What to build next?
Something to use this stock I have here to get it out of my way! It ia a shaped, but un-inletted stock out of TC shop. It has some beautifull color in the butt. Anyone want it?

Full stock or half stock?



Not that it matters much to me, I shouldn't be asking these things as I already have my next project lined up! However, just to satisfy my curiosity, I've been thinking about a light weight hawken style rifle to get my kids started in BP

Half stock,perfect to make a kids rifle from. Send me an address and I'll start looking for a box.

TSJ,

PM Sent, guess a few more months won't matter to an old mauser action anyway!

Well MCB.......

Make something that will cause you to challenge yourself.

I make muzzleloaders for a living. If you'd like to yack about them.....let me know.

I give advice for free

May I reccommend that you get a Track catalog. Browse thoroughly. Look at the consignment guns. Think how you will use it. Look where you can for samples or ones to handle. Then suit yourself. Of all my guns, I like round ball flintlock best. You must have several to have a preference. Good Shooting. ned

The lockwork is most certainly available as Pedersoli makes such a beast in .72 and others. I don't know that I would want to attempt the regulation part of the project.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

I do know about the Pedersoli Kodiaks. That's what really put this thought in my head. I think their twist is too slow for use with modern projectiles though, being that round balls are the traditional bullets for a traditional double rifle. I'd like to put a faster twist double like this together, so as to shoot a good .50 350-400 gr bullet on top of 150 gr powder. I've had nice results with the heavier powerbelts, so that would probably be the bullet of choice. Hell, for all I know the powerbelts might shoot fine in the Kodiak and I wouldn't have to build anything!?! I might have to look into them a bit further. Anyone have one to make a report? thanks, maxman

Maxman, Track of the Wolf <http://www.trackofthewolf.com> sells left hand locks. A fellow at the shop said he spent several years working on his double... FWIW a twist barrel double gives you a quick second shot with only one lock. Good hunting! McB

Thanks mcb. I'll check them out. I did call up Cabela's for specs on the .50 Kodiak:

1:48 twist
28.5" bbls
uses #11 caps
max powder charges are 72 gr pyrodex or 90 gr ffg or 70 gr fffg
weighs ~9.3 lbs

This seems to be a lot tamer than what I was expecting from this rifle. 90 gr of powder and a round ball just doesn't have the zip that I was looking for. I don't think it is a strength issue - the rifle looks plenty beefy. I would bet that is just the load it is regulated for, and I'm not sure that regulation is easily adjustable on it, if at all.

What I'd really like is a muzzle loading double that duplicates the old British 500 Black Powder Express cartridge: 340 to 440 gr bullet, 123 to 142 gr of powder. Any of the new inline muzzleloaders can do this and more in .50 cal. I think it's just a matter of getting the bbls regulated for the top load and using it that way - but the twist in the Kodiak is not fast enough for heavier bullets. I may have to build what I want after all.... I'll be checking with Track of the Wolf for parts! maxman

Holy cow! I just saw that Track of the Wolf is in Elk River, MN. That's only 30 miles from my house. Looks like I'm taking a trip this afternoon!! Who knew I was so close to such a great source of knowledge?

If you really have to have one it is quite feasable to have a pedersoli double relined.

Maxman, if I may interject, there are more than a few in the US that can regulate a double, but you'd be the one to decide what load you want to do it with. IMO, 90 gr of FFG isn't really a tame load. Assuming a conical bullet, it is the caseless equivalent of a 50-90. I'm not sure I understand where you're heading with the 150 gr/powerbelt idea in a double rifle. Double rifles are by their nature intended for shorter ranges, and within 100 yards or a bit more, a .50 cal. RB will pretty much do the trick in North America. As far as duplicating the .500 BPE, well, you won't gain a great deal when pushing 500 grains of lead with the extra 50 grains of powder, except recoil and smoke. The published difference between the 50-90 and 50-140 with like weight projectiles is approx. 1350 fps vs. 1550 fps. Due to the high drag penalty for bullets in the transonic velocity range, at 100 Yds the difference will be much less. Using the powerbelt bullets will net a higher initial velocity of course, but their BC is poor in comparison to heavy weight conicals, so not far down range you have a zero sum game.

If you have an interest in talking to one fellow I know that regulates doubles send a PM.

Do not be deterred from your project by what I said, just trying to give a little perspective. Good luck.

Dan

I am building a .62 Jaeger right now. Ed Rayal barrel, Siler left hand lock, All iron hardware finished bright. Going to be longer than the normal jaeger as I wanted more of am Edward Marshall syle rifle but my stock wood was too short for the 36 inch barrel so I cut it to 32.

Neat! Please post a photo or two when you are done. I hope to build an Edward Marshall for myself after making a couple of sales through TOTW. Been thinking a .58 makes a little more sense as a fellow can buy affordable swaged balls from the major mfgs. Until then I think a Trade Gun (perhaps a "Canoe Gun" sized for a younger shooter or buckskinner's wife) or a Tulle Fusil Fin (or Type "D" or "C") are next on the dance card. I am blessed to have a spouse who thinks having a hobby is a good thing, even if gets all cross eyed when I start talking about a Courier duBois or F&I personna... Good hunting!

You may also wish to consider a "transitional" jaeger with a 34-38 barrel length. I reccommend you not worry about cast or swaged for a hunting arm as the accuracy difference is hardly noticeable. You can use a cheap lee mould and it will be perfectly satisfactory. On guns like these you can frequently have them made in the same caliber/gauge and shoot balls from the same mould. I use a .602 rb in both a 20 ga smooth rifle and a .62 cal Marshall transitional. The smooth rifle is yet another option for you. FLINT FOREVER! ned

Not sure I know how to post photos here but I will be glad to if I figure out how. I stained the stock tonight.

Hope this works. This was before I started shaping the forestock.

Stained and first coat of BLO drying. This is not a good picture as the curl don't show. My camera and photo skills are not very good.

Looks like it's coming along nicely. That's quite the traditional horse and buggy it's setting on. Good hunting!

Here it is done.