I have been shooting Muzzleloaders since I was a kid, and I have built a ton of custom bolt guns including hand carving the custom stocks for them. I have never built a Muzzleloader. After Thanksgivings over I will probably start it. It is going to be a 36 cal St Louis Hawken flintlock. It will pair nicely with my 50 cal Hawken, which is also a flinter, and my Northwest Trade Gun. I wanted a 32, but a 36 cal barrel fell into my lap, so my next squirrel rifle will be a 36 cal. I will still hang on to my 32 Crockett because I have close to 2k of No.11 caps.
I’ve always wanted a flintlock squirrel rifle because in the late spring when squirrel season opens in the morning the dew is so heavy it is like it’s raining, and it is just easier to keep a flintlock running in wet conditions. Many a hunt has ended early because a giant drop of dew the size of a marble landed on or near the nipple/cap and I didn’t catch it until there was no bang and smoke when I pulled the trigger.
I actually can’t wait to get started on it. I would like to have it done before Christmas, and be able to squirrel and rabbit hunt with it before the seasons close in February. Let’s hope I can do as well with this as I have done with commercial Mausers, Remington 700’s and Winchester Mod 70’s.