Colonial American Longrifle Kit — Step 12: Installing the Nose Cap

Video for this step: https://kiblerslongrifles.com/v/colonial-12

Adjust the nose cap to fit the barrel by filing if necessary. It is sometimes necessary to deepen the barrel cut-out slightly so the nose cap fits the stock and barrel at the same time. Adjust the wood-to-metal fit between the stock and the nose cap if necessary; the rear-most portion of the cap should fit against the stock with no visible gap.

Attach the nose cap to the stock. The easiest method is to use two-part epoxy to fix the cap in place while the barrel is installed in the stock. Apply a generous coating of wax to the barrel to prevent the epoxy from sticking to it. After the epoxy has cured, the cap must be pinned in place with the two included brass tacks, which are used here as rivets; epoxy alone will not hold the cap over time.

• Drill two 1/16" holes through the stock and cap. These holes should start in the center of the 45-degree barrel inlet surface and run perpendicular to the outside of the stock.

• Lightly chamfer the wood and brass. Insert the brass tacks from the barrel inlet side through the nose cap.

• Trim the tacks so that only approximately 1/32" of tack material extends beyond the cap.

• Install the barrel in the stock and lightly peen the tacks to clinch the cap in place. File the material flush with the nose cap, and file any tack that extends into the barrel channel.