We made everything for a gun

One of our most satisfying projects to date: we made everything for a gun... the powder, the bullets, the ignition "flint", even the greased patches.
We started by completing a flintlock muzzleloader kit and then melted and poured .50cal lead balls, made black powder from our own charcoal, used homemade lard to grease our cotton patches and cut agate as the igniter in the flint lock.
Julia's Leather work: www.gridlessness.com/
And IG: / gridlessness
Make your own powder? Bullets? guns?? Let us know, leave a comment, subscribe and join the adventure!

[@CarlGeers]

I love that your kids are all calm and collected and you're the spaz dad squealing like a little girl with excitement! Super fun video.

[@proudwhitesettler7746]

I got a kick out of that too.

[@alanparadis5061]

I love how she was the voice of reason hahaha

[@flmason]

That's because this was probably, really, Dad's project, not her idea...

[@Wincestia]

yebhamoth 11b. "sexual intercorse with a gentile child is permitted under the age of 3 years. -jewish talmud.

[@sonofeloah]

@@Wincestia: But true Hebrews abide in the Torah, NOT the talmud. I am a b'nai Y'sra'el of the tribe of Dan and we abide in the Torah and look upon the talmud as theology. But, here is the truth as what you posted is fiction: "Yebhamoth 11b: "Sexual relations with a girl are allowed if the girl is 3 years old.” Fiction. There is no such thing in the treatise Yevamot. A young girl can only be assigned as a wife to one of the Jews; non-Jews are not mentioned there at all." In ancient times, the daughters were "promised" if an agreement is made with the family of a boy as it is then an "arranged" marriage/betrothal. And as there =was no such form of "marriage license", the act of intercourse was done between the two when they were of age and then they come out to announce their union as husband and wife and then the marriage feast begins. But, it seems that many anti semitic types love to pull up these falsehoods of what is attributed to being "jewish" to slander and belittle the Hebrew people. In other words, pure racial hatred/racism built on lies, just like nazi germany who said we made our Passover unleavened bread using the powdered bones of non jewish children.

[@dhlwood]

This world needs more dads like you and more kids like her great job mom and dad

[@ronaldjewell5426]

Yeah probably why he lives in the sticks!!! To protect his family!! It's more civilized there!!

[@d.g.n9392]

Thank you for sharing this. That’s some great work you’ve done. I’m 68, and in 1966 my dad made me a Kentucky rifle. He bought some parts from Dixie Gun Works, and use an original lock and trigger set from an older piece salvaged. It was a 40 caliber cap and ball. I was 11 years old then. We shot many muzzle loaders, he made 3 total. At the time he sent a photograph of him giving me the rifle to the magazine muzzle blasts. They featured our picture with a caption of the birthday present. We had a friend who was a machinist who helped with a couple things, mountings and drilling. I still have the rifle.

[@turkidaws7182]

wow .. 💪👍

[@andycalcutt2177]

That's a great story, thanks for sharing.

[@timoakley1923]

Time spent with your Dad, priceless. 50 yr.s later and you still remember.

[@ronaldjewell5426]

Too Kool!! My grandfather & stepdad started me out. At the same age! The next year my step dad taught me how to reload ammo! Still hunt shoot and reload!!

[@davepoidvin2364]

Use a flash-hoe pick while putting powder in the pan, that clears the way for the flash to reach the main charge. Once you set the frizzen down, tilt the rifle slughtly to the right, tap the rifle to settle the powder in the pan to the opposite side of the flash-hole. Upon ignition the flash will go left through the clear passage and posdibly decrease your ignition time, the lag time between trigger pull and the rifle firing. God luck and congrats. Dave & The Girls

[@stevenfairless4931]

I made a pick .. put a little handle in a guitar bass string, just flexible enough to turn corners, with some abrasiveness from the wound wire.

[@steelyankee]

That tip should reduce your hang time on the ignition of the main load. Good tip. 👍

[@Timberhunter]

Get your lead to about 750 degrees. Grab a hammer handle for hitting the sprue plate and tapping the mold so the balls fall out. Keep casting as quickly as you can to get the mold very hot. This will throw a smoother more consistant ball. And DO NOT HAVE WATER AROUND MOLTEN LEAD. Molten lead explodes when it hits water. Good job on the flinter.

[@Gridlessness]

Great advice, thanks!

[@Timberhunter]

I am just down in 100 mile. Next time you are passing through give me a shout. I have 3 flinters and we can go do a bit of shooting. Also show you a commercial bullet casting set up.

[@deano.7533]

@@Timberhunter- I'm not sure if the YT program will send your reply to their inbox. Content creator channels will see your original comment and they may or may not reply to that comment. But I'm fairly certain that your response to their reply is only posted in the comment section to cut down on notification traffic. So long story short I think your invitation to do a bit of shooting with them should be resent in it's own stand alone comment. That way you can be certain that Jeff will see it. Take care. sincerely, Dean O. :-I

[@MrMuDD01]

@@deano.7533 Ya they need to reply directly to their comments to make sure they see it by tapping the 3 dots to the side of Gridlessness comment or like you said a complete new comment.

[@MrMuDD01]

Tap the 3 dots to the side of the Gridlessness comment and tap reply and repeat your message so they are tagged and will see it for sure

[@HiddenBlessingsHomestead]

That was awesome. We were actually looking at the kit at Cabela's recently. My favourite part of homeschooling is being able to do awesome projects like this together as a family. Way to go! It's so nice to see more families raising children that will actually know how to survive.

[@benfromalbuquerque6083]

Cabela’s is alright. They’re always there and have most of the stuff, just like Applebees. But when you want to go far down this rabbit hole and really geek out- Dixie Gun, trackofthewolf has everything.

[@HiddenBlessingsHomestead]

@@benfromalbuquerque6083 Thanks something to keep in mind.

[@michaelprue9024]

I have been a hunter my entire life. I’m in my mid 50s right now, but my point is, I’ve never built my own weapon. I think this is so cool, that you did this with your daughters. Watching this video, I was actually excited for you all. Great job. Obviously there’s a learning curve involved, but I think that rifle actually has the ability to feed you guys. Makes me want to build one myself.

[@alanparadis5061]

You sir, deserve the father of the year award!! Bravo to you and the girls! VERY COOL! Muzzleloading rocks! And your keeping a great tradition alive! 👍 👏

[@mvtorigian4364]

Father of the year indeed, I second the nomination. Moral fiber, self reliant, confidence, safety minded young people. You and your wife have ever right to be proud of your girls and pleased with yourselves.

[@dwade2026]

Jeff more excited than a little girl 🤣

[@chrisharris5694]

Even though it’s called a cold blue, if you heat it with a heat gun after you’ve cleaned it up, the blue will cure better and last forever. Also, your front sight is backwards. Other than that well done! I love watching people learn about firearms and black powder firearms.

[@Gridlessness]

That's Hilarious! Julia and I argued about which way to put it....... I take the blame:(

[@lcampbe7]

I was thinking hrmmm that just looks wrong... Makes complete sense now 🤣🤣🤣

[@johne5493]

@@Gridlessness Was going to point out the front sight till I saw this comment. Keep up making more. I have a LARGE collection of single shot pistols to go with my percussion rifles and a handful of ball and cap revolvers. Once you start making them you get hooked on wanting to make more.

[@Lardbeane]

@@johne5493 I made a percussion pistol from traditions. Safe to say it got a little addicting and my kentucky rifle stock is drying and I just blued the barrel... I am gonna put it together tomorrow when the stock finish dries. If I had more money I can definitely say I would have genuine boatloads of blackpowder guns.

[@robertrobert7924]

Love the learning curve. Learn from your mistakes like I did 50 years ago. I have made percussion pistols, flintlock and percussion rifles, powder horns, brass, bone and antler powder measures, buckskin clothes, and leather shooting bags. It is a lot of fun and great as Winter projects in the cabin. Keep up the good work and be safe.

[@seantilson6330]

It warms my heart to see someone teaching their kid's the right way.!!! Not Drag Queen storytime.!!! Teachers have fallen of these days.!!! GOD bless you and yours.!!!! 💯💪🇺🇲🙏🏻

[@edwarnock9884]

Lol! I really enjoyed watching this. Nice to see your excitement, by the way it is not called a purse! It is a "possibles bag!" The name was for "everything you could possibly need for you rifle." That usually meant "turnscrews" (screwdrivers to fit the screw slots of your rifle), a "ball worm" to retract balls from the bore if needed, vent pick to clean out the vent hole in the pan as they plug up with burnt powder residue, and cleaning supplies (usually a jag, bore brush and a bore mop to fit on a threaded ram rod.) along with a container of light oil for lubrication and to put on a patch and run down the bore to keep it from rusting. (You will want to run clean patches down the bore to remove the oil before loading the rifle.) If the bag is made to fit on a belt, then it is a "belt bag." Now she needs a cool looking powder horn! So, she can pack along more powder and look like a real mountaineer while doing it. I have built locks, using mild steel and case hardened them myself using bone meal packed around the parts in a metal can then heated red hot, then quenched in boiling water. Unfortunately, my lock springs broke as they were too hard and did not last. Probably need a better control of the heat treating or use a different tool steel.

[@pumptruckjim]

Great video guys. The Bullitt purse is called a " Possible Bag " It carries anything you could possibly need for the gun. Please wait a good minute or two before reloading the pan after a misfire. The main charge could still go off after a long delay. Now you also know where the old saying " Just a flash in the pan " comes from.

[@krickette5569]

GREAT TIP!

[@annwithaplan9766]

Good tip. I thought the flash in the pan came from gold panning.

[@howler6490]

PossibleS bag...the S is important...

[@maxpinson5002]

Actually, possibles bag is for other necessities. A shooting bag is for your immediate shooting necessities such as patching, caps, ball, flints if appropriate, etc. You really shouldn't put non shooting related items in your shooting bag as a practice. When you're digging in your shooting bag for the stuff for a reload, you should be able to identify everything by feel and not have to stir through a bunch of random goods to get your firearm back ready to shoot again. Your other stuff that is for maintenance and food items and all that goes in your possibles bag or haversack or whatever you want to call it. You should never clutter up your shooting bag with anything that does not make a firearm ready to make a shot

[@boomstick4054]

I think I’ll try a kit blackpowder pistol, single shot. Surely I can do better than the wood & metal finishes that I’ve seen on used kit guns for sale at yard sales & flea markets.

[@frugalsurvival.]

Learning as many skills as possible is important today. This father is creating wealth among his children. These girls are going to be hearth throbs when they start dating, and they will be able to protect themselves as well. Great job .

[@hinduwarrior123]

Absolutely astounding, to see a loving Dad teach his child, with so much fun and happiness! We have loads of these beautiful muzzle loaders where I come from! Lots of love and good wishes from the Indian Himalayas ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Well-groomed_Hobo]

Something I learned from the foxfire books is to dissolve steel wool in muriatic acid, paint it on the stock, then heat the stock. It turns it a deep red color. Also, grapevine charcoal is pretty good for making black powder, and use a more beveled flint. Knapping the flint will give you a good bevel, but it takes more practice

[@leekinder1016]

I was raised in Wyoming and spent a goodly many years doing Mountain Man Re-enactments (Rendezvous) and blackpowder rifles (percussion/flintlock) rifle shoots were a staple of each event as were tomahawk throwing. I shot mostly percussion but that requires buying caps whereas flintlock doesn't require such. Flintlock will have a milliseconds of delay before ignition of the barrel powder where percussion is bit more expedient. Either way, you all have done awesome with your build from kit to shooting and it's (excuse the pun) a blast!!! The girls can make there own powder horns from cow horns, powder measures from antlers or wood, and a slew of other accoutrements to go with your rifle. For patches, we would often use 1" strips of cotton pillow ticking and rather than waxing, we'd simply tear off a piece, soak it with spit (yes, saliva) and place over barrel with ball. It works and you don't ordinarily end up with wax in your rifling (grooves/lands) that way. Blackpowder as you know is corrosive so make sure to have a bore jag, lots of cotton squares and good ole soapy water to clean up when you're ready to put your rifle away. It's a tremendous amount of fun and you can use it for harvesting game, friendly competition among other shooters, or in a pinch protect a homestead. As you probably already know now, shooting sports is incredibly addictive and now you've discovered another realm of it. IPSC, SASS, re-enactments...SO, many fun things to do! Cheers from Alaska.

[@SilvaDreams]

Bluing the steel doesn't really protect the steel from rusting, it is in fact a controlled type of oxidation that creates a black oxide instead of the red one we normally see in rusting iron and steel. You still need to oil the barrel to keep it from rusting. As for the black powder, treat it like you are making dough, slowly add the water and work it till you get the right consistency. You can always add more liquids you can't remove them.

[@harlech2]

Not only is your daughter going to break the hearts of boys all over the world when she gets older, she is going to have more skills and world experience than them too! Simply awesome!

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Creepy dude

[@edwardcullen606]

In the middle 70's I spent about a half of a monthly pay check for a CVA 50 caliber Hawkin rifle kit and spent a lot of evenings making it into the most loved gun I ever had. An old friend taught me a lot about casting bullets for it, we had a lot of fun. Now I can watch your film.

[@krickette5569]

Carrying 'balls' around in a purse ..... could be a real 'cute' advertisement. 😁 Congrats on building and using your own gun. In the current culture that could come in Handy!

[@CplSkiUSMC]

Use some paraffin wax on your molten lead to clean it. It will bring the impurities to the surface. And I'd get some linseed oil on that stock, that will really bring out the grain and protect the wood. That flintlock might be the only gun that King Trudeau plans to allow you to have so it's a good thing you have one. You might not be able to get even that by next year.

[@frederickmoller]

Didn't you mean Dictator Turdeau?

[@CplSkiUSMC]

@@frederickmoller Two words... regime change.

[@GunnerAsch1]

@@frederickmoller That should be Fidel Turdeau.

[@kevinfilbin7688]

TruDue is not a real boy, he's made of wood and has strings tied to his arms and legs. His mouth moves but the words come from his puppet masters.

[@MeYou-yz2yz]

@@GunnerAsch1 Yeah Comrade Castreau. He belongs in Guantanamo.

[@kycornbread6990]

Everything I think of as no big deal, you take joy in each step and your joy is infectious. Great job

[@diktatoralexander88]

reminds me of first doing this stuff with my dad. i remember when he was holding one of the 1860s and he literally said "where has this been all my life?"

[@lancewhalen3493]

I am so late to this party but! I am so glad you are teaching your daughter how to do some amazing things! Fantastic job being the men all our daughters need us to be! Great video!

[@georgesinclair1393]

Great project for her

[@bubbakemp5817]

Outstanding! I don't think you all know how much motivation you all give and share with everyone! You guys are so AWESOME! Thank you for all that you do! God bless you all!

[@jorgequinones991]

Jeff is everything giving instructions and does nothing of work. Over sleeping and over eating,This is why he is so obese and talks of lot of shit. with he's silly laugh you could see he a has child mind. Playing with gunpowder bombs, when a man does that at 10 years old. His older daughter learned that she will not marry a fat man who speak a lot shit like her dad.

[@ktrain6724]

Really great family that does things together. Great family time and skills are needed these days. I'm tuned in and loving it! Thanks...!

[@patrickkelly7838]

I have been shooting for 65 years and still my favorite thing is watching someone just starting out. Good job

[@stanwessler3623]

Your flint should be sharp with a beveled edge. Wiping the bore between shots helps you shoot longer and maintain better accuracy. After you load the main charge clear the touch hole. Put the priming powder to the right side of the pan. That way it will flash into the touch hole and give you the fastest ignition. I've been shooting black powder for about 50 years now finally learnt a little bit. Good luck to yall. I really enjoy your videos and I reckon I've seed em all. Take care and may God bless you.

[@stewartbishop5023]

Agree with charging the pan to the right. I use the finest powder for priming also. The front sight might be better if it were flipped around for a vertical aiming point.

[@rjoetting7594]

Instead of running a cleaning after you shoot, just seat the next patch and ball with the cleaning jag with a cleaning patch over it. I have observed this in target competitions,so I tried it myself, and you can pretty much shoot indefinitely. Eventually, there will be a build-up where the powder and ball sit, but that can be taken care of at the end of the day of shooting. Shoot safe and have fun, God bless.

[@davidscott8400]

Good day my favorite family, right down my line for deer hunting next weekend here in Vermont

[@Gridlessness]

Good luck!

[@gavintrousdale7585]

One safety tip that I am not sure you folks practiced (could not see clearly because of the camara angle) when you are loading your gun is to position the gun so the side of the barrel with sights, the top of the barrel is facining your body . That positions the muzzle so it is not pointed towards your head. you are not standing over the muzzle.If you have just fired and pour another powder charge down the barrel, and there is a smoldering ember in the barrel that ignites you fresh charge you only have to cleaned up your clothes ,and not be tasked with putting your face back together. Enjoyed your video. I have builded four of theses wonderful guns. you are making me want to go for the fifth.

[@russellkeeling4387]

If you bake corn starch for a few hours at a low oven temp. until it turns golden it becomes dextrin which may be added at about 5% to make the granulated powder harder and less crushable. It makes the powder faster. Add the dextrin for about the last hour of tumbling.

[@stickfighter1038]

These type kits have been around since at least the early 80s. Neat little project to learn explore the fundamentals of firearms and create something truly special.

[@brianengel1392]

The front site is on backwards and when preparing the molten lead it helps to drop a small piece of candle or bees wax in the lead. It will burn and show all the slag (trash in the lead). Then scoop out the slag for a more pure bullet.

[@janicewessel9603]

I was wondering if anyone else seen the front sight is on backwards

[@ChacoteOutdoorRecreation]

Brian you just taught me something, Thank you!

[@maxpinson5002]

Beat me to it, but as long as everybody else noticed. Easy and quick enough to correct

[@NewEngland462]

As long as u hitting target it don’t matter lol

[@mimicocto8]

Great video! Love that your daughter was there all the way thru the process and did most of the work. Well done dad! Would love it if you'd post something when you harvest something with her smoke pole.

[@davidmerkel1874]

Another great experience with the girls,things they will never forget

[@stevenmanheim3070]

Great job! If you can't buy 'em.... build 'em!!

[@mikes9759]

Glad to see kids growing up like I did with my buddies and learning how to do stuff and become a responsible person!! So much good to do in the world we need to go back to! Thank you for a great video!!!!

[@lesthompson5907]

I like English flint But I'm from England. So what di i think well you did very well i last shot a Muzzleloader back in 72. It was one i perches at a markit sail. for 5 pound's a flint lock. The seller thought it an Anticky & did not work. it was up for sail for five quid as it has an brass oxygen barrel. I built a new stock for it & used it for a long time. it has a smooth bore so it could be used for shot or round ball i rifles the last 7 " & used conical in it very accurate was 35 round or conical making it a 410, shot . often i had rabbit. for super

[@michaelrehberg5198]

Great video, a simple thing to remember. Lean the rifle slightly so the pan is up and then tap the opposite side away from the pan with the palm or edge of your fist. This will help move the priming powder into the chamber.

[@Gridlessness]

Ok, thanks

[@dustyak79]

Shouldn't have to do that, contrary to what some believe the trail of powder in the touch hole actually has a fuse effect giving more a delay than the explosive fireball entering the pan giving a quicker ignition. Sure if you are dealing with troublesome powder (or substitute BP) as I suspect was the case here it will at least make it go bang.

[@ukaszdziadek9053]

@@dustyak79 100% true based on my flintlock experience. Keep the powder on the pan away from the touchhole and pour just enough to have it ignite reliably. Physics will do the rest and there will be no waiting time between pulling the trigger and bullet leaving the barrel (well, there will be but you won't be able to notice). After a few shots wipe the hammer and the agate - residue from previous shots might impair the sparks. Also it's worth to grab a needle or a feather and clean the touchhole after you load the main charge, before putting powder on the pan.

[@clintondouble7633]

Great video #1 rule is that black power explodes it does NOT burn, so words fuse effect or burn do NOT apply to a flintlock. So you want the explosion as close to touch hole as possible, turn the lock to the sky and tap this will cover touch hole with fine powder, the resulting explosion will ignite the main charge. this works so good that I don't even carry a vent pick anymore. After all would you stand close to an explosion or a block away? I have been building flintlocks for 60 yrs but I have never made my own black power, one upped by a little girl at 69, yup you read correct I built a BP pistol at 9 yrs old . Black powder now runs through your veins this is a hole you can't climb out of but do you want to??

[@rmd9032]

Priming hole should be clear of powder. it will slow ignition if it's not

[@davidtrammell4453]

Jeff; your spirit is contagious ! Your girls are amazing. Awesome job Julia

[@ChacoteOutdoorRecreation]

I am so proud of you, and the joy you will have over the years, a few baby tips, the front sight is on backwards and you need a piece of leather to hold that flint in the jaws, if you wet your powder out of the mill with 50/50 alcohol and water then you can wring it of excess moisture in a bandanna let it dry then screen it. splurge and get a dark black English flint and learn to knap it. But you know what you did it!!! I learned powder making from Hoffman Reproductions on the you tube and it has been a ton of fun. Also if you get good with a flintlock and overcome the flinch factor while maintaining sight picture and sight alignment, when you get on a cartridge rifle you will find your marksmanship has increased ten fold. I am going to take a look at that possible bag!

[@Real11BangBang]

I'v often stated that a flintlock musket is probably one of the best prepping tools out there you can literally make everything for it including your potassium nitrate and charcoal the only thing you really have to buy is sulfur

[@NarnianRailway]

From Julia's "Kid Caliber" video to gunsmith - awesome to see the many steps involved, all the girl's craftsmanship and Jeff's excitement. Great job young Ladies!!!

[@timothyhines7845]

Learned how to make blackpowder in high-school. Have made my own ever since. For those of us who live places other than a permanent refrigerator and have a lumber store nearby, you can usually get the shims from the lumber units for free. Well both of the stores here locally just throw them away. The lumber type depends on the unit of coarse, but they make for EASY charcoal as they are already 3/16 strips. The other ingredients are also readily available lawn care products so for around $20 you can make 3-4 pounds of blackpowder.

[@matthewcharles5867]

Cut agate works well but you need a sharp bevel on it not a square edge. With the pan it's a good idea to use a small pick to clear the touchole and don't need as much powder as u were priming with. With your flintlock property set up it will be as quick as a modern rifle. The pan where the flint strikes will sometimes need wiping with a dry cloth. Well done. You can also prime with the same powder as you shoot if you want. The larger 2f powder will work very well in larger guns like muskets and shotguns. New subscriber from Australia ( have hunted 🐫 here with muskets quite a challenge)

[@leonhart2452]

I don't do black powder, but I have been casting bullets and fishing weights since the 70's. I cast bullets for most of my firearms. Casting is a skill that is learned. The science behind it is not hard to undrstand. Putting it into action can be tougher. When I started out finding good sources of lead for casting was easy. Nowdays it is harder and much more costly. For muzzle loaders needs to be pure lead. For other firearms you need to use alloys containing tin and antimony. These additives make the bullet harder so it can handle the higher pressure from smokeless reloading powders and improve terminal ballistics. Good for you to learn how to do as you have done. This makes you even more self sufficient. You don't have to depend on others for what you need to provide for your family.

[@MusicOnTheBoat]

it's always great to see you :) you are a real family .... also for me .... on a lonely Saturday night . many thanks and keep up 🤩🤩🥰

[@Busted-Buzzard]

Great video thank you from Colorado 👍

[@Gridlessness]

Thanks!

[@alvinwoods639]

This video was OUTSTANDING!! You should be so proud of your daughters. I love how you bring Science, History and Family fun all together in a very practical experience that your children will remember and pass on to the next generation. I can't help but think about the history of North America 250 years ago when the flintlock rifle was an essential tool to protect and feed families in the early frontier. This is why I'm such a true believer in your channel..

[@danlovett3697]

Great video folks ,,,Nice to have the kids involved in the whole process ....a great learning experience for everyone .....!!! And fun to boot !!!

[@RigiLiquid945]

Very cool! I handload for my 45 Colt revolver, and have also made hunting rounds for my rifles, but never had experience with black powder, or muzzle loaders.

[@lcampbe7]

Always keep broadening your knowledge... Its better to be a mile wide and an inch deep than a mile deep and an inch wide. Well done pops, perfect example for your family.

[@tomrehmann1531]

Think y'all did a fine job and the gun looks great but the leather work is awesome great job .

[@scottmattoon9054]

How cool. Three girls! Im a dad with three also... I wish they had been into these things growing up... Be proud as I know you are. Beautiful family👌

[@adventureswithducky4088]

Great video! that ammo purse is called a possibles bag. It'll carry everything you possibly need for the gun including powder, balls, patches, a starter rod, knife, cleaning tools, and a nipple, or touch hole pick. With the flintlock you might carry extra flints or even a napping tool. Typically you might fire off a pan full before loading to clear the vent hole of any possible grease or oils from cleaning. If you just put a wee bit of flash powder to the outside of the pan you might find it touches off better. Normally I carry a piece of "ticking" cloth and cut the patches by starting the ball and using the end of the barrel as the gauge. Also ..... wetting the patch with spit is generally sufficient. Ballistol is the cleaner of choice for all black powder!

[@kb6lcw99]

Julia: I am so impressed with your craftsmanship! You should add this to the things you will make for others. Such a great job!

[@dakansa]

A happy father! Thanks for this great presentation!

[@dougcampbell740]

Great video! You guys completely rock. It's always fun to watch you do something as a team and teach us as you learn it yourselves Love your channel!

[@chrisdore6387]

Fantastic video, as always. Thank you for all your effort and time that you invest in making these videos. All the best from Australia.

[@bent8024]

That was awesome to watch, nice work. Makes you appreciate what was used then compared to now and everything that goes into its construction. And very nice craftsmanship Julia 👍🏻

[@milododds1]

Wow what an amazing family project! During a hunting trip when I was maybe 13 years old, one of my dad's friends who was a mountain man let me shoot his .50 cal muzzleloader. Still to this day the coolest rifle I've ever shot. The fact that you all put the kit together, molded the lead shot, fashioned the flint, and made your own gunpowder must feel really rewarding. How many kids let alone adults can say they can do such a thing, very few. I am certain this will empower your daughters to know they can do just about anything if they set their minds to it. There's only so much you can get out of books and watching videos. It's the hands on projects that really make a difference, that's the experience part that's lacking in our schools. We did lots of dangerous things in both grade school and high school, literally things that could have easily killed us but we were also taught how not to die while arc welding, or working with the forge or dealing with all types of high powered tools and cutting devices. I just don't see that being taught in many suburban or urban schools these days.

[@014eagle]

The joy this man had through the whole process, man that’s what I’m talking about. I would have been just giddy with you good sir! Fantastic and fun video!

[@richardgunick]

So awesome that you can spend this quality time with your girls. Love your projects. I have been dreaming about building a long rifle flintlock for a long time. You guys rock, hope we can meet you guys sometime.

[@RichardCranium321]

that's what was referred to as a "Lock, Stock, & Barrel" kit... very fun to watch

[@pelonehedd7631]

Most old time guns used by early Americans were Browned. The outer metal surface is allowed to rust and that surface then treated with linseed oil. Military arms were kept “ white” or bright by constant removal of light rust and wiping with a oily rag. Tampions / plugs kept water out of barrels until ready to be fired. These inexpensive kit guns are excellent for new enthusiasts and offer a lot in creativity as they can be customized to look more authentic than their original gaudy and funky look. The old CVA Mountain Rifle and Thompson Center Hawkin Rifles are closer to the true appearance as far as out of the box affordable guns go. Dixie Gun Works offered many fine Guns and accessories . Their Catalogue is really a must for any buck skinner and re enactor

[@thecooky7744]

You must be proud of your girls they're so talented and smart you seem to be doing a good job raising well rounded young people 🙂

[@ericmonahan6580]

I built my first flintlock kit 25 years ago. Yours looks much nicer. Good job. Now I feel the need to refinish mine.

[@fredford7642]

You are very fortunate to have such a willing assistant. Great work on that little rifle! And what an great accomplishment, making rifle, ball, flint and powder, all from scratch. My compliments. One lone tip, never bump or bang your bullet mold, if it gets misaligned, bullets will be malformed. You guys did GREAT!

[@tormauseth6022]

If you varm the barrel with boiling vater, dry it and add oil on the barrel when it is still hot, the surface vill be moore resitant again rust. Do this after adding the bluening. After bluening the barrel, it is important to clean of some chemikals from the surface.

[@gunner49er]

Watching this family work together is a heartwarming video

[@hahaha9076]

You said it, "what can't we do"? I feel like that often because I keep trying new things I haven't accomplished before. Good for you guy's gal's 👏

[@cglenncowdell2408]

your girls ROCK and are very talented.

[@DeathpunchTactics]

GREAT Job guys! Just fun to watch you having fun! 😊

[@cjod33]

Awesome, absolutely awesome. I was lucky enough to do the same with My uncle in the late eighties . Still got the .45 smoky pole that we made together. My uncle has passed on now but he still lives on in the knowledge that I've passed down to my kids.

[@nickolascrego5716]

You guys are awesome. Great job.

[@brentarmstrong6202]

Think it is great to see a dad do things like this with his kids.so Much of this stuff is is being forgotten about not to mention the work ethic and pride the kids will learn from a job well done.great job dad and great kids

[@JamesCouch777]

I love everything black powder! Black powder hunting season is my favorite! Y'all are awesome as always 👍🤠

[@JonathonSisson]

This is a great video. Y'alls enthusiasm is infectious. Makes me want to go buy a kit and have some fun, too.

[@christiandore7518]

Is absolutely awesome seeing you working with your daughters to do something like this. I've built a couple guns myself, have to say your front site blade is on backwards. Also it looks like you could use about twice as much in your flashpan of your FFFF/FFFFF powder. Your main charge in the gun can be quite a bit more FFF 50 to 75 grs., have shot as much as 150 grains in a 54 caliber, 30 grs. in a 44 cal. revolver. When casting your lead drop small piece or two of beeswax on top of the lead and slowly mix it in and then scrape off crud from the top of the lead will help when pouring into your mold. I'm not an expert 61 years old been around guns all my life, 85 guns or so total 8 of which is black powder in my collection.

[@oldschooljack3479]

Congratulations on entering the world of muzzleloading. And double 👍👍 for starting with a flintlock. Just an idea for a future homestead DIY video... make a powderhorn. A few pointers... • I have some misgivings with the little brass pan primers... Especially using one to reprime the pan after a misfire. Had the gun actually decided to fire while you had the pan primer in the pan... Kiss your hand goodbye. I have always put my thumb over the end of the spout, turned it upside down and pumped the spout a few times... then dump the prime in the pan. I try to avoid touching the pan with the spout and minimizing the amount of time the primer flask is in the vicinity of the flash hole. And for the love of God... Don't wear it around your neck on a thong. Store it in the pouch. •Your whoosh-boom ignition is a sign that your using too much prime or perhaps the touch hole is clogged... Probably too much prime. The pan should only be 1/3 to 1/2 full and (I know this sounds counterintuitive) it shouldn't cover the touch hole. • Front sight is installed backwards. Not a huge issue. It's also made so that it can be filed down to adjust for elevation at a given distance. • The old "rule of thumb" for a starting load is 1 grain of powder for caliber. So 50 grain starting load for .50 caliber. Work up in 5 grain increments to find a load that groups well. You will likely find that the rifle performs best around 65 to 75 grains... This will depend on how "hot" your powder is compared to commercial offerings. • I realize that the DIY aspect is a big part of your channel... However, consider purchasing a few boxes of different sized balls... .485, .490, .495, etc... And some different thicknesses of patches. Experiment and see what combo works the best and then order a ball mold that matches your best performer. If the .490 ball works best then you can melt down the leftover .485 and .495 balls and recast them to your preferred size. • I congratulate you on getting your homemade agate flints to spark. I myself have not had much luck in that dept. Tom Fuller's English flints from Track of the Wolf are hard to beat... But they are over $2 each. But you can buy a dozen for the price of 10. Just a thought if you get tired of making your own flints. Have fun!

[@fiona8452]

That was so cool ✌🏼💚 Great video ❤

[@ZachTharp-xp7zw]

You guys have so much fun! I enjoy watching you. I like that your teaching your girls all these amazing skills. Your all awesome! Love the purse, too.

[@dlmsarge8329]

Fantastic fun!!! Love all your videos but this one was extra great!

[@darthgbc363]

This was absolutely beautiful. Be proud of what you all are doing. Now I hope Julia comes up with some artwork & wood burns or carves it or her signature into that gunstock. Along with the date. Then seal it, cause it looks like you only stained it. Seriously, be proud.

[@paulnelson3999]

Trial and error you’ll get it dialed in. Don’t cover your flash hole, it causes a fuse affect and you get a hang fire. Put the powder under the flash hole so that the hot gasses will ignite the main charge for faster ignition.

[@lawrymccarthy3292]

When I was much younger I made a muzzle loader from scrap steel and wood in my Dad's workshop, not a flint lock but a cap lock. I designed and built the action and trigger system. I had been making gunpowder since I was 5 years old. I made my own projectiles from cast lead. We regularly went rabbit hunting, a major pest problem here. The first time I shot a rabbit with that muzzle loader, using only what I had made, it was a great feeling; just knowing I could survive if civilization was taken away.

[@billwessels207]

I enjoyed your video very much. One proud Papa, for certain. Before casting any balls, float the mold on top of the lead to preheat the mold to the same temperature. Smoke the mold ball holes with wooden matches or with a candle flame to prevent the balls sticking to the mold.

[@genedavis759]

Willow charcoal makes best charcoal for black powder.

[@stevencunningham4680]

Great job guys , I hope y'all take the tips we give they'll help you in the long run. The barrel looks like it could use another bluing it showed some light spots around the muzzle. After bluing rinse with cold water really good and don't be afraid to rub the barrel as you rinse it. Also be sure to oil all blued parts. The black powder turned out great , I've been making my own for years. Y'all did a great overall job for your first time.

[@lindseyzacek5211]

Wow totally impressed.. you buy a gun to build it and put it together to know how to fix it use it and maintain it.. that's just great when anything happens to my gun I cry like a baby.

[@maddog45auto66]

That's awesome. Love your videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@AgOG47]

Great video. Really cool all the things your family learns. I approve. 👍👍👋

[@peterbautista3410]

That is awesome 👍👍👍👏👏👏❤❤❤

[@tseals5248]

Good build, that's real quality time with the kids. Better than a video game any day. Enjoyed the build, and watching the smiles. God bless all of you. Tennessee Hillbilly, Out.

[@cayminlast]

Very cool indeed. Looks like so much fun, dad was getting more excited than anyone else, priceless.

[@kavijackson868]

NICE!!!

[@kevinbond2521]

I wonder if his comment about 'Eastern Red Walnut' is the Manchurian Walnut or if it was a joke. Manchurian Walnut is the only Walnut tree, that I know of, that has a reddish-brown wood color.

[@rickrife9636]

Loving your daughter. She reminds me of my girls. So enthused to get it done. This was a great video. My girls are now 52, 45 and the twins are 32. Enjoy her time they grow fast. God bless.

[@hobbydadakan]

What an amazing team, nice results guys, it's my first time to see how to make black powder. 👍👍👍

[@russellkeeling4387]

Good job. My homemade powder is not as dense as Goex so it takes about 25% more to match factory powder. In my .50 caliber I use 120 grains of powder.