Refurbishing a muzzleloader

C

cptmclark

New member
Can I do this on this forum? I hope so, but if not re-direct me.

I have a two stage project on an old TC hawken (30 years old). The aftermarket green mountain barrel lost accuracy and i've had it recrowned by a gunsmith. (Part two will be the stock) Looking at the re-crown, I see that it has been recessed about 1/2 inch, with it cut to bore diamter that distance. (lands removed) I'd call it a double crown, with one for the lands recessed and also radiused at the muzzle. QUESTION IS regarding the way it looks. Examining the recessed ends of the lands with a good light, it looks like it's offset, with the lands prominent on one side but the opposite actually cut below the bore surface (wider than the bore?). Not sure how to describe this, but there is a ridge at bore diameter on one side, with the new cut going out farther than that. Too many words, but I hope you see the picture. With the brass pilot I'd think this is impossible, so could I be not seeing it right? First it just looked a bit odd, then I saw what I described. Is this worth taking back or might it be just fine?

While I'm at it I want to refinish the stock and glass bed the barrel. What's best to remove the old finish, and all the oil tht has accumulated and soaked the wood under the barrel? A few fine cracks are seen in the stock behind the lock, but apparantly not on bearing surfaces. How to fix those small cracks that are not open?

Thanks a lot.
 
Yes, I see the start of the lands, but I had expected to see them evenly all around. On one side they appear shallow, and on the other side deep, plus some cutting below the bottom of the lands, or so it appears. My thought was that's not possible, given the centering of the brass bore aligner on the end of the reamer. Maybe I need to have my eyeballs calibrated.
 
Rich

I'm not able to get a single picture to show the whole thing. I ended up with maybe 8 closeups that together show the big picuture. How do I post those pictures? Or e-mail attachements?
Very hard to photograph due to being recessed so far down the barrel. Let me know and I'll fire them off.

After looking at my photographic handiwork, I thought i'd feel for a ledge. Yep, going in there is a ledge at the end of the cut on the upper half only. The lower half is either flush or in one spot I feel a ledge there coming out.

Also a lot of deep toolmarks in the cut 5/8 or so from the muzzle in. Can these affect accuracy? So far I'm disappointed but I'll appreciate your opinions on the effects of all this.

Thanks
 
Picture

I see I can post reduced resolution pics here. I picked three. Onoly one shows up. It is overexposed but shows the lack of the ridge or shelf near the bottom of the barrel. Actually there is a small ridge felt coming out.
The bottom of the barrel can be seen by the attached rib there.

I'll send another post with another pic of the top.
 

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another pic

Pics of the top. Notice the step up going from the new freebore area into the existing bore. I'm wondering about the tool marks too.

I guess my question is, whether this is likely to shoot OK. The project was to correct an unevenly worn crown. My goal is top accuracy like I had when the barrel was new.
 

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muzzle-loader

Dear Sir:
Your muzzle-loader is mis-crowned.
Cut the bbl back to get rid of this! Then get the muzzle square with a square. Make a hard wooden rod to fit bore and mount a cutter in it and crown equally.
Another simpler way is to use a large countersink (sharp) in your drill with about three thickneses of denim in between cutter and bbl. - turn slowly and then use grinding compound on a 60 degree point till even and smooth - you can do this.
Harry B.
Your trouble isn't the lands in bbl. - it's the crowning job.
 
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crowning

Sir:
To adde to this - early Thompson Center muzzle-loader bbls. often exhibited this problem. I had ine that shot 10 inches to the left at 30 yds that was corrected by crowning.
Harry B.
 
Thanks Harry

That's what I suspected. So I have to lose an inch off the barrel, recut and fit the rib, redrill and tap for that. Disappointing I got this job from a big name national Sporting Goods and Gunsmithing outfit. I may just give up and buy a new barrel. ALTHOUGH, I would like the experience of doing it myself, I'm sure I'd need a tool shop to cut the barrel exactly square.
 
Re Crowning

Harry,

This is an aftermarket barrel by Green Mountain. Used to shoot very well, until I finally ruined the crown by much cleaning between shots over the years. Now of course I wish I'd bought the tool to crown it myself. Tool costs more than the 40 to 60 dollar gunsmithing bill. I thought the recessed rifling seemed like a good idea, but I expected only the lands to be cut out, not enlarging the bore. Even so, off center can't be good.
 
Being the recess is basically a false muzzle built into the barrel, I would seek a competent Machinist. The false muzzle could be trued up, the lead may be a bit loose, but what the hey, Hay. You were going to maybe replace it anyway.
OR
You may have the start to a nice big Horse Pistol!
 
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