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eggwelder

40 Cal.
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Recently got a .45 barrel, 32 inches long, 15/16 across.octagon, straight. brand new, not even breeched. no apparent brand name.not sure of the twist. came with a bunch of other stuff. thinking about a jaeger style build for it. it would suit a hawken style, but I'm not a huge fan of those, i already own two.
any suggestions?
 
The straight barrels came later. Barrel is rather short. It could make a nice English rifle.
 
I'd build a hook-breeched "Hawken style" or English Sporting Rifle if it were me, and I had the ability to build anything( which I don't).
That being the case then, I'd be searching for T/C (or possibly others..)stocks and other "pieces/parts" already manufactured for a 15/16th's barrel to put something together.
Check the twist rate on the barrel. That might have a lot to do with what you want to end up with.
All that said though, it occurs to me to ask...what are the proof marks on the barrel...??
I'd want some assurance that it's even safe to shoot before proceeding too far down the path of building it into a rifle.
 
All that said though, it occurs to me to ask...what are the proof marks on the barrel...??
I'd want some assurance that it's even safe to shoot before proceeding too far down the path of building it into a rifle.

EXCEPT that on an American made barrel, there are no proof marks, since American made barrels are not submitted to a proofing house, and there isn't one in the USA. :wink:

LD
 
If it were me, with that short of a barrel, I'd go with a half-stock percussion, plains style rifle. 1850ish. But that's just me.
 
Good point Dave.
Thank you. I’m still concerned about a rifle barrel with no manufacturers I D on it, no proofs... nothing.
I suppose one could go ahead and breech it, identify a proof load, and touch it off to have a sense of confidence before building a rifle with it, loadin’ her up and Firing a load a couple inches in front of one’s face. :td:
 
Without knowing what the twist is, I don't think you can make any decisions at all about what your going to do with it.

It doesn't sound like you know what the rifling depth is either?

You really don't need to know the depth to the thousandth of an inch but you should be able to eyeball it and figure out if it looks like it's deep or shallow.

If it is deep (about .006 or greater) then it is a roundball barrel. .006 is about the thickness of three sheets of printer paper stacked on top of each other. It's quite noticeable.

If the rifling looks like it is only about 1 or two stacked pieces of printer paper high, the barrel would work best with a elongated slug.

Until you know these things I don't think you can make any decisions at all about what kind of gun you could build with it.
 
Really like the look of the full stock leman Indian rifle in flint. I mean really like it.

Zonie, the rifling is quite pronounced and probably .006 deep. it looks like the rifling makes a 1/2 to 2/3 ish turn in the 32 inch barrel.

Loyalist......don`t know what to say about those underhammers....

i do have 2 maple half stock blanks, nice and curly that cost me a cup of coffee
 
Since it is not breeched, this is a perfect time to slug the barrel. Then you will know exactly what the bore diameter (land and groove) is. You will also find any tight or loose spots if the barrel has any. A very tight patch on a jag with a marked rod will give an accurate measurement when pushed through the barrel as to what twist it is.
 
I was gonna say Ohio but the barrel is pretty thick. I would go with underhammer.
 
Checking the rifling pitch is easily done with a tight patch or better yet a cast slug on a steel rod.
Also a cast slug will allow you to measure the bore and groove diameter.
 
15/16" x 32" x .45 should make a very representative Leman, albeit lighter than an original of the same length. IIRC, they were 1-1/16" atf. I have one in progress, 36" x 15/16" x .54 with Davis late English lock.
 
i`m leaning toward the Leman in flint, and will most likely go with a half stock in curly maple as thats what i have on hand, unless i find that elusive piece of wood around here that is long enough for a full stock. i just found a wood guy.
hooked breech for ease of cleaning, and possibly no cheek piece as i tend to shoot from either shoulder, depends on the day.
the english sporting rifle is also nice, i do like the flatter butt plate.

i`ll be checking the twist as soon as i turn down a .50 jag to .45 this morning and i`ll see about making a slug to run thru the barrel as well.

sorry you underhammer guys, that long unappreciated and under used style will maintain that status quo with me, as i can barely bring myself to look at it......
 
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