- Location
- In lalaland, that is Ottawa.
I wrote this when the image of the botched job showed up in the funny section of the OT forum. It of course belongs here.
You need some valve grinding compound, a lead round lead ball used in muzzle loaders, the ball drilled accurately to accept a screw which can be chucked in a hand brace or hand powered drill.
Crowning a barrel is very simple after it was cut or needs it again.
Using a grease loaded with the valve compound, clamp the barrel end up, go at it slow, swiveling the drill around. The ball will self center in the muzzle and do an excellent crowning job.
I had a .38 cap lock heavy barrel muzzle loader (10 pounds) with a set trigger with which I took prizes off-hand, a walnut stock I made. Had a brass hooked butt. I used a .45 ball given to me.
At 25 yards and 50 yards, against great marksmen from between London and Detroit, at a private range then owned by George Wortner, a gunsmith from Chatham.
I had a Winchester made P17 in .30-06 for which I re-blued, bought a premade walnut stock, steel recoil lug added a good peep sight, new hooded front post sight. Very accurate.
With a scope on it years later, even better. With it I shot two moose, mule deer and white tail in B.C.
Foolishly sold it when I bought a late model Winchester M70 in .338 mag.
SOF
