SleazyRider
Member
Finally got my hands on a used and abused flintlock, a circa 1980's Investarms made-in-Italy-but-sold-by-Cabela's .50 caliber Hawken. I paid 100 bucks for it, as it needed a bit of TLC to get it running. The barrel was neglected, and the touch hole liner was frozen among other things. I drilled out the liner and removed it with an EZ-Out, then chased the threads with a 1/4 X 28 tap, and replaced the liner. Scrubbed the barrel with JB Bore Paste, cleaned and lubed the action, and replaced the flint. Bottom line---it shoots like a champ!
But I have a question. I assumed that the diameter of the barrel was consistent from end to end, including the area around the touch hole and breech. But this is not the case. It seems that the breech is significantly smaller, in fact, as I cleaned it with the touch hole liner removed, I expected to see the end of my jag but did not. The jag/patch doesn't make it to the breech, but rather, it stops on what appears to be a shoulder of some sort.
Is this correct? Should there be a shoulder? Why? And if so, how does one clean the breech? Appreciate your help!
But I have a question. I assumed that the diameter of the barrel was consistent from end to end, including the area around the touch hole and breech. But this is not the case. It seems that the breech is significantly smaller, in fact, as I cleaned it with the touch hole liner removed, I expected to see the end of my jag but did not. The jag/patch doesn't make it to the breech, but rather, it stops on what appears to be a shoulder of some sort.
Is this correct? Should there be a shoulder? Why? And if so, how does one clean the breech? Appreciate your help!