Originally Posted by
Muley Hunter
The answer is it's easier to clean the barrel with it off the stock. Even if you can clean it by leaving it on.
Unless you're shooting in high level target competition. Taking the barrel off to clean it doesn't hurt accuracy.
Pete,
One of my short list picks in the hooked-breech category is the Lyman Trade Rifle. .54, flint, single trigger, single wedge, but it sure isn't pretty. That doesn't affect function, and the objection is nitpicky. I'd probably pick a pretty pinned gun over the Trade Rifle, though. I'm sometimes illogical.
OldBob