Hooked breech and wedge vs pinned barrel
12-28-2015 | 08:50 AM
#12
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Yeah, it looks like a tedious repair, too. Maybe some brass brazing rod?
OldBob
12-28-2015 | 08:55 AM
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Single wedge?
I never did this, but it always looked to me as if it would be harder to get two wedges the right tension, rather than one. Obviously you have more experience with this.
OldBob
Last edited by OldBob47; 12-28-2015 at 09:00 AM. Reason: spelling
12-28-2015 | 09:10 AM
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Johnmorris,
Yeah, but here's a tip I was given. Even if you're not going to remove the lock, loosen it and bump it out to the side. If you don't, you wear a place where the lock meets the barrel, and might eventually cause a gap there. Another thing, you don't have to torque down on the lock bolt. Snug is fine. Its that last 1/8 of a turn that wears screw threads. If you want to go further, put a tiny amount of grease on the screw, and snug it. The lock is not going to fall off the gun if it doesn't have 60 FtLbs torque. It probably won't move anytime soon.
OldBob
Yeah, but here's a tip I was given. Even if you're not going to remove the lock, loosen it and bump it out to the side. If you don't, you wear a place where the lock meets the barrel, and might eventually cause a gap there. Another thing, you don't have to torque down on the lock bolt. Snug is fine. Its that last 1/8 of a turn that wears screw threads. If you want to go further, put a tiny amount of grease on the screw, and snug it. The lock is not going to fall off the gun if it doesn't have 60 FtLbs torque. It probably won't move anytime soon.
OldBob
12-28-2015 | 09:20 AM
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Before I purchased my custom flintlock I would have never considered a pinned barrel. But now with that rifle in the collection, a pinned barrel I found the trick to it. Its not all that hard to clean actually. Plug the vent hole. Fill the barrel with soap and water. Then tilt it back and fourth a couple times, and pour out the dirty water. Repeat the process a few times. The swab the bore clean with wet patches of soap and water. When they come out clean, then dry patch it and of course oil it to be done. The trick to making a pinned barrel stay tight is, never take it out of the stock if you don't have to.
Granted a wedged barrel rifle is easier to clean. But you can make them loose as well. I took hate to pull a rifle from the stock, but do it all the time with wedged barrels. They seem to go back good.
For new shooters, get a wedged barrel. Shoot it clean it, and enjoy it. The one day, in the future get a pinned. Its a whole new animal. But one I enjoy just as much.
Granted a wedged barrel rifle is easier to clean. But you can make them loose as well. I took hate to pull a rifle from the stock, but do it all the time with wedged barrels. They seem to go back good.
For new shooters, get a wedged barrel. Shoot it clean it, and enjoy it. The one day, in the future get a pinned. Its a whole new animal. But one I enjoy just as much.
But what you seem to be saying is, get one of each. Seems I've heard that refrain on here before.
OldBob
12-28-2015 | 09:32 AM
#17
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This question comes up because of a conversation I had. The guy I was talking to said, "If you can clean a pinned barrel properly without removing the barrel, why remove the barrel on a hooked breech gun?" I didn't have any good answer. Now if your bedding on the hooked breech gun is perfect, it probably makes no difference. If it isn't that great, it could take a shot or to to settle everyhing in again. As MD 54 said, glas the breech area. OK, but if you're hesitant to do that, just don't fool with it.
But what you seem to be saying is, get one of each. Seems I've heard that refrain on here before.
OldBob
But what you seem to be saying is, get one of each. Seems I've heard that refrain on here before.
OldBob
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.
12-28-2015 | 09:37 AM
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Pete,
After everyone's input, and some more looking around, I have to say that the wedge would be a preference, but I would not overlook a pinned gun if it checked the right boxes. For example, take the Pedersoli Jaeger. Not too long, flintlock, .54 caliber, fast twist barrel, rear sight back closer to your eye, it has a lot that I like. Yeah, double set triggers, but it has a roomy enough trigger guard that you might be able to wear gloves, and in any case, a single trigger replacement would not be a big deal. Its not strictly PC/HC. Wouldn't matter to me, and it has enough going for it that the pinned barrel would not be a deal-breaker. either. I'd like to see one.
OldBob
After everyone's input, and some more looking around, I have to say that the wedge would be a preference, but I would not overlook a pinned gun if it checked the right boxes. For example, take the Pedersoli Jaeger. Not too long, flintlock, .54 caliber, fast twist barrel, rear sight back closer to your eye, it has a lot that I like. Yeah, double set triggers, but it has a roomy enough trigger guard that you might be able to wear gloves, and in any case, a single trigger replacement would not be a big deal. Its not strictly PC/HC. Wouldn't matter to me, and it has enough going for it that the pinned barrel would not be a deal-breaker. either. I'd like to see one.
OldBob
12-28-2015 | 09:49 AM
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Sort list.
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