonna have to let us all know where you do your gun shopping!

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:56 pm

Meh. What' s the fun in a caplock?

My only Cappers are pistols... allbeit honkin big ones. (.72 Double & .50 Single)

OTOH, My Flinter is "Modern Traditional"... a totally Stainless Steel & Black Plastic Frankenstein that is waaay too cool.

It's still a tinkerer's toy, but a least it don't rust...

My biggest gripe is the Frizzen. I really need to find one that will work properly with somthing other than a $4 cut Agate "flint".

EDIT: BTW: that's a very pretty gun. Funny how all my "modern" guns have decent wood and my "antiques" are Stainless EBRs....

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:10 pm

That's purrrrrrrdy!

I'll say!!

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:31 pm

That is a fine rifle!! It looks like an example of their early work.
They made a name for themselfs early on and were written up in many magazines. They started to get so many orders they just out grew ther britches and started turning out stuff. I had one of those not so nice rifles altough it cost as much as the early ones. I donated it to my gun club as a raffle item.
A&H soon got in trouble and was closed. They reorganized a time or two and I have no idea what their status is today. They seemed to want to make bolt action inlines and not the traditionals so I lost interest in them.
Have fun and enjoy!

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:21 am

Pete44ru that is a nice rocklock and a steal at $250

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:41 pm

Thanks for the kind words, all !

Well, I shot the Austin & Halleck flinter, at my club this morning - and I'm a happy camper, to say the least !

I snapped a few pans of primer, with the unloaded rifle, and both I and my companion thought the spark seemed a little weak - although the pan charge ignited.
So, I put in a brand-new flint, and loaded 'er up!

I measured out a 90gr charge of Goex FFFG, then seated the same Hornady 300gr, .45 caliber saboted polymer-tipped jacketed bullet, I've used on deer for the last year +/-.

I threw a half-pan of the same FFFG as a priming charge, closed the frizzen, went to full cock, set the trigger, and let 'er rip.

I got a nice, solid shot, with virtually instant ignition.
I really didn't even notice the pan flash until after the bullet was long gone.

Shooting at 50yds, I was using the silver front blade in bright sunlight with the issue full buckhorn rear - which was sighting almost like a peep sight for me.

My first three shots made a nice 1 1/2" group, about 3" to the right of the center bull and about 2" high.
Wow - I didn't expect that from a flinter.

These flinters seem less problematic, igniting the main charge, than did the side-hammer percussions I used to use before switching to inlines for hunting.
Most likely due to the straight shot from the pan to the main charge, ILO around the corners inside bolsters, erratic caps, etc,

I tapped the rear sight over a little, to zero it 2" high @ 50yds, for now.
As I get my paws on some other type projectiles, besides the Maxi-Hunters (that I forgot to bring, DUH), I'll see how it likes them - but IMO it's gonna be a hard act to follow.

I had to put the flinter away, after that, to help two shooting compadre's with zeroing their guns - but I'll probably go to the club again later this week.

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Tue May 13, 2008 8:15 pm

OHMUHGAWD!!!!!! What a sweeeeeeeet rifle, even tho I'm a perc fan. You will SURELY get your deer, bear, hog, etc..........with that fine piece of craftsmanship!!!! WHAT A FIND! YEAH, DROOL ALERT IN SPADES!!! jd45

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:16 am

I converted a percussion to flint for a friend awhile back, using mostly handtools. I decided I would do it on one of mine (the one that same friend gave me, a 50 cal Hawkin) when I got a lathe.

I'm getting my new lathe set up this week.

Your rifle is making me itch a little.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu May 15, 2008 7:31 am

Oh ! That itch. (sigh) I know it well.

OT: My New Charcoal Burner's Not A Bar-B-Q (PICS ADDED)

OT: My New Charcoal Burner's Not A Bar-B-Q (PICS ADDED)

Black powder