A Halfstock California Rifle

[Dave Markowitz]

Last week I was browsing Track of the Wolf's website and ran across this rifle. I've been wanting a percussion sidelock for use in local trail walks and for deer hunting during PA's early antlerless season. After mulling it over for a day I ordered it on Saturday. I paid extra for 2 day shipping to reduce the time in transit (and therefore the opportunity for foul play). It shipped on Monday and came today.

The lock is an L&R and the barrel was made by Jim Goodoien of Blaine, MN. It's my understanding that his barrels are some of the best made in recent years. The stock is Claro walnut with German silver mountings. The barrel and sights were left with a patina finish although I put some cold blue on the sights to reduce glare.

The .50 caliber barrel is 34" long with a round ball twist.

Overall, it balance nicely for offhand shooting.





The barrel keys are captured to prevent loss. The nosecap is poured pewter.



I'm planning to take off Friday to shoot it. Can't wait!


Detail of the sideplate, which looks to me like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

 

[JeffG]

Gee! Nice score! The French grey is beautiful!

 

[hawg]

James Goodoien made excellent barrels. I think he retired some 20 odd years ago and sold off his equipment. I don't know if he's still living. That is a nice rifle sho nuff.

 

[Armored farmer]

Yep
That's a dandy.

 

[.38 Special]

I am jealous!

 

[Choctaw]

That's a beautiful rifle!

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I got the following reply to my email to Track for additional information on the rifle:

The builder name was not provided with the rifle. J. Goodoien barrels were a hand lapped high grade barrel. Mr. Goodoien is now retired from barrel making, but we have shot many rifles with his barrels and they have all shot very well. There is a hand lapped choke in those barrels, so don't cut the muzzle back or you will lose that feature.​

Hot dang!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

That's a really pretty rifle. Those California style half stock rifles are nice and to get one with a Goodien barrel is even nicer.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Saw that one on Track's website. Glad it went to a good home.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

She shoots!

I took a vacation day and took the new rifle to my club even though it was raining. We have a covered firing line that kept me dry until a squall blew in for a few minutes and got me and everything wet. But before that I got the rifle zeroed at 50 yards. Windage was dead on but it was shooting 8" - 10" low. Some trial and error with a file work on the front sight got it shooting ~2" high at 50 yards, about where I like it.

If I do my part (not always guaranteed) it looks like it'll put them within 2" - 3" at 50 yards. Load development may help that. I mostly shot .490 balls patched in .020" patches cut at the muzzle, lubed with Mr. Flintlock Patch Lube and Bore Cleaner, on top of 60 grains of 3Fg Goex black powder. I used CCI No.11 caps and in about 2 dozen shots had no ignition problems.

For the last 4 or 5 shots I used 0.018" pillow ticking lubed with neatsfoot oil. I fired these at steel gongs offhand so I can't compare how the rifle shoots with the thinner patches.

I did not have to swab until after I finished shooting. The last round loaded as easily as the first. I attribute this to the Mr. Flintlock lube but also to the hand-lapped bore. Although Track's email stated that Goodoien barrels are choked I could not feel that while loading. It's possible that this barrel was originally longer and cut down at some point, removing the choke.

I have some .495 balls that I plan to try in the rifle to see how they load and shoot.

But right now I'm happy as a clam with this purchase.

 

[hawg]

With that barrel it should group a lot better. I'm betting it will do much better with .495 balls and thinner patches. You might want to try different/heavier powder charges.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Oh, I'll definitely do some load development. I think the biggest limiting factor will be how well I can shoot with the open sights on the gun.

 

[hawg]

You could swap out the rear sight for a full buckhorn. They're period correct and can be used as a ghost ring. That's what I do.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

What makes it a "California" half stock rifle? What are the characteristics for a "California" one?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

It is based on a rifle from a book about California gunsmiths of the late 19th Century.

Basically, it's a plains rifle or a mountain rifle, in the 19th Century meaning.

 

[hawg]

What makes it a "California" half stock rifle? What are the characteristics for a "California" one?

There was no California rifle per se. Most say it comes from a short barreled big bore plains rifle that was "good to take to California".

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

The funny thing is, many of the rifles that were taken to California during the gold rush had the barrels "repurposed" as crow bars for moving rocks once they got there.

 

[hawg]

The funny thing is, many of the rifles that were taken to California during the gold rush had the barrels "repurposed" as crow bars for moving rocks once they got there.

Somehow I doubt that. A rifle would be needed.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Somehow I doubt that. A rifle would be needed.

Growing up near the Gold Rush country it was a point often mentioned at the museums.
The 49ers needed tools to look for the gold once they got there.

 

[bannockburn]

Dave Markowitz

I have some .495 balls that I plan to try in the rifle to see how they load and shoot.

But right now I'm happy as a clam with this purchase.

As well you should be!

Not only is she pretty as all get out...she can cook too!

 

[hawg]

Dave Markowitz


As well you should be!

Not only is she pretty as all get out...she can cook too!

Once he gets a good load figured out she won't just be a good cook, she will be a master chef.

 

[chickasaw_hunter]

You can walk proud with that rifle Dave!

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Fantastic rifle! I live in CA. Once in a while at gun shows I will see an antique rifle that was made in Marysville, CA.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I shot it again this past Sunday, this time over at a friend's place where we can shoot in his back yard (he lives on 8 acres). 20 shots offhand at paper and steel. It's a real joy to shoot offhand, balancing nicely and the stock has just the right amount of drop.

Based on that session, I think I'm going to use 55 grains of 3Fg Goex under a .490 ball in a .020 patch at a woods walk this coming Sunday. This load gave good accuracy, loaded easily, and has light recoil.

Last week I also got extra nipples for No.11 and musket caps, and 1,000 Scheutzen musket caps. I'll try the musket caps soon; the main reason for getting them was to give me options if I run low on No. 11s but musket caps remain readily available.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Musket caps are easier to handle than those tiny #11s too.