Covert flintlock to percussion?

losttrail

A couple of years ago, I built one of the Cabela Hawken .54cal flintlock kits.

I wanted a percussion, but my wife got this as a gift for me, so I accepted it and built it.

I would prefer the percussion, so am wondering if it can be converted. If so, how much, how difficult, where to get the parts?

Thanks for any help.

allen griggs

It can be done.
I built a flintlock with parts from Dixie Gun Works.
I couldn't get the flintlock to work right. This was back before the days of the internet.
I didn't know anyone who worked on flintlocks.
I didn't know any gunsmiths who messed with muzzleloaders.
I was getting ignition half the time, no way I was taking an erratic rifle hunting.
So, I converted it to percussion.
Where the touch hole is, you have to drill and tap it, then you screw in the drum and nipple.
I bought the same model lock, from Dixie, and installed it.
The gun worked fine.
But, I was not happy with my amateur work on drilling and tapping that hole in the barrel.
The drum was sloppy. I figured, it might blow out, bad news.

So, that pretty rifle is now a wall-hanger in my parents' log cabin.

Get that hole drilled and tapped properly and you should be ok.
You need to make sure that you can buy a percussion lock that will fit, I imagine that the Cabelas Hawken percussion lock would work.

hillbille

you might be ahead to buy a second percussion barrell and new hammer then you will have the best of both![;)] and still keep the wife happy.[:D]

Kory

Shouldn't convert it anyway, should learn to shoot the flinter, then you can get plenty of practice and it will improve your overall shooting ability, besides that , for two hundred plus years we had flintlocks , then for about twenty years we got to deal with cappers , before they realized that cartridges were better! [:)]learn to shoot the flinter, you will be happy!! Besides that anybody can shoot a capper. Good luck