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Offline BigMuddy

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Austin and Hallek?
« on: January 25, 2012, 08:31:18 AM »
I have an Austin and Hallek Mountain rifle that I bought several years ago at an NRA auction. It is a 50 caliber flint lock and has a fast twist (1 in 28") barrel. It is a beautiful gun and I have shot it a few times, but found that I would have a lot to learn before I can shoot a "flint".

I see the company is no longer in business. Can anyone give me any information at all on this gun? I thought at one time I would like to change it to a cap lock, but guess that is not an option? It would look great hanging over my mantle, if I had a mantle. ;D Any info (quality, where to find parts, etc.) on this gun would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Dan
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Offline Semisane

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2012, 03:04:23 PM »
Aw BigMuddy, it's a sin to convert a nice flinter to caplock.   The learning curve for flintlocks isn't that bad.  But if you weren't hooked on flint after shooting it a few times maybe flint isn't for you.  Were you stumbling along alone, or did you have someone familiar with flintlocks to guide you?  What didn't you like about it?  Were you able to shoot a half dozen shots in a row with no ignition problems?
Anyway, you should have no problem swapping it for a caplock of equal value.
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Offline BigMuddy

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2012, 03:11:49 PM »
Semisane,

I was shooting it by myself (thankfully). It went off most of the time, but there is a delay. I found that a buddy of mine was correct when he warned me "that explosion going off next to your head is damned disturbing". ;D

I was shooting some heavy lyman bullets and Goex powder. I am thinking I have enough bad habits without putting the time in to learn to shoot this one. I think it has been a few years since I tried it.

It looks good in my gun cabinet though!

Dan
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Offline Semisane

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2012, 04:27:58 PM »
Explosion next to your face?  Is that so?  Are you sure?  I haven't noticed such a thing with either of my two flinters.   ;) 
 
Seriously, when concentrating on that front sight I hardly notice the pan flash.   With a good flint and the right amount of GOEX FFFg in the pan ignition should be as fast as a caplock.  It takes a little experimentation to figure out how much your particular gun likes best.
 
A gun like that sitting unused in the cabinet is a sad thing indeed.   :'(     You ought to send it to me for a little love.   ;D
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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2012, 04:46:18 AM »
Too much powder in the pan will cause slow ignition.  You might also want to take a drill bit which fits the touch hole and make sure it is clear - just twirl it with your fingers, not in a drill.  Check on Track of the Wolf's website for touch hole liners if need be.

Flintlocks are fun to play with, then they become addictive and finally you won't want to use anything else!

-Kees-
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Offline BigMuddy

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2012, 06:16:20 AM »
I don't doubt I had too much powder in the pan. I also used 4f. I noticed if I carried the gun, as if I was hunting with it, the powder in the pan was gone. Maybe because of that fine grained powder?

Are these good quality guns? As I said I don't know much about them. Are/were these guns made in the U.S.? I don't see anything saying "made in Italy", just Provo Utah.

Thanks for the help and patience with my dumb questions. I was planning on selling this gun to someone that might appreciate it more. Now...well maybe I will give it another try.

Dan
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Offline Semisane

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2012, 07:30:27 AM »
You should not lose prime from the pan, even 4F.  Either your frizzen is not seating properly against the pan or the lock is not seating properly against the barrel.  Both problems are fixable; sometimes easily, sometimes with a little cussing.  Put some powder in the pan and watch carefully where it's going as you move the gun around.  You may be right that larger grain 3F would solve the problem.  I've never used 4F myself.  FFFg works just fine (and fast) in my Great Plains Rifle and Pedersoli Frontier. 
 
As far as I know A&Hs were entirely American made.  I've seen reports that early models were very well made, but after some change in ownership of the company later models could be a little sloppy.  However, I have no first hand knowledge of that. 
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Offline chefjeff

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2012, 07:44:44 AM »
They were premium priced,very nice,in their time.Friend has one he won @ DU banquet for sale.
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Offline Rangr44

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2012, 01:37:40 PM »
I've bought two .50 A&H rocklock Mountain Rifles, one in 1:28 twist & the other in 1:66 - and have virtually instant ignition from both.
 
I used the same Goex FFFg Holy Black as both the main & the priming charge in both rifles - but different charges for the conical rifle vs the PRB rifle.
I NEVER put even as much as a 1/2 pan full of powder in the pan.    FLASH - BOOM !
The owner/shooter DOES, however, need to tend to his flints, ensuring a square hit with a good spark shower.
 
AFAIK, all A&H Mountain Rifle barrels were made in Spain, with the guns assembled in Provo, UT - until about 2 years ago, when Traditions bought out all the old A&H NOS/warehouse material, and sold the same rifles in caplock or rocklock, but stamped "Traditions".
 
The early guns were available (new) with either "standard" or "Deluxe" (Tiger) Maple stocks.
 
I adjusted the powder charges so that the rifles zero when using the full buckhorn rear sight as a peep sight - which makes them both very accurate for me.  YMMV, of course.
 
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Offline RamblinMan2

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2012, 02:58:34 AM »
I broke a lock sear in my A&H mountain rifle. I was a full time traditional gunsmith at the time. A&H were gone so no parts. I finally tracked down a guy that used to work for them. All thier locks were made by Ardesa in Spain! Traditions has the same locks. flint or percussion and parts. Hope that helps. Regards, RamblinMan
 
 
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Offline BigMuddy

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2012, 07:09:21 AM »
Thanks to all for the replies. I had made up my mind to sell this gun, but now having second thoughts. I may just give it another chance.

Dan
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Offline IronBrigade

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2012, 10:16:59 AM »
Don't give up Dan. I just started shooting a flintlock last March and it took me a while to get used to. At first I had delayed ignition too and it was frustrating (I've always shot caplocks before) But after a while I found the right flints for my gun and the right amount of primer charge and I no longer have delayed ignition. I did drill out my vent liner to 1/16"  Try using different flints, Tom fuller flints from TOW are very good as well as Rich Pierce's Missouri flints. Here's where to contact Rich Pierce He is an excellent person to do business with.   longtrekflints@gmail.com
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Offline ratgunner

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #12 on: May 05, 2012, 06:00:59 AM »
I have an A&H Mnt. Rifle rocklock with 1:66 twist. There were two grades available,mine is the "select" grade with real nice curly maple stock. The first ones were made in Montana(mine was) and were of very good quality. They then moved to Utah and eventually sold to Traditions. Traditions has the parts if needed. Mine isn't even broken in yet-time to fix that.  ;)
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Offline RamblinMan2

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #13 on: May 09, 2012, 07:57:53 AM »
Austin and Halleck's inventory was sold to Deer Creek Products in Ind. A&H is in no way associated with Traditions. The only link to Traditions is that A&H triggers and locks were made by Ardesa in Spain, the same company that makes Traditons. Some Traditions lock and trigger parts will interchange. I have breakdowns of the lock and trigger parts that will fit A&H if anyone needs them. RamblinMan
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Offline ratgunner

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Re: Austin and Hallek?
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2012, 10:39:58 AM »
From what I've gathered at some of the black powder sites is that Traditions got the left over inventory and the rights to the mountain rifle. Didn't say they were associated though.  :-X I'm not a gambling man,but if I was I'd bet I'm right on this one.
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