Today we're taking another step into precision muzzleloading by taking a look at this heavy barreled percussion target rifle from 1868.

This is the kind of rifle that helped give birth to muzzleloading shooting sports here in the United States that are still popular today. Rifle by George O. Leonard of Keene, New Hampshire, c. 1868. The barrel is numbered "236" on the muzzle which is turned down for a starter and on the upper left at the breech along with a faint "CAST-STEEL" marking, and the upper left flat is also marked "GEO. O. LEONARD/KEENE N.H./CAST-STEEL."

The forend is pewter, and the rest of the furniture is steel/iron, including the capbox which has an eagle shaped finial and the toeplate which has a Swiss style finial. The rifle is equipped with nearly full-length brass tube sight with keyhole front aperture, post front sight, round rear aperture, and "PA ALTMAIER HARRISBURG, PA.1868" on top and the same minus "1868" on the rear cap. The sight is fitted in a dovetailed mount near the muzzle and an elevation adjustable rear mount threaded into the upper tang. The rifle has adjustable double set triggers.