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Two books I find useful are "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for their Use and Appreciation" by Eric A. Bye and "Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use" by Mike Cumpston.

Amazon has the Eric Bye book for 24 bucks as an ebook and used copies starting at $145 which is insane. I want books like this in paper. Crazy Crow has new copies for 29.95 and shipping. I think it is worth the price.

Jeff

If you go to Crazy Crow and click on books you will not find it listed. But it is there. My copy just arrived today. (ABE used books has it for $144 to $300, used). So , thanks Jeff (BullRunBear)!! An excellent book indeed!!

https://www.crazycrow.com/muzzleloa...ractical-guide-for-their-use-and-appreciation
 
It must be great to have a set of younger eyes. I really do miss reading some books since the print has gotten smaller.

I think there are some new things for old age that can be fitted which helps the printing from shrinking.

They're called onionskins and you wrap the old book in this new stuff and then it doesn't get damp and shrink.
 
I've had Sam Falada’s book since the early 80's and the pages are turning yellow. Nice book but these days forums like this are better for pure information. I still like reading a book in my recliner instead of sitting here in front of this thing.
 
Two books I find useful are "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for their Use and Appreciation" by Eric A. Bye and "Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use" by Mike Cumpston.

Amazon has the Eric Bye book for 24 bucks as an ebook and used copies starting at $145 which is insane. I want books like this in paper. Crazy Crow has new copies for 29.95 and shipping. I think it is worth the price.

Another vote for Sam Fadala's "The Complete Black Powder Handbook". I used it to get started back before there was an internet.

Jeff
I second this, I have both books and they are great. Here are some of mine. The collection keeps growing though.
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BLACK POWDER GUNSMITHING by Ralph T. Walker.jpg
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Black Powder Longarms and Pistols Reproductions & Replicas.jpg
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I READ SAM'S BOOKS AND ANY OTHER I COULD FIND.
NONE OF THEM WERE MUCH HELP INGETTING ME STRAIGHTENED OUT AT THE RANGE. SO I KEPT CAREFUL NOTES AND OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS WROTE ENOUGH ARTICALS TO BE COMBINED IN MY OWN BOOK.
IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WHAT WORKED, WHATDIDN'T YOU WILL SOON HAVE YOUR OWNCOLLECTION OF FACTS AND ADVENTURES TO PASS ON.

DUTCH SCHOULTZ

I've had Sam Falada’s book since the early 80's and the pages are turning yellow. Nice book but these days forums like this are better for pure information. I still like reading a book in my recliner instead of sitting here in front of this thing.
 
I've had Sam Falada’s book since the early 80's and the pages are turning yellow. Nice book but these days forums like this are better for pure information. I still like reading a book in my recliner instead of sitting here in front of this thing.


I have to disagree, "but these days forums like this are better for pure information.", there is a lot of misinformation on forums and U-tube.

I find print books have more factual information than the internet and forums. Printed books have to be more accountable than someone posting on the internet and anyone can make a video and put it out for all to see, and they are not accountable for it's content.

Some folks read a bit on the internet and become instant experts without any actual experience.

Forums can be a learning experience and an experience in bad information
 
I gain some knowledge from forums and You tube. However, most of my knowledge has come from reading books. Some people learn by listening (ears) and others learn by visual (eyes) and I find that I learn more from seeing than from hearing. I think that books are a more visual thing; therefore, I learn more from reading than from any other source. I also learn by watching someone do a certain task that interests me. I will usually watch a bunch of videos on the same subject and decide who performed the task as I see fit. That's how I learned to use a mainspring vise properly and how to tear down a cap 'n ball revolver properly. Certain screws should be removed first to lessen the tension on other screws.
 
FORUMS ALLOW FOLK TO TELL THEIR STORY. WHETHER THE STORY IS ACCURATE ONLY EXPERIMENTING CASN TELL.
THEVERY BEST THING ABOUUT THIS FORUM, AT LEAST, IS THAT THE VARIOS POSTS CAN MAKE YOU THINK.
WE ALL THINK OUR POSTS BORDER ON BRILLIANCE WHILE OTHERS POSTS AR, OF COURSE SUSPECT,
THE NET BENEFIT IS THAT OTHER PEOPLE'S POSTS GIVE US PROD TO MAYBE RETHINK SOME OF OUR OWN WISDOM.
It's all fun and very interesting.
I have to disagree, "but these days forums like this are better for pure information.", there is a lot of misinformation on forums and U-tube.

I find print books have more factual information than the internet and forums. Printed books have to be more accountable than someone posting on the internet and anyone can make a video and put it out for all to see, and they are not accountable for it's content.

Some folks read a bit on the internet and become instant experts without any actual experience.

Forums can be a learning experience and an experience in bad information
 
Two books I find useful are "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for their Use and Appreciation" by Eric A. Bye and "Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use" by Mike Cumpston.

Amazon has the Eric Bye book for 24 bucks as an ebook and used copies starting at $145 which is insane. I want books like this in paper. Crazy Crow has new copies for 29.95 and shipping. I think it is worth the price.

Another vote for Sam Fadala's "The Complete Black Powder Handbook". I used it to get started back before there was an internet.

Jeff

One reason for being a member of the NMLRA is that they have some copies of the Eric Bye book, "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for Their Use and Appreciation" for $29.95 plus shipping I t can be ordered on line at www.nmlra.org or you can call in the order (812)67-5131.

Much better to have a copy that you can hold in your hand and read at your leisure.
 
IF WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE BLACK POWDER BOOKS I GUESS IT MIGHT BE ok to mention mine that once was printed material papers but is now combined into a 95 page ebook which can be downloaded and printed hand held copy. Approximately 6500 to 7000 sold, so far, Two requests fro refunds. Happily given.
Asking price $19.95
Free updates given when newer editions are created.

Dutch Schoultz
I would not have posted this except for the reviews of other books on the same subject.

One reason for being a member of the NMLRA is that they have some copies of the Eric Bye book, "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for Their Use and Appreciation" for $29.95 plus shipping I t can be ordered on line at www.nmlra.org or you can call in the order (812)67-5131.

Much better to have a copy that you can hold in your hand and read at your leisure.
 
Yes, Dutch, your book should be mentioned when recommendations for books on improving one's performance accuracy are asked about.

I liked Sam Fadala's books which contained a lot of information. However, Sam seemed to be on the chase of more power, which can come at the cost of accuracy and can lead to bad cases of magnumitis. In most cases, the most accurate load is load to strive for and in most cases is the most suitable for hunting applications. If you believe that you are shooting the most accurate load in your rifle, your performance on the hunt and at the target range will be at its best.
 
+1 on Eric Bye's recent book, "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for their Use and Appreciation". I know the man, and he is meticulous in his preparation and presentation of accurate and useful information.

ADK Bigfoot
 
I WAS TOLD AND PERSONALLY HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP THAT SAM WAS BEING PAID TO PUSH VARIOU PRODUCTS..

I PUSH A FEW BECAUSE THEYARE REALLY GOOD ITEMS. I AM NOT BEING PAID BY ANY.

MY SALES ARE WORLD WIDE ANDI CONTINUE TO COACH FOLKS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE OVER THE INTERNET.
I try to get my posts to appear in upper and lower case but the idiot box seems to prefer upper case.

I have read a number of ML shooting books which I must admit have valid information about all sorts of related subjects but none tell you about the fine details of loading a rifle, what to look for in your targets and all that stuff.
Whatever It's all fun and I am competing with dead men.
Thank you for the kind words.

Dutch Schoultz

Yes, Dutch, your book should be mentioned when recommendations for books on improving one's performance accuracy are asked about.

I liked Sam Fadala's books which contained a lot of information. However, Sam seemed to be on the chase of more power, which can come at the cost of accuracy and can lead to bad cases of magnumitis. In most cases, the most accurate load is load to strive for and in most cases is the most suitable for hunting applications. If you believe that you are shooting the most accurate load in your rifle, your performance on the hunt and at the target range will be at its best.
 
If I could still see well enough to read, I would enjoy Eric Bye's book on flintlocks because I know squat about flintlocks. I know how the flint operates and I believe I do have something about the ideal size of the touch hole. I think I may have something about not piling your pan powder over the touch hole opening.

Larry Plethcher has done incredible work on the mechanics and timing of the flintlock and I am certain I recommend his web site..

my interest lies in what happens after the powder charge is lit in whatever kind of rifle you have that is misbehaving.

Dutch

+1 on Eric Bye's recent book, "Flintlocks - A Practical Guide for their Use and Appreciation". I know the man, and he is meticulous in his preparation and presentation of accurate and useful information.

ADK Bigfoot
 
Just received the Sam Fadala book “Black Powder Handbook “ , lots of good info, but this guy is really negative. He had a lot of stories but they were all negative.
 
From loading manuals to powder can labels . From this forum to books on the subject and many things in betwween, it is a good thing to read up on the subject of black powder guns. Probably half (or better) is basic knowledge about MLs.. But the other half is the experience of actually doing. I just hope whoever inherits my guns takes the time to do some reading first.
 
THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WRDS.
AS MY SALES SEEM TO BE DIMINISHING I AM CONSIDERING DISCONTINUANCE OF OFFERING THOSE SALES AND FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE FORUM AS WELL.
MY EFFORTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS SEEM TO BE WIDELY IGNORED I APPEAR TO HAVE WASTED ALL THOSE HOURS.

I'M OLD AND TIRED SO THIS IS SOMETHING OF A FAREWELL TO THOSE FEW WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ACTUALL ACCURACY.

DUTCH SCHOULTZ.

I WAS TOLD AND PERSONALLY HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP THAT SAM WAS BEING PAID TO PUSH VARIOU PRODUCTS..

I PUSH A FEW BECAUSE THEYARE REALLY GOOD ITEMS. I AM NOT BEING PAID BY ANY.

MY SALES ARE WORLD WIDE ANDI CONTINUE TO COACH FOLKS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE OVER THE INTERNET.
I try to get my posts to appear in upper and lower case but the idiot box seems to prefer upper case.

I have read a number of ML shooting books which I must admit have valid information about all sorts of related subjects but none tell you about the fine details of loading a rifle, what to look for in your targets and all that stuff.
Whatever It's all fun and I am competing with dead men.
Thank you for the kind words.

Dutch Schoultz
 
THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WRDS.
AS MY SALES SEEM TO BE DIMINISHING I AM CONSIDERING DISCONTINUANCE OF OFFERING THOSE SALES AND FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE FORUM AS WELL.
MY EFFORTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS SEEM TO BE WIDELY IGNORED I APPEAR TO HAVE WASTED ALL THOSE HOURS.

I'M OLD AND TIRED SO THIS IS SOMETHING OF A FAREWELL TO THOSE FEW WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ACTUALL ACCURACY.

DUTCH SCHOULTZ.

Dutch
I have decided that about 80 percent of the people are idiots and wont change. They will always argue with you no matter what. Cant blame you if you leave MLF .At least you know what your talking about. If it wasnt for your excellent help my son probably would not won the NMLRA Championship back in 2005.
Thanks Dutch
 
I GET INCREDIBLE RAVE REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE WHOSE WHOLE ML EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED AFTER YEARS OF POOR PERFORMANCE.
NONE OF THIS SHOWS UP ON THE FORUM.

It's greatly disappointing.

Dutch

Dutch
I have decided that about 80 percent of the people are idiots and wont change. They will always argue with you no matter what. Cant blame you if you leave MLF .At least you know what your talking about. If it wasnt for your excellent help my son probably would not won the NMLRA Championship back in 2005.
Thanks Dutch
 

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