32 inline build

[ShawnT]

Thimble getting close.
IMAG0366-819x608.jpg

Man that Thimble is Awsome! Is that steel or Aluminum?

I am planning to build one just like that but from Black Nylon. I hope to start on it tomorrow. Mine will be made by hand though so probably will not look near as nice as yours. Great Job!

 

[pupsdad]

It's steel , lots of filing going on now. I bored the larger hole then drilled and reamed the 5/16 hole for the ram-rod. Cut it close with band saw belt sander now I'll finish shaping with file and polish it a little. Epoxy or silver solder it on. I was hoping to have this done sooner but I'm taking my time don't want any mistakes. I know myself and my limits. I am not a professional by any means but I have some skills.

 

[ShawnT]

Are you planning to Blue the barrel and thimble? I did a cold blue on my Marathon but it is sort of a pain to use cold blue. But no one around me had tanks to do hot salt blue. I only have a table top drill press myself. So most of my shaping will be with Dremel and files too. Looks great so far! It will be one to be proud of. :yeah:

 

[pupsdad]

It's going to get Dura-Coated. I have had pretty good results with it in the past. Never a muzzle loader but I read some of the Whites have Dura-Coat.

 

[pupsdad]

Dura-Coat on action I need to fasten thimble to barrel before I coat it. I'm leaving town for a few days this will be good for epoxy cure. I may be shooting within a week or two.

 

[ShawnT]

Do you Bake the Duracote?

Have a safe trip.

 

[pupsdad]

You can bake it to speed up the cure but isn't necessary.
I like to just let it cure for a couple weeks before full use.
You can touch it up easily and looks good and is easy. Problems mostly come from not cleaning good before coating.

 

[pupsdad]

I am all but done. Need to touch up the Dura Coat around the thimble and mount the scope.

 

[Squeeze]

really nice! should be a sweetheart. I keep thinking when (if) I retire, i'm selling most of the woodshop, and buying metal tools. I would go with short barrel too. .32 is only close range anyway, and weight is the biggest issue for a squirrel gun.

 

[shguns]

Nice!!

Thanks for taking us along on the build process! :yeah:

 

[ShawnT]

Looks Great! Nice job! :yeah: It is really going to be nice with that shorter barrel in the woods. Can't wait to see your range report.

 

[pupsdad]

I can hardly wait, this thing is going to be a hoot to shoot. I ordered a mold .311 round ball. It just ain't fun for me if I don't pour my own. I can see this thing being an attention grabber at the gun club I already have people that I've told about it wanting to shoot it. I'm hoping for some real good accuracy then maybe build a stock. Kill a few squirrel this fall for sure. I'm going to make a new breech plug also I wasn't happy with the flats I cut to fit a wrench. The distance from striker to nipple came out exactly were I wanted it but it could be increased to give better ignition.

 

[ShawnT]

Did you try any RB in it for size? I got Hornady .310's and they were too small in my Oregon 1 in 30, could pretty much start them by thumb and could pull it right back out by the ticking so they did not group well. I tried them with some OxYoke prelubed patches and with ticking and were just too small. I got the Hornady .315 RB and got a yard of the thickest Ticking JoAnn Fabrics had (they had 3 or 4 kinds and 2 felt thin), washed it twice, and this combo was just right. I have not gotten a mold yet but am thinking about it. A .315 is not the standard from Lee, RCBS, or Lyman but they can be ordered from places like Moose. On the other hand the little Marathon I have has a bore that is too tight for the .315 and the .310 felt good. No one had any .311's though I did see some at Dixon,s over in Pa last time I was there.

Yup you are going to have some fun with that rifle. :yeah: They are a real hoot and it made Squirrel hunting so much more fun for me.

 

[pupsdad]

Yep I may have a problem but I bought the mold anyway, it will all workout in the end. I planned on walking into Gander Mountain to buy some balls but they closed.

 

[ShawnT]

I know they are closing but did not know that any were actually closed yet. Closest to me is almost 3 hour drive one way, so did not think it was worth going. Next weekend I will drive right by the one in Chambersburg PA on my way to Ohio. Was planning to stop and see what's left.

It all depends on how loose or tight he made "That" barrel. Plus you can play with patching. Was the mold you ordered a custom or off the shelf?

I has some very old Pillow Ticking and it was just too thin so went to the JoAnn Fabric store. I found they had more than one Pillow tick material. Of what I found, I can't remember if it was 4 different rolls or 3, but the one that felt noticeably thicker was in Red and blue stripe and that is what I got. Then washed and dried it 2 times to thicken it up. It was perfect in my Oregon with .315's but who knows yours might like those .311's

 

[pupsdad]

It's a used newer Lee mold so I'll have little in it. I slugged my barrel I just don't remember what it was but I do remember thinking a .311 might work.

 

[pupsdad]

I have never shot many round balls, the only time I have was when I shoot with my uncle he shoots everything but lots of balls. I talked it over with him he told me I should be OK. He's a traditional type, even adjustable sights will be against his club rules he belongs to. They are normal gun guys and even have inline guns for hunting, but at a club shoot it's traditional all the way. They get all dressed up with lots of hand made gear. They have fun but that's not my thing, I enjoy working on guns pouring bullets loading and shooting. I have a Thompson Center Hawken his club would frown on it at a club shoot.

 

[WV Hunter]

Yep I may have a problem but I bought the mold anyway, it will all workout in the end. I planned on walking into Gander Mountain to buy some balls but they closed.

I stopped into ours yesterday... still tons of inventory, and alot of people. The prices were pretty much the same as they were when I went 2 weeks ago. Except they are now offering 5% discount on firearms. They have one tub of BH209 left... when I was there 2 weeks ago there was 2, and I bought 1. I'm gonna keep an eye on it. Plenty of Pyro and T7. Zero good bullets... tons of powerbelts. :lol:

 

[ShawnT]

Yep I may have a problem but I bought the mold anyway, it will all workout in the end. I planned on walking into Gander Mountain to buy some balls but they closed.

I stopped into ours yesterday... still tons of inventory, and alot of people. The prices were pretty much the same as they were when I went 2 weeks ago. Except they are now offering 5% discount on firearms. They have one tub of BH209 left... when I was there 2 weeks ago there was 2, and I bought 1. I'm gonna keep an eye on it. Plenty of Pyro and T7. Zero good bullets... tons of powerbelts. :lol:

I've been getting emails saying they were now giving 40% off and 15% on guns. :huh?: I plan to stop by the Store in Chambersburg PA next Saturday on my way to Ohio. Rarely buy much due to prices but it is about the right place for a pit Stop. :wink:

 

[pupsdad]

OK I'm going to be close to a store next week I'll check it out. I can only hope they might have a box of .315 balls. My rifle is all done I mounted an old 4X TASCO on it. I'll start a new thread with my first range trip.