Rifle musket barrel relining/replacement

[gjkershul]

I have been shooting a used Euroarms Enfield Musketoon for about two years now and have put about 1000 rounds through it. The bug has hit me to have it relined to compensate for wear. I note on N-SSA site Whiteacre and Hoyt seem to be the top replacement barrel vendors.

1. Does the collective wisdom of the list have views on relining v. replacement?
2. Is the list aware of any other smiths doing relining/replacement for Rifle Muskets?

 

[pohill]

There is a gunsmith in PA (I think that's where he is) and I got his name from this forum to reline a barrel for an old Belgian rifle/musket that I have. I really wish I could find his name again because I want to send the barrel to him. He said it would take 4 - 6 months and cost about $225. Not bad.
Someone will post his name here.

This might be him:
Bob Boyd at the Freischutz Shop. 717-642-6696.

 

[arcticap]

Lodgewood lists a complete Euroarms Enfield barrel with sights as a special order item for $353, but it doesn't seem to be the musketoon barrel. One must inquire to see if the musketoon barrel is also available:

http://www.lodgewood.com/enfield.htm

S&S Firearms lists some parts for the Euroarms musketoon but not the barrel. However their catalog states:

UNCATALOGED ITEMS
Please note we have listed only items that we have in sufficient quantity. We do have many “single” items and parts that are unlisted. All we ask is for a S.A.S.E. and on a separate sheet of paper a brief but specific request. We will respond to your request on items available, or will hold your request until we can supply it. All this is without obligation for you to purchase.

One must inquire:

http://www.ssfirearms.

 

[Hawkeye748]

First, If your gun was new, it should not need a re-line after only a 1000 rounds. A barrel should be good for 10,000+ rounds if it is properly taken care of. If you are having trouble with it grouping, it may be leaded up. Many a musket has been believed "shot out" when all it needed was a proper de-leading. I have several barrels that have over 10,000 rounds through them and they still shoot very well.

That being said, Euroarms barrels can be a little over sized and are frequently re-lined to make them shoot better with the standard cast minie balls rather than getting a custom over-size mould for the gun.

The best barrel makers I know of are Bobby Hoyt and Dan Whitacre. The Freischutz Shop is Bob Hoyt's shop. They do excellent work. They can do the re-line and they can do new barrels. I don't have a current number for Bob Hoyt but here is Dan's web site.

www.whitacresmachineshop.com

To de-lead a bore, I use Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner. It is also sold under CVA brands as Barrel Blaster. Good luck.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Concur with Hawkeye. One thousand rounds of minie ball should not wear out your barrel. It could be leaded or the muzzle could be worn by the steel ramrod (and thus need crowning).

 

[gjkershul]

Thanks for the input

Thanks to everyone for the input. In that my Musketoon was used I don't know how many rounds it had through it before I got it.
On reflection, my bug for a new or relined barrel is so I can see how an origanl Parker Hale mold minie will shoot.
Euroarms lists their barrels as .578 and my Parker Hale mold casts .575. A new barrel or reline at .577 should give me optimal performance.
Right now it likes a mule RCBS mine- a 500 grain RCBS mold with a modified center plug to cast a 560 projectile. Projectile diameter is .579.

 

[sharps59]

IF I remember correctly the Enfields can not be relined due to the patten breach construction. But check w/ Dan Or Bobby. I think they can put your breach plug on one of their barrels for a lower cost than a complete barrel.
my P-H was a .577 shot a .575 out of it, as it wore was able to size 576 and shoot the same groups again.

 

[Hawkeye748]

Call Dan or Bobby and they will be happy to talk with you about what is best for your Enfield. It is true Dan will take your barrel and put your Breech plug on his barrel and then taper it to drop right in to your stock for a perfect fit.

I have done this a few times with Dan and he made it fit exactly, even though I had bedded the previous barrel.

I have had an Enfield re-lined by Bobby and it worked great.

Send either your barrel. If you have a patent breech or something else prevents the re-lining, they will call and discuss it with you and give you your options.