Help me decide on next flintlock style

[Tennessee.45]

I'm about to start building my next flintlock, I've narrowed it down to a SMR in .50, a Virginia in .58/24 gauge (either rifled or smooth) or a fowler in either 24 or 20 gauge.

I'll be using a stock blank, and I'm going to attempt to make most of the furniture, I do have a spare Va buttplate that I made last year... :hmm:

 

[Ames]

SMR in a 50. I think its a must have for a collection.

 

[Silky921]

I just bought that 28 gauge cherry fowler from keb. It's safe to say I'm deeply in love with it at this point.

However, a SMR is on my eventual inventory list too.

 

[Tennessee.45]

I believe I've eliminated the fowler from the mix, still torn between smooth or rifled Virginia and a SMR

 

[Don Steele]

SMR in 40 cal. or smaller.
I'm intrigued by Smooth Rifles. If I were to get one, it would be in .54 for hunting deer and hogs but at this point in my life I'm not doing enough hunting to justify it.

 

[MSW]

I would go to a SMR, but in .40 cal.

One guy's opinion ... free and no doubt well worth the price!

Good luck with your build ... send in lots of pictures - we love pictures!

 

[BrownBear]

I agree on a SMR after considering your location, but I was born with a special gland for the oddball. Or something....

In any case, when you look back over the range of calibers common in the day, there was lots more to choose from than our standards today. I'd be inclined to something like 38 or 39 caliber, just to be different than everyone around you while in keeping with the era you'd be honoring.

 

[Tennessee.45]

I'm really leaning towards a Virginia rifle with a .58 smoothbore, thoughts?

 

[rich pierce]

If your round ball shots are within 60 yards and at a broadside deer or larger game, yes. Otherwise I'd use a rifled barrel.

 

[Tennessee.45]

Where I hunt 50-60 yards is the max you can see through the think brush I hunt in so that would probably be fine

 

[rich pierce]

Then the smoothbore would give you great versatility!

 

[BigBoreBLR]

SMR not sure what that is. What have built or bought so far?

A smooth bore is nice, I justify it because I small game hunt alot. If you're a big game only hunter, then I'd go rifled all the way.

I'm very green, but a smaller gun is harder to build than a bigger one. The earlier rifles will likely be easier to setup and make it flow.

What skills do you need to work on towards your "dream" build.


My next is an early Reading 54 cal. Taking a stab at a wooden patchbox, shaping my own furniture. And this will bey 1st barrel inlet and ramrod drill.

 

[Tennessee.45]

SMR is short for Southern Mountain Rifle, its more or less a generic term for rifles built around the southern appalachain mountain/smoky mtn area