Hello! New member - Panhandle FL

Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Jcast 8/3/2024, 3:16 pm

Hello - New Member here - Pensacola, FL. Grew up on the Canadian border - NY shooting TC Hawken's (.45 & .50 cal),with my Dad & friends in my youth - last century (70-80's).

Just ordered a Traditions St. Louis Hawken Kit - inspired by FrontierGander builds. Going to take my time, learn what I need to learn and work to produce a rifle to enjoy and pass on as a family heirloom.

Ordered a bag mold and ladle, ready to cast Roundball.

Thanks for the Welcome!
jcast

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Mustang65 9/3/2024, 8:24 am

Welcome to the forum Jcast. Looking forward to your build posts.

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Jcast 9/3/2024, 4:21 pm

The Traditions St. Louis kit arrived today via FEDEX. Initial inspection looks good. Definitely will need to fit several parts as the in letting is tight. Will follow FrontierGanders build post closely. Will order a couple of Brownells Scrapers tonight. Thank you for the welcome!

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Mustang65 9/3/2024, 6:33 pm

Jcast wrote:The Traditions St. Louis kit arrived today via FEDEX. Initial inspection looks good. Definitely will need to fit several parts as the in letting is tight. Will follow FrontierGanders build post closely. Will order a couple of Brownells Scrapers tonight. Thank you for the welcome!

Take your time and have fun. Keep us posted on your build.

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Winter Hawk 17/3/2024, 5:40 pm

Welcome from SE Ohio! Take your time and use a "thinking chair" to sit in while pondering how to continue!

~Kees~

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Jcast 17/3/2024, 7:22 pm

Made steady progress the last few days, completing the dry fitting and adjusting the inletting accordingly. Rifle is assembled minus the barrel under lug. Waiting for a dovetail file to arrive to widen the opening to fit the lug.

Next up bedding the tang, trigger assembly & barrel. Definitely spend time in my thinking chair doing research everyday! Thanks for your post & welcome Kees

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Winter Hawk 23/3/2024, 1:48 pm

Good for you! I would try to file the lug rather than the barrel. Those dovetails are European and different from our normal 3/8" so you may get away with filing it to fit, but if later you need to install a new lug the dovetail may be too large....

Photos are mandatory after it is completed!

~Kees~

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Jcast 24/3/2024, 8:36 am

Kees,

Thank You. Good point on European/USA dovetail size. I made a note of that to remember. I will start a build post later today as I've made some good progress and have photos to share.

JCast

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Hanshi 24/3/2024, 11:05 am

Welcome from New England, Jcast. You have good advice from Kees and by all means take your time. About the requested photos of your build; if no photos then it didn't happen. Hello! New member - Panhandle FL 1f60e

I've never put a Traditions kit together but have owned a few of their finished rifles. I loved mine.

Re: Hello! New member - Panhandle FL · by Jcast 24/3/2024, 2:04 pm

Thank you Hanshi!! No pics, never happened! I will upload some pics tonight and start/update the build. Many lessons learned!

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