Hi Fellow BP shooters
I went to another gun show yesterday. This one actually had some BP rifles for sale. Lately they have been rare at my local gun shows. Boy, it didn't take me long to scope them out. Most were way overpriced TC's and a smattering of CVAs. It's one CVA that got my attention. It wasn't tagged as mountain rifle but ,thats what it was. Priced at $150 or best offer. Well I got down to it and offered $100 . He wouldn't go for it and countered with $125.
I did buy it for $125. The fun started when I got home. All of what you could see looked good except,for the toe of the stock being cracked.
It's what couldn't be seen that messed with me. The bore was as rusty as any I have had to clean. What a job. The clean out screw was rusted solid and also too a lot of effort to get out . The Tang screw is so rusted tight ,its still in there soaking . It will give it up someday or I will drill it out and replace it. The lock was dirty but, works good.
This is about on par with auction site gun ,unless you got lucky.
As i'm able to do my own gunsmithing, this was still a good deal. This Mountain Rifle was something I have wanted for a long time now.
Its the more desireable early USA made barrel too and four screw patchbox. I will get it out soon and shoot it . n.h.schmidt

Here I am again. Probably just to hear myself talk,as nobody seems to be interested in doing anything.
I did get out and shoot the Mountain Rifle. The one group using Pyrodex was good about 1 1/2" at 50 yds. The other groups with Black powder were not so great. I'm sure it needs a lot more rust cleaning . It's also ruff as a cob. It could be it will never shoot bp well again. I will know a lot more in the next few weeks. I also need some other mold sizes to cast as I only have .490 for a 50 cal. I may need .495 to get it shooting better.
I do now have everything broken loose and a new tang bolt made. At least the gun looks cool. Ned

Ned,

Now you are getting the feeling of just how hard it is to start a new forum! Sometimes it's too frustrating for words. If you can hang in there maybe, eventually, someday it will come alive. If you have any ideas as to how to improve our chances please contact me via pm.

Ned Christy

NHS..Have you checked your patches. I'm sure they are fairly well destroyed. Don't know what thinkness patches you are using but you might try thicker patches. If worse comes to worse you might try, (gulp!) some sabots. The friend that got me started muzzleloading gave me a muzzleloader. The bore was in pretty bad shape. I couldn't get it to shoot very well with a patched roundball, but low and behold it shot a green sabot with a 255 grain cast .44 caliber bullet very well!

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Born in the Pineywoods of East Texas a long long time ago.

Hi Ned and Ironwood.
You are so right Ned. If we can just get some of the one timers to say something maybe this will take off.
The patches fired out of the Mountain Rifle actually look good. Not cut or burned at all. I do use a lubed felt wad over the powder. patches were pillow ticking about .019 thick. .490 balls. Loads really easy. Could be .495 would be better. I don't have any of them.
I will take it out again this week and see what can be done.
Ned

Hi to all who may be interested
I was sick with a bad cold for most of this week. I did make it out thurs. to do more shooting with the old and very pitted Mountain Rifle. I'm still getting rust out of it every time I clean it.Someday I will get it all out.
For the most part the target results were poor. Patches looked good at all times .A lubed felt wad over the powder really helps with that. I used mostly Goex FFg and 58 grains. I damp patched between all shots. The pitted bore demands that. I tried several lubes Hoppes patch lube and Ballistol 5 to 1,bore butter and Lehigh patch lube. All these lubes are proven performers in a great many guns. The only good group shot was when I used the Lehigh patch lube. I did manage a sub 2" five shot group with that. I will try again soon. n.h.schmidt

Sounds like you are starting to make some headway with that rifle. What distance were you shooting. That's about what I get at 50 yards with my .40 and .50 calibers. That's not bad considering iron sights and 71 year old eyes.

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Born in the Pineywoods of East Texas a long long time ago.

It was shot at 50yds. I'm also having my troubles with eyes too. We do what we can. The pity of the Lehigh Lube is it seems to be all gone. Nobody has anymore to sell. I just yesterday ordered some of the Hoppes No9 Plus.
It has a great rep and is easy to get. I would not use it to preserve the barrel though. Been there done that and got rust. I now use Ballistal for bore preservation.
My other pet gun project is a Spanish Monarch Hawken( built from a kit from K Mart 30 years ago). I changed out the barrel for a kentucky length barrel of the same maker . I had to add a long under rib and new ram rod pipes. made new sights and a barrel bracket for the stock wedge. I did a poor job browning it though. Over all it looks pretty good. Its still a 45 with a 33inch barrel. I'm just now getting the sights about right. Accuracy hasn't been great yet but ,I think it will come around. At least the barrel was new to start with. I also lapped it first. Ned

Guys, you've gotten me to wanting to build one myself. But, I don't know anything about it. Would a kit be best for a first-timer like me? I guess I'll have to learn to finish wood, too.