How hard is it to build a rifle?

[Swamp Fox]

I want a flintlock. Bad. I have been hunting with my caplock for 5 years or so with some success and have been dreaming of moving on to a flintlock longrifle, but have a couple of problems. First, I'm left handed, and there just aren't any factory built guns that are left handed. I also know pretty much exactly what I want. So I can either pay to have one custom built, which is pretty well out of what I can afford, or build it myself. I would consider myself more handy than most people, but building a gun is something unlike anything I've done before. I've looked at kits from track of the wolf and jim chambers. Anywhere else I should be looking?
Who else has done it themselves? Can a first time builder end up with a decent rifle? I don't want any fancy engraving, just a nice hunting rifle with good fit and finish. I don't want to be disappointed with my results though. I think I'm going to order the book Recreating the American Longrifle and give it a good look. Any other books or advice for a beginner? Like, save my money for a custom?

[mooman76]

I've built kits but never a gun from scratch but hear there is no comparison. I'd go here and read. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/index.php?fbb_session_id/2e0590b439fb6c4159870b2ea6d23ce7d0abcea4590914702d 208a0a804287c9/fbb_uid/27826/ They do allot of builds and can make recommendations for you.

The way I understand left hand locks(to buy outright) are nonexistent. There are a few guns out there and the kits are hard to come by but they do exist.

[irishtoo]

hi. im left handed also and have built my own guns. look at track, iirc dixie gun works carries left kits for around 450. tvm also lists left handed flints. irishtoo

[docone31]

Building a kit, is not like it seems. I have found it simpler to go with an uninletted stock blank. The inlets are usually a little off. Simpler to inlet the lock, and side plates. I am also left handed, so I go with the Southern Mountain rifle blanks. I cut off the forearm to make a short stock, and inlet that. I pout my nosepieces from Wheel Weight alloy. I rivet the underrib on. I use staples.
I started by inletting a nosecap on my Traditions Hawken sorta kit. I then cut dovetails for sights. And so forth.
I would say, redoing a made rifle is a good start. It got me opened up to what it actually needs. And then the learning began.
A good site is http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php . They really love what they do, and go out of their way to help. They really helped me.
Good luck, and good shootin.

[waksupi]

If you have patience, and some fairly basic tools, you can do it. Don't go cheap on the parts. You will be spending $700+ to get good parts. You get what you pay for. When I built Andy's rifle, he went cheap, and ended up with more expense because of the messed up stuff I had to deal with.

[keydet15]

Swamp Fox

My first build wasnt the prettiest but I could still hit ground hogs with it, lead to me starting to build another one. irishtoo made some good suggestions as to were to look, I have used tvm in the past and have had good experience in dealing with them. Recreating the American Longrifle is a good book choice, I would also recommend The Gunsmith of Grenville County: Building the American Longrifle by Peter Alexander. I would also suggest that you look at the forms at American LongRifle Fourm lots of knowledgeable folks over there.

[pietro]

I want a flintlock. Bad.

I'm left handed, and there just aren't any factory built guns that are left handed.




Lyman, for one, has LH flintlock rifles.

I found this $250 Lyman via googling "left-handed flintlock rifles for sale" : http://www.armslist.com/posts/623720/southeastern-pennsylvania-muzzle-loaders-for-sale--lyman--50-caliber-left-handed-flintlock-rifle

http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2012/10/22/623720_03_lyman_50_caliber_left_handed_f_640.jpg


.

[docone31]

All you need is to pour a nose cap, get an Hawken trigger guard, make a toe plate, and get a to length ramrod.
That is how I started. It has set triggers, so all you need is a trigger guard. Those stocks look great with BLO.

[Hang Fire]

If that is your bent to build your own, first investment should be in books and then more books and full size drawings. Patience and then lots more patience is required, frustration can lead to disaster. No matter what brace yourself, for there will be screw ups, most of which can be worked around.

And remember, if it was easy, anyone could be doing it.

[drago9900]

AmericanLongRifles Forums (http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php) look under
Gunmaking tools and techniques- woodworking (http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=474.0), then look at Mike Brooks tutorial on building a muzzle loader. He makse it look easy enough that I could do it, mine may just look a little special.

[Swamp Fox]

Thanks for the advice guys. The southern mountain rifles are what really interests me, which is why I was looking at the track of the wolf kits. I don't mind paying for a high quality kit, as long as I don't destroy it. haha. I didn't know about tennessee valley muzzleloaders. Seems like a good value for a built rifle, so that is a definate possiblilty. Going to keep studying.

[waksupi]

The southern mountain rifle would be a good choice. It has a few kinks not found on other long rifles, but nothing serious.
The ones I dodge are Hawkens. I've built well over 100 ML's, and I turn down requests to build them, as do other local builders. I did finish one for a member, but it was pretty well fit up already.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012002.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012002.jpg.html)
Here is one I built some time ago from scratch.Lock Stock Barrel,it took a winter 3Months to make the Lock,Furniture,Trigger and two weeks to Rifle the Barrel and a further two weeks to File it Octagonal.There where times I wondered why I tackled it but the end product was worth it.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012001.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012001.jpg.html)
Another View.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012004.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012004.jpg.html)
Another View.In retrospect if I build another I would buy all the parts rather than all that Hacksaw and File work plus the Rifling,one turn in 120 inches.I was 15 years younger then and very keen.Regards.

[gmsharps]

The Jim Chambers Issac Haines rifle is a mighty nice kit. You could probably drop in and see it first hand. Not sure how far Ashville is from where you are.

gmsharps

[Texantothecore]

I'm looking at a Jim Chambers build. They are really beautiful.

[dondiego]

The southern mountain rifle would be a good choice. It has a few kinks not found on other long rifles, but nothing serious.
The ones I dodge are Hawkens. I've built well over 100 ML's, and I turn down requests to build them, as do other local builders. I did finish one for a member, but it was pretty well fit up already.

Could you explain why you avoid the Hawken styles Waksupi?

[waksupi]

Could you explain why you avoid the Hawken styles Waksupi?

They may not be so bad from a kit, but if you build from planks, getting all of the parts in proper relationship for function is a pain in the butt. Even with a kit, if they are not pre-inlet pretty close to where final positions need to be, they can cause a lot of head scratching. The best way I found to inlet a barrel and tang on one, was to glue/solder them together as a single unit, until they were set down to full depth.
It's been a lot of years since I tackled one, I'm sure I could come up with quite a few things I didn't like about building them.
Tim Mitchell is currently working on fixing one someone tried to build from a kit. He has had to move the trigger bar, build up the sear bar, and he is now trying to balance the trigger springs correctly. The trigger bar was off by 1/4", and totally threw a lot of other stuff out of kilter.

[dondiego]

That's way above my pay grade!

[Hang Fire]

Just my opine, but the Hawken rifle is one of the most deceptive rifles there is to build correctly.


Could you explain why you avoid the Hawken styles Waksupi?

[oldred]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012002.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/KentuckyLongRifleJan2012002.jpg.html)
Here is one I built some time ago from scratch.Lock Stock Barrel,it took a winter 3Months to make the Lock,Furniture,Trigger and two weeks to Rifle the Barrel and a further two weeks to File it Octagonal.There where times I wondered why I tackled it but the end product was worth it.


Since you posted those pics I have been looking that rifle over and the more I see the more impressed I am with it, there is just something about the detail that is exceptional! To say you did a fine job is a gross understatement, that has got to be one of the nicest scratch built rifles I have seen, very tastefully done and the craftsmanship is outstanding!

[Col4570]

oldred,thank you for your comments but when I see some of the American made Longrifles my efforts pale into insignificance.Regards.

[Metalshaper]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/metalshaper/Double%20Set%20Underhammer/PA310402.jpg (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/metalshaper/Double%20Set%20Underhammer/PA310402.jpg)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/metalshaper/MM4.jpg (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/metalshaper/MM4.jpg)

a couple of mine! no kits and mostly built by guess and by-gosh [smilie=s:

Respect always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[dondiego]

I am building an underhammer right now. It won't be as well executed as yours. Nice!

[Metalshaper]

DonDiego,

Thanks! I will be interested in seeing your rifle when you are done.

I came to underhammers by accident.. My Bud Marlow and a forum friend, Laurie Fenton from Australia, got me working on them.. seems I've built more of them now, than my preferred Muleys:?

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/001-36.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/001-36.jpg.html)
Here is a Shotgun from scratch.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/002-4.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/002-4.jpg.html)
during build.

[doc1876]

Swamp, there are some real rifle builders on this sight. I have been in this hobby/lifestyle longer than most people have been alive, and the things that people like Waksupi and Goodsteel and some of the others are right on the mark. Listen to them, and don't be afraid to ask. I am one of those guys that can, on occasion, get one right myself, but it is less painful in the long run to go to someone with file experience, and have them either do it for you or walk you through it. Asking here shows you have good sense. When you get it done, we all expect to see pictures

[John Taylor]

How hard is it to build a rifle?I don't find it hard at all. If you don't have the skills it takes it may be a bit harder. After you have built more than a few it becomes much easier. If this is your first time it would be best to start with a kit.

[M-Tecs]

With basic skills building a functional rifle is not difficult. How much you want to take it past a functional rifle is where most of the skill and difficulty comes into play. Building something to equal a TC Renegade is not difficult at all however equaling some of the works of art some of the builders produce is a different matter.

[johnson1942]

m-tec is right. to be of museum quality is one thing and to build a very good accurate working rifle is another. ive built a lot of rifles and non are museum quality but they are my creations at the time i built them. i always tried to fit them to my body build and always used the best of wood and hardware and they each are one of a kind. they all look good and shoot really consistantly good. but their is no school of any one in any of them. ive posted this before but i will post again years ago before deadwood s.dak turned into a gambling town it was a nice tourist two in the mountains of s.dak. they had a museum their of the guns of the miners and the guns of deadwood in the early days. hundreds of them. most were very well made but most were ********. gun made by a good gunsmith useing parts from other guns. their was no school of anyone involved. every shape and look you could dream up. i decided then thats the way i wanted to build muzzleloaders, with no school in mind but a gun of need and with a purpose. i also have done no carving but i think my wood finishing work is second to none. ive done a lot of pinpoint wire inlay because it is where my artistic bent has gone. after saying all this you should build a left handed gun that fits you, is from you and fits your needs. i prefer to carve one from a good wood blank instead of a precarved blank as that type of gun will fit me better. my last one fits me the best. i carved it from a 19 dollar piece of cherry i got from the local lumber yard. i have loads of special meaning pin point wire inlays on it as well as a buffalo horn butt plate. i also have native american symbols as well a christian symbols on it. it express me and is the most comforable off hand shooter i have. if you know how to work wood, carve one your self but use the best parts you can afford for the barrel and ect. first a pattern that fits you. then comes the bandsaw. then i pay for the proffesional routeing of the barrel. use a brand new sharp hoof rasp at first to shape the stock. a hoof rasp is the best wood fire their is. then go to rough sand paper then down finer and finer. take time whe you lay out the lock area and trigger. i like to make my own shotgun type butt plates as they feel the best for me. when you carve the lock area out and trigger area out, do so slowly and have it undersized so you can with ruff sandpaper fit the lock and trigger in smoothly and tightly. if you end up with a small gap. mix some epoxy with a small piece of stained paper towel. press it into the gap and wrap the triger or lock with plastic wrap a couple of layers and press it into the carved out area for it. let the epoxy and paper dry for a day or so. when you remove the lock or trigger you can sand the filled area to match the rest perfectly. most of all when your working on the gun and get tired, lay it done and dont pick it up again untill you dont feel anxious or rushed. it gets easier with each gun. have fun

[dlbarr]

Yep, in agreement with several others here, go to this source.

http://www.americanlongrifles.org/forum/

These guys can help you do what you want. You supply the work + patience equation and they'll hold your hand & counsel you along the way.


Recreating the American Longrifle is a terrific book also. You'll need that one for sure.

[Swamp Fox]

Some real talent and inspiration in the homebuilt guns here. My book came today so I'm going to start studying on it and maybe take a try at inletting some stuff in some scrap lumber. If I decide to go for it, I'm pretty sure it will be a kit for my first gun. It will be a slow process for me, as I don't have a lot of free time, but I've conquered bigger projects.

[keydet15]

Best of luck to you

[OverMax]

I found this fellows build very interesting watch. (Lot more involved than I originally thought.)
A Utube site (link below) having a good tutorial on how to build one. (Lots of info for those who want to build their own.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJBNg_NLASA&list=PLFa1weHumbdNqVLlhgf6wZnIug7XXhqQE

[ejcrist]

I know this is a slightly old thread but I just wanted to add my $0.02. I completed my first build from a TVM kit (Late Lancaster) in 40 caliber and it wasn't all that difficult. I just have average mechanical skills and did a little woodworking in the past. I'm currently working on my second build which is a Jim Chambers Christian Spring rifle in 58. The Chambers kit seems slightly more difficult than the TVM but not by much. I don't believe I've ever seen a left handed kit but they have to be out there somewhere. I also like the Track of the Wolf kits and wouldn't hesitate to buy one. Like the other fellows said, I highly recommend reading as much as you can. Two books that helped me a lot that I consider indispensable are The Art of Building the PA Longrifle and The Gunsmith of Grenville County. Also, one last thing, seriously take your time and don't work on it if you're tired or not in the mood. I make more mistakes than I can count doing that. Above all though, enjoy yourself and have fun. Even if it takes six months or more to build it'll be your handiwork and you'll probably appreciate it more than any other rifle you own.

[waksupi]

Two books that helped me a lot that I consider indispensable are The Art of Building the PA Longrifle and The Gunsmith of Grenville County. Also, one last thing, seriously take your time and don't work on it if you're tired or not in the mood. I make more mistakes than I can count doing that. Above all though, enjoy yourself and have fun. Even if it takes six months or more to build it'll be your handiwork and you'll probably appreciate it more than any other rifle you own.

Good advise. It is a lot easier to stick together $800 in parts, and have a rifle worth $400, than to stick $800 in parts together and make a $4000 rifle.

[johnson1942]

the not in the mood thing is right on. if i get tired and want to hurry the project i put it away for that day. wait tell your mind and body wants to go at again. building a good gun is a lot of steps and each one should be done right before you move on to the next one. remember your labor is free and your not on a time clock, do it once and do it right. if you get stuck, pm any one of us who has built several guns, one of us surely will help you out.

[mack1]

i have no tec advise for you but with the helpe of some on this site and some on the muzzleloader site Inmanaged to put a TVM kit together that looks ok and shoots very well. I went with a very simple design nonpatchbox the inletting was almost perfict , Matt will tell you will need to do a lot of file work and he was right good files are worth it.
Once you get started you will be able to tell who to listen to farly easly.
All of this said I beleave this rifle has done more for my shooting than any other and is well worth the effort.

[duckey]

Sounds like you want to wean yourself off the nipple eh. It is not hard, time and patience!