By The Book

[Urban Coyote]

How many of you started by strictly following the manual instructions that came with your gun and if so what your results were? If you've experimented outside manual recommendations have you noticed improvement?

I started with the T/C Hawken and followed loading instructions from the manual using only T/C patch material, .490 roundball and recommended powder granulations and charges. I never fooled with Maxi Balls enough to really understand how well they might shoot, plus that Maxi Lube stuff didn't impress me.

Although I've since experimented with patch materials, ball diameter, powder granulations and such I could likely have gotten along just fine strictly following the manual. In fact, I got some of my best results going "by the book".

What's your experience been?

 

[deerstalkert]

writing weren't invented when i got my first muzzleloader.
i have never purchased a brand spanking new muzzleloader and have never had a manufacturers manual for one. except for a 1851 navy by Uberti.

 

[tenngun]

I got instructions how to load from the gun shop I bought my first in. I was given a brass adjustable measure and told to shoot 70 grains. The patch( came in a bag I didn’t know how thick) and a .490 ball.
It was over a year before I learned you could vary ath change and you didn’t been those bag of patches.
Was a couple of years before learns to try different patch thickness

 

[user 49399]

I started shooting muzzleloaders in the days before internet. Back then we had to do a little leg work to find load data like searching the public library. One of our local gun stores was kind enough to give out printed copies of manuals from companies like Thompson Center and CVA. I still have some of those in one of my range boxes.

I always obtained good results from the manual instructions and still use them in some of my muzzleloaders. However, when the internet came along, I learned you can vary your loading technique in an infinite number of ways. I’ve experimented over the years and developed loads for each of my guns to suit my purposes. Loading, like building is a personal thing. Some folks want to be absolutely historically correct, some want a good hunting load, some want a match winning target load and some like me are happy with a good plinking load.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I started with a Thomson Center Hawken 50 calibre that was brand new and had the manual. Won my share at matches right off the bat. In those days there were a number of guys had hand built rifles that I shot against.

 

[LME]

I started shooting muzzleloaders in the days before internet. Back then we had to do a little leg work to find load data like searching the public library. One of our local gun stores was kind enough to give out printed copies of manuals from companies like Thompson Center and CVA. I still have some of those in one of my range boxes.

I always obtained good results from the manual instructions and still use them in some of my muzzleloaders. However, when the internet came along, I learned you can vary your loading technique in an infinite number of ways. I’ve experimented over the years and developed loads for each of my guns to suit my purposes. Loading, like building is a personal thing. Some folks want to be absolutely historically correct, some want a good hunting load, some want a match winning target load and some like me are happy with a good plinking load.

I didn't have internet either and had no idea of what to do with my first MZ rifle? I was fairly educated with modern weapons but BP rifles was not in my perview. My first MZ was a CVA .54 cal. Big Bore Mountain rifle And I found it hanging on the wall of a gun store. It had been there for several years. I gave the owner $200 and walked out with the old but brand new rifle. I was told it would take as much as 120 grains of powder and no more? I tried 120 grains and accuracy was horrible. As I went down in volume I found 80 grains was dead on. Needless to say I was impress with the accuracy I had obtain with this obsolete weapon. Later on I was gifted a book writen by "Sam Fadala" It was a revelation to me. I learned a lot from old Sam! I credit Sam with teaching me the in and outs of muzzle loading shootiing. As years past I obtained a computer and found I was doing everything wrong? I was smart enough, barely to look at my targets and realise I should continue as I started. Many rifles later all .54 cal used the same load I started with just as old Sam stated in his book? I dearly enjoy my old rifles and nothing has changed in all these years except age and MCL has slowed me down terribly. I now enjoy reading post here that bring up memories and dreaming of what use to be.

 

[EC121]

I've always had custom rifles or rifles that I built. No book came with either one. I just worked up a load with advice from the other club members..

 

[dave951]

The "book" was written with input from lawyers.

When I started, the only book was the Lyman. With that in hand and advice from experienced muzzleloading shooters, I started down the rabbit hole. Since I hang out mostly with competition shooters, I primarily look for accuracy and what will continue to it.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Books? Internet?
I learned from experienced friends and my own trial and error.

 

[mooman76]

I didn't have any friends with the knowledge and my first guns were used. I got a book from the library to learn from.

 

[Ponderosaman]

The manual that I got from Pedersoli with my 12 ga. SXS was almost completely useless. Basically it said that I needed someone who knew what they were doing to show me what I should be doing and that it was very dangerous and they weren't responsible for me if I injured myself. Between my previous muzzleloading knowledge and this site, I was able to figure out what I needed to do. Wish someone could have warned me on here emphatically enough to be careful with the ramrod that came with my gun, since it broke and injured my hand. OK now, but was uncomfortable for a while and could have gone worse. Now use a TOW steel range rod or a plastic ramrod also purchased from TOW to load. In fairness to the fine members on the forum, they did say to get a range rod and I ignored them.

 

[hanshi]

I only recall maybe one rifle that came with a manual (the rest is fuzzy). But I'm not even sure of that. At any rate I already had enough knowledge and sense to know most of the does and don'ts. The rest came from jumping into BP with both feet and not coming up for air. I'd been familiar with guns in general since I was a kid. Mistakes? I made a few but then too few to mention (Frank Sinatra). Never had anything worse than boo - boo hurts. Most of what I did read and listen to was garbage; I think we all have to cut our own path.

 

[Pete G]

Book???? What book?

 

[Doc]

Early on it became common wisdom, at 50cl. there was a break off of 3f to 2f for anything above 50cl. Over the years many tried 3f in the larger calibers and not only found accuracy but also easier cleaning. Then some from the far west went to the world championships where most factory teams are also represented. Through their reps. we found that 3f was used from the small calibers all the way up to and including 12ga. shotgun. My wife and I are not only very competitive shotguners but also avid bird hunters. We changed to 3f. We found excellent patterns, our scores going up and our birds coming down. We are happy campers.
Doc,

 

[Electrod47]

In the Blackpowder section my Lyman No. 45 showed me everything I needed to know to get me started in 1978. Helpful pics and load data to boot. Minus any Pyrodex info cause it hadn't been invented yet.

 

[doubleset]

I'm pretty sure that the only "manual" that came with my Pietta 1851 Navy was a reprint of the US Cavalry "Manual of Arms". I still have that, but haven't ever found it to be particularly helpful.

The manual that came with my Traditions Crockett rifle is much more useful (though I didn't need any of the loading/maintenance information in it), but is a little wonky when it descends briefly into things like trigger adjustment. However, my experience with their support from gunsmiths is very good.

The Lyman manual for the GPR I inherited from my son, I got online and it seems pretty good.

One problem with virtually all of these manuals is that they tend to be "generic" -- i.e., not oriented to a specific model, but intended to cover a fairly large area of the product line. This makes them less useful and less conficence-inspiring. But it's a cheaper way to go for the company.

 

[appalichian hunter]

I thought the first you have done on anything that came with a book was throw the book away, it is a man thing I suppose.

 

[Ponderosaman]

I thought the first you have done on anything that came with a book was throw the book away, it is a man thing I suppose.

Once I was talking with some guys out in the turkey woods and said the gobblers were henned up and wouldn’t come in to my call. He asks where I heard they wouldn’t come in if they were around hens. I told him that I read it in a book. He said, “I guess turkeys don’t read books”.

 

[sportster73hp]

Who says customs don’t come with a book? This is what Kibler sent with my smr last November.

 

[Boston Bill]

1979. My first black powder firearm was the Ruger old army in stainless steel. I believe the gun shop person told me how to shoot it. The rest is history.