Building a muzzleloader: Tools needed for the task

By Terril James Herbert

A 1750s pattern French Dragoon pistol in the making. It will leave a ragged 54 caliber hole in targets.  (Photo: Terril James Herbert/Guns.com)
Muzzleloaders and I have a tangled relationship. Some know me for my love of revolvers and vintage military firearms, but muzzleloaders are a first love in many ways. As with many loves, it’s complicated. When I was fourteen, I built my very first rifle — from an unassembled parts kit — with the help of my mother. We did some wood inlaying, staining of the wood, and finishing of the metal parts together. I have built quite a few muzzleloaders over the years—mostly from scratch and every time I see a well-made front stuffer, a fire lights in my belly—in a good way.  That first build, done mostly in the open out of the back of a truck, will always be with me.
As time went on, it became apparent I wasn’t alone in my interest. Some want a good project for those short, winter weekends. Others, like me as I started out, wanted an effective shooting iron without spending a lot of money. While you can build a muzzleloader—whether a shotgun, rifle, or pistol—with relatively little coin there

Source: Guns.com