Sooo, I did something incredibly stupid and started wandering around gunbroker. And then I did not listen to my daughter who told me that, while the muzzleloader I was looking at was, in fact, very pretty, I already have too many guns. So, I have to learn how to use this gorgeous machine (once I get it in my hot little hands):

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/845912760

I’ve shot a muzzleloader - once. It was a boring knight inline. This one is someone’s custom gun. I have no idea how to figure out how much powder, whether it takes a ball or sabots, etc. I’ve never even seen the “mule ear” lock before yesterday (although I did google it). Please Help!

Nice price!

what caliber? i'm thinking start about 40 grains but that's not gospel.

I don’t know yet. His pictures with the ruler make it look like a .50. I’ve got calipers so that was my first guess as to what to do about figuring that out

at least it's clearly percussion. judging from the pics, just a bit less than 1/2 inch, so i'd say .45. i'm no expert but IMO either sabot or round ball should be fine with 40 grains.

oh man that thing is nice!

Mule ear locks are unusual and are generally popular with the target rifle guys, so I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be a very nice gun for the price. It's definitely hand built and not a production gun.

Beautiful piece of work.

Very nice rifle, best of luck with your learning curve. I too have learned have to make the most out of my gun storage thanks to Gunbroker; and I'm
currently wondering just how high I'm willing to go, to get one that currently has five days left on the bidding.

That is a great rifle!!!

That's a beauty Mike, have fun at the range.

It would be nice to find out more about it. Who made it and who made the different parts. The stock is definitely nice with great curl, not a cheap stick of wood.

If you've never shot a 19th century rifle before you will soon realize that the curved but plate is pressed against the upper arm just below the shoulder, makes it easier to shoot around trees or horseback.

That’s interesting. I wonder if there’s a video of that on YouTube. I’ll work on shooting it from the ground before I terrorize the neighborhood on my horse. I’m hoping that there is something etched in the barrel etc to give me a clue who made it. I looked up friendship Indiana because that’s what is on the listing and got sucked into joining the NMLRA muzzleloader group. I’m looking at the back issues of their magazine to see if I can get a clue where some of the parts came from. I see that there are a number of muzzleloader clubs around so I might take the rifle around to see what I can find out that way. And they do have competitions at Friendship which isn’t too far so I wonder if I took it there whether someone would recognize it. I sent the money order today so maybe in a week or two I’ll have more pictures and info

The only company I'm aware of that makes a mule ear lock is L&R. I'll bet the barrel is Green River and the trigger is REDavis. A gun made from a set of parts will have the barrel logo on the bottom flat

hidden from view. A mass produced gun will have logos stamped out proudly on top. The iron hardware is available from Track of the Wolf, as are the stocks.

Both the underhammer and mule ear lock have the nipple mounted directly to the barrel giving the flame a nice short straight path to the charge. Theoretically a shorter ignition time and definitely more reliable.

eelj wrote: Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:40 am the nipple mounted directly to the barrel giving the flame a nice short straight path to the charge. Theoretically a shorter ignition time and definitely more reliable.

i could go on at this point about the main difference between the function of the '53 enfield and the '61 springfield, and the federal's belated recognition of same as exemplified by the '63 springfield, but that would be tedious and pedantic so i won't bore you with it...

So I’ve been reading the NMLA magazines and it looks like they raffle off guns made by a group of gunsmiths (one person makes the barrel, someone else does the lock, etc.) in Frienship Indiana every year to raise money. I wonder if this one is like that. I looked at the mule ear lock by L&R and this one is different. None of the track of the wolf trigger guards looks like it either. It’s going to be really interesting to try to figure this out. I may have to haul it to one of their matches and see if anyone recognizes it. There are a couple of the NMLRA affiliate groups in MI, including one at MSU. The seller should get my money order tomorrow so maybe I’ll see it by the end of the week. Pictures will, of course, be forthcoming.

eagerly awaiting your range report.

The tracking number says it's on its way to my house. Of course, I'm at work Although my wife is home. I should have some more pictures/info soon.

i can't wait!

Ok, so it arrived and I unpacked it. The seller went WAY overboard packing it up. Which paid off because it arrived intact (including with the tang sight intact which I was a little worried about. It’s just as pretty as in the guy’s pictures if not more so. The wood/metal ft is amazing! I haven’t done much with it yet but I’ve already learned a few things. First, the barrel is thick. I mean really thick. It’s like an octagon bar with a hole in it. Far thicker than my Henry big boy octagon. And the stock is really narrow, or at least more than I expected. It does fit my shoulder nicely though, but I’m guessing this is not a lug around the woods shooting at things gun. Although I can actually shoulder it, I’m going to need to sit at a bench. The lock does not have a half cock. I’m not sure if that’s bad. I’ve read about people making a piece of wood with a chain to use as a stop that falls away when you cock it all the way so, either way, I can probably figure it out. The set trigger is nice. The actual trigger is a bit of a reach. And it is the lightest trigger I’ve seen. As in barely touch it and off it goes. The barrel is close to a .45. I tried to use my calipers and apparently I suck at it because when I put it in the barrel, it gave me different readings. I stopped because mine are metal and I didn’t want to hurt anything. But being inspired I went and got a loaded 44 round. The case goes in a little way and then hits. I measured that at .45. So I guess that’s the diameter of the lands? The barrel has really nice rifling but it’s lighter right near the muzzle. (Maybe a couple of mm) (Which may be why the case went in a little?? ). I’ll try to take pictures. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. The crown looks really good. I’ll try the “measure the twist rate” thing tomorrow. But I’m pretty happy so far.

it's obviously junk. send it to me and i'll dispose of it for you. no charge.

Ha. Well I figure that if I can’t get it to shoot straight I can always use it as a pry bar.

i suspect it's a target rifle, not really intended for hunting, possibly a presentation rifle, not really intended to be shot much.

heavy barrel, tang sight, mule ear lock, smaller caliber? Sure sounds like a target gun to me.

Marlene wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 9:01 pm heavy barrel, tang sight, mule ear lock, smaller caliber? Sure sounds like a target gun to me.

i guess your average presentation rifle would have some fancy engraving, saying who for, or from?