Help with newly aquired muzzle loader.

[syoungs]

My new muzzle loader showed up in the mail today, I had no idea what it was going to be, until it got here, and I am not thrilled with it.

I purchased it from my girlfriends dad who lives out of state, he was hard up for money and trying to get up to washington for a family reunion next week, I already bought him a plane ticket, but he needed cash for some bills and traveling money....

He offered to sell me his black powder rifle, so I agreed and sent him 230$, 200 for the rifle and 30 to cover shipping of it. 

I wasnt in the market for a front stuffer till next year, but, gotta do what you gotta do.
It is marked monarch, 50 cal black power only, and was made in spain, it looks like a hawken style rifle. I havent found alot of info about it online, and it was broke down to fit better in the shipping box, so my questions are;

 1: it seems to have 2 screws that bolt the stock to the barrel, both are back by the breach, but to me it seems like it should have something further up as well, is the 2 screws by the breach standard?

 2: it has no rear sight, but has a cutout where it seems one could go, ive never played with a muzzle loader before, do they not have a rear sight 

 3: does anyone know anything about monarch?

the small bit of research I did leads me to think that this is a round ball/patch gun, not conical or sabot friendly, I was going to buy a front stuffer next summer, and had the cva buckhorn or elkhorn in mind, as both seem to be a decent value, especially considering I dont plan to hunt much with one.

and I know it probably wasnt worth the money spent, especially with the rust and pitting on the barrel, and the worn finish etc, but it kept the misses happy. Happy wife, happy life...

[oneshot12]

yes it should have a  rear sight on it  . and it is a round  ball shooter for sure .   if it has a 1in 48 twist  stamped on the barrel it will shoot the conical  bullet . would need  have to look at the whole set up to be able to help with the screw  issue . cant really see to much in some of the on line pics i have seen on the rifle .  you  could have a look at any of the 50 cal hawken  style rifles  might be of some help with your  issue .  the screws could  be   for the side plate to hold the lock in place  if they are machined fine threads  on  for the trigger guard if they are wood screws    best i can do for just looking around at eh present time.  saw monarch 50 cal hawken   stock   on ebay might be of some help to to look at 

[syoungs]

Ill probably give her a nice rub down of oil, and toss her in the safe as a family heirloom.

[Blacktail Sniper]

It is may be hard to see in the picture, but if you look at the areas circled, there is a small tab on the bottom of the barrel and a cross pin that goes through and secures the front part of the barrel generally on Hawken style rifles.

Close up picture shows the pin installed better.  Does your M/L have the little pin and spot in the forearm like these do?

[washelkhunter]

I've seen those rifles. Should make a nice display above the fireplace.

[Jonathan_S]

Ill probably give her a nice rub down of oil, and toss her in the safe as a family heirloom.

good idea.  then go buy a cva for less than you spent on that one   

[Old Dog]

Ignore those other guys, and put that puppy together and shoot it.  I hunt with a Lyman Great Plains Rifle.  1 in 60 twist round ball only.  It is not as reliable as the in-lines, but it is deadly accurate.

The rear sight is an easy fix, just more money. 

[syoungs]

It has the spot for that pin, but no pin is in it, or was included with the rifle.

I imagine I could find a pin, find a rear sight, and shoot it. But by the time I get it shootable, its still pretty antiquated, I can buy a CVA (which is what I wanted originally) and have a newer more reliable gun. I like the idea of a nice display above the fireplace.