Dave old boy. Thanks for sending the nice cool weather our way. It was 2* this morning when I woke up. But it warmed up to about 10*. Tonight its supposed to be a bit cooler. Maybe getting below the 0 mark.
Wife was working but I had the day off. Spent the day going through my hunting stuff and putting it in order so I can possibly find it next year, wiping my ML down and tinkering with locks and triggers etc. I even pulled a few of my centerfires out of the safe and ran some oil patches through them so they won't rust from lack of use.
Heck I even did 2 loads of laundry and mopped the floor for the 'little lady'. (you never know when you're gonna need brownie points)
__________________ PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE RISING COST IN AMMO PRICES I WILL NO LONGER BE FIRING A WARNING SHOT.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
I'm not as good as I'm gonna get - but I'm better than I used to be. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
We warmed up really nice. It got to six above, so I shovelled snow and went out to the mail box. BUT the wind was still a little brisk so the house heat felt good. Its supposed to snow big time tomorrow, so maybe I can get some shooting in.
Your wife will be so proud of you. Are you sure you don't have other motives for all them good deeds??
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Well Dave I am looking at a used T/C Hawken at my gun shop and already called GM about a 45 cal percussion barrel for it......
__________________ PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE RISING COST IN AMMO PRICES I WILL NO LONGER BE FIRING A WARNING SHOT.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
I'm not as good as I'm gonna get - but I'm better than I used to be. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
I do not own a .50 caliber percussion model Hawkins or I would have me one of them .45 caliber barrels they got on sale. And all my Renegades are 1" on the flats. All my Hawkins are flintlocks. Let me know how it shoots. I might buy a barrel and then a T/C Hawkins just to have one to play with.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Hey guys, I have a pawn shop doewn thre road and he has a mess of percussion and flints . Traditions and CVA, I can see some are rough on the outside so I wonder about the inside. When you 2 are looking at these types of guns what do you judge a buy on? I was thinking of getting a couple and messing around w/ them. I do not have a percusiion and don't mind trying to work some kinks out of them. Thanks
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"There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory." --American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Get a bore light, and then go to the inspect the rifle,the first thing I do is check to make sure the rifle is not loaded. It will shock you how many rifles come into pawn shops (especially muzzleloaders) loaded. Drop the ramrod down it and make sure it disappears into the bore. That's a good indication the rifle is empty.
Then drop the bore light down the bore and inspect the barrel. Look for pitting, and heavy rust in the bore. Just because the rifle bore is in bad shape is not a death sign, but it is a way to argue the price. Especially if you can show the person behind the counter the bad bore.
Then check the lock itself. Cock the rifle to half cock and full cock. Push on the hammer and make sure it does not slip. Slap the side of the lock and make sure the hammer does not fall. Also check the trigger pull. Some of these rifles have a terrible trigger pull. So check that.
If all of that is in good shape, examine the nipple in the bolster or drum. If there is a lot of rust around the base of it or if they will let you, take the nipple out and inspect the threads. If they are rusted, chipped, or worn this is a red flag. These gun need to be really looked at close. Usually you might find some rust, but the broken threads are ones I avoid. Although some companies will sell you or fix a bad drum.
Last, inspect the stock of the rifle. Many of them will not let you pull the barrel. But pay special attention around the back of the lock, around the tang, and along the estucheon plates of the rifle. Look for hair line cracks. Hair line cracks can become big cracks, and that means a rifle you can not shoot.
Also last consider the price of the rifle. I used to buy old used rifles for parts and make some pretty nice rifles out of them.
Just a few things I do for fun in pawn shops. Besides it drives the pawn shop owners nuts.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
cayugad, yep drive em' niuts. This guy thinks he has a mint in guns, but always the same ones there??? I am working him over, so noew I will drive him nuts.
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"There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory." --American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910)
you might need one of them there John. That would be a real nice addition to your collection.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."