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  1. B

    Hunting Load vs. Range Load

    I wondered last season about whether I should "up" the charge for deer hunting. I decided not to. 80gr 2f Goex, .490 ball, drylubed .018 pillow ticking precut patch. Shot a fat doe at 42yds, double lung pass thru, she ran 30yds and flopped dead. IMO, all more powder really does is maybe extend...
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    Hunting Load vs. Range Load

    I use the same load for range, hunting and a follow up shot(havent needed one yet though). My loads are a little different between my percussion Hawken and my flintlock longrifle. They both load about the same, effort-wise. Ive seen some guys use less powder for target shooting(50 vs 80 grains)...
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    Do you prefer Real Black Powder or a BP substitute?.........Why?

    Years ago when we were young and dumb, my buddy put 2 pyrodex pellets in a percussion Hawken and it wouldn't fire. I only use rwap BP for sidelocks. And only use subs for modern stuff. And i don't see that changing.
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    Loading flintlock for a hunt

    I did the molle pack frame too, and yes, its tge only way to go! I'm a big guy, had a Summit Titan, which was tge biggest (and heaviest) climber made. I sold it, bought another ladderstand! And last year took 2 deer out of ut, a buck with my compound bow, and a doe with my Hawken.
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    Loading flintlock for a hunt

    Yeah, getting old sucks. I'm "only" 48, but to quote Indiana Jones, "It isn't the years, its the mileage!" 2 years ago, I used my climber for the last time. I used to pack it a mile or so in, up hills, etc with my bow and all my stuff(60 lbs on my back). I was alone, shot a buck with a 12ga...
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    Loading flintlock for a hunt

    I hunt my best friends family property in SE Indiana, 300 acres 3/4 of which us woods, hills and creeks. We have 12 ladderstands up. I used to use a climber, and hang ons, but anymore its ladderstands, ground blinds, or just stalk/still hunt. I dont have a problem climbing a ladder holding my...
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    Loading flintlock for a hunt

    If treestand hunting, I dont prime until im up there and seated, and I brush the prime out of the pan before climbing back down the ladder. I keep my pan brush, primer and pick around my neck. While not traditional(neither are ladderstands!) I premeasure 2 extra charges in those little green...
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    Flint maintenance

    In the lock, I have a small hand forged tool with a knapping hammer and flathead screwdriver that I use. Place the coned hammer tip on the flint edge and pop it with my short starter. If I take the flint out of the lock, I use an antler point to pressure flake it. But again, this usually only...
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    Joined the dry ball club today!!

    I'm uber careful NOT to dryball anymore. Last time out at the range, TWICE I wasn't completely sure I had poured in the powder, so before loading the ball in dumped out the barrel. Wasted powder, I charged it both times. Moving from precut patches to cutting at the muzzle seems to have given me...
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    Broken gun arrived

    I had to go thru this with my longrifle. The frizzen broke! Snapped in half. Of course, that frizzen hasn't been made for decades, so I had to get a whole new lock. USPS did pay me after I filed a claim, but it took 2 months. In the meantime I got the broke frizzen fixed at a welding shop, so...
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    Flint maintenance

    My problem is, my gun/lock takes the small 5/8"x3/4" flints. After 15-20 shots, ill need to knap it. I get another @5 shots. Then I replace it. I have tried (successfully) to recondition these used flints, but the finished product is usually too small to fit into the lock jaws securely. My sons...
  12. B

    Quick question about homemade bore butter consistency.

    We made a bullet lube out of crisco and beeswax, for Minie balls. Melt, dip the bullets, let dry /harden. Works great.
  13. B

    Swabbing a bore while hunting?

    I use one of those too, use it on the range and would take/use it for early squirrel hunting, but I'd just use spit for a deer hunt reload. Spit is much less likely to freeze.
  14. B

    Swabbing a bore while hunting?

    I've expiramented at the range, not swabbing between shots. Without stabbing, loading the 3rd shot, its harder to ram down. Loading the 4th shot is significantly harder to ram down. The fifth? I thought my wooden ranrod would snap, stopped and forced it down with my heavy duty brass range rod. I...
  15. B

    Needing some advice

    The Cabelas guns are made by Investarms in Europe. They've been at it for a while. I bought a Charles Daly/Investarms Hawken a few years ago at a gun show for $215 and can vouch for it. Well made, accurate gun, that you can usually find used. Investarms built for multiple companies, but they're...
  16. B

    Swabbing a bore while hunting?

    Depends on the gun/load, but i like a consistent bore. While I haven't gone trad. Muzzleloader squirrel hunting(all I have are .50cals, and my .22 works fine), id do what I alwats do. Drop 40gr down the barrel with no ball, fire, swab, then load. In the field, id spit patch between loadings...
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    Let's see your Belt or Rifleman's knife

    I've cut back some due to COVID-19.:-) He makes LG and SM belt knives too. Always has a booth at the NMLRA shoots in Friendship. I fell in love with this one. Next thing I want is one of his pipe hawks with a matching flamed maple handle.
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    Let's see your Belt or Rifleman's knife

    Mine is a Beaver Bill large scalping knife. I have his premium throwing hawk too. I also have a small patch knife in my possibles bag.
  19. B

    Last shooting. Group of 5 @ 50 yards

    While the ignition on my gun is QUICK, there's just something about that mini explosion inches from your face that takes some getting used to. And while I said quick, my Hawken is quicker. That gun has relatively modern iron sights whereas the flintlock has old school sights.
  20. B

    Wall mounted rifle rack...input needed.

    Heres my two, I made them both. The lower is just a board from Home Depot, stained and poly'ed, with deer hoof holder from the doe i killed with it. Made those too. The upper was from an OLD fireplace mantle board that my contractor father in law salvaged and gave me. The hangers are hand forged...
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