I built my first rifle from a CVA kit in the mid '70s, a ,45 cal percussion "kentucky". several pistols followed as well as a .50 mountain, I was hooked. I am a purist in that I only use GUNPOWDER, no pyrodex or other substitutes. I very quickly discovered I prefered Flintlocks over percussion Rifles, though I own and shoot both. I killed my first muzzelloader deer in the late '70s with a .45 flinter, and it remains my favorite deer caliber. I own and shoot rifles and smoothbores from .32 cal to 12 ga.