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Originally Posted by Fenris_Wolf
LOL .. is that a musket? I'll uh.. try to find one of those! 
And thanks for the encouragement! |
Actually, it's a rifle.
It's kind of a "transitional longrifle", something between the Jaeger rifles (short barrel, large caliber) originally used in the colonies and the classic "Golden Age" American longrifle (long barrel, smaller caliber).
It's got a 36" .54 caliber barrel, and I use a .535 round ball with pillow ticking patch lubed with one of four things depending on my mood: Beeswax and tallow, dish soap and water, saliva, or (usually) store bought black powder lube.
The lock is a large Siler flintlock. Silers are the best locks, they have the correct geometry for fast and reliable ignition, and they don't batter the flints. I get at least 50+ shots per flint.
The stock is a medium grade of curly maple. The fittings are brass.
It was built by my father for me about 8 years ago. The drop and cast-off in the stock are customized to my build, so when I throw it up to my shoulder the sights are already aligned.
If you have reasonable woodworking and (some) metalworking skill, you can build one yourself. I got the parts from
http://www.trackofthewolf.com
He made most of the minor parts from scratch, though, like the ramrod thimbles, the nosecap, the sights, the trigger, the ramrod, touchhole liner, and the patchbox mechanism.
Using it to go hunting is like using a Type IIA: It adds to the challenge.