Christmas Muzzleloader Conversations

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

First, I am typing this. I took the splint off my hand, but any letter usually hit with the left pinkie finger when using the proper typing method on a QWERTY keyboard is subject to being missed, so forgive typos :shake:

Anyway, I spent Christmas Day in Indianapolis with my family and my extended family on my mother's side.

I mentioned that what I was giving as a gag gift. I see that has been deleted, and I'll not reiterate it here. Suffice to say, it was well received and folks were educated in muzzleloading.

I have two early memories involving guns: First, my Grandpa brought home his issued rifles (M1 Garand, M1903a4, and M1 Carbine, listed in order that they were received) from service in World War II.

Secondly, I remember holding a big, long, heavy rifle that hung over Uncle Don's fireplace of his previous home. Uncle Don is the one who hosts the Christmas in Indianapolis.

Last year I asked what ever happened to it, as it had been a decoration above the fireplace by deer hooves in his hold home but had disappeared in the new one. He had answered that it was in the attic, and then mused that he'd like to bring it down and hang it above his new fireplace. This sparked a bit of a debate between him and Aunt Tony, who was dead-set against the idea, citing "kids" (they are all grown). Uncle Don has been married long enough to know when to shut up.

This year, on Christmas, I mentioned to Uncle Don that I had gotten into muzzleloading. He replied that my idea of muzzleloading probably wasn't his idea of muzzleloading, and asked if I had rifling in my barrels :shocked2:

I replied I did. I do believe he thought I meant I had inlines.

I asked him what his was, as I didn't remember. (I thought it was probably a kit from the resurgence in the 1970s). He replied that it was an antique smoothbore musket :bow: then mused that he probably hadn't shot it since he moved from New York (I wasn't born yet when he lived in New York!).

He also said that, shooting rifles, I wouldn't be impressed with the accuracy. I told him that I'd been talking a bit to smoothbore shooters, and they were getting really decent accuracy with tightly patched balls out to 50 yards (I didn't misrepresent you folks, did I? I really do believe I remember this being the answer to my question).

He seemed surprised.

I then showed him pictures of my rifles (Mom quipped to my brother's fiance that I carry around pictures of my guns like others carry around pictures of their kids!) and he seemed relieved and perhaps a bit impressed that they were not modern inlines but rather a Kentucky replica, New Englander and Bobcat (I explained that I gave the Bobcat away to someone I taught to shoot it - an 11 year old kid, I think I've mentioned).

Maybe next year I can actually see the piece again - I'd mentioned that I'd like a replica Brown Bess or fowling piece one of these days, but that I'd probably have to find a left-handed flinter due to the way the touch hole points: I don't want my arm burned off. It'd be too much to hope to inherit it and no way I could afford to buy it - he'd probably consider it an insult to offer anyway - but if my cousin Jeff, Uncle Don's son - inherits it, maybe I can teach him to shoot it.

Anyway, I'm not pushing anything. Uncle Don was a military chopper pilot, and as such, is a bit nutz :youcrazy: :thumbsup: But he and I seem to have more in common than I ever thought growing up, and I'm looking forward to next Christmas. Maybe he'll have it over the fireplace again. If so, I'll post pics in a year!

Josh

 

[paulvallandigham]

Why not make an effort to take " Uncle Don" 0ut shooting your muzzleloaders? He will enjoy the adventure, and be even more impressed with you, your guns, and gear. If you can borrow a friend's flintlock, so that both of you can load and shoot it, he might just take the time to show you his old gun, and get your help in inspecting and cleaning it, if needed, to keep it from rusting further in storage.

That might just give you an edge in getting to shoot the old gun, and possibly in being its next owner. Uncle Don may be a bit " different", but shooting again to these old veterans is always a proud moment, and a trip down memory lane.

Try to record Uncle Don's stories about his service experiences. Helicopters were not used in WWII, but were developed after that war, and used in Korea 5 years later, as ambulances, and rescue vehicles for downed pilots- not gunships. ( 1950-1953) The only shooting from helicopters were with small armed fired by passengers. They were not designed to carry gun crews, or machine guns or rockets. That all came later, during the Vietnam War( 1961-1973).

 

[Stumpkiller]

He said his Grandpa was in WWII and his Uncle Don was a pilot.

As a PS - Helicopters saw very limited use in WWII. Most famously of an air evac in Japanese held Burma (25APR1944) of the pilot and passengers of a downed U.S. Stinson L-1 air-ambulance - which was evacuating three wounded British. Both the Army and Navy operated them from 1944 onwards.

 

[Josh Smith]

Hi gents!

To clarify, Grandpa was in WWII and is deceased.

I am not sure if Uncle Don flew in a war, but if he did, it would have been 'Nam as he's only 63 or so.

I would love to take him shooting but I live 2±hrs north of him, and he lives in Indy. Working on a plan though. We will see.

Thanks!

Josh

 

[necchi]

Yup, 63 would putt'im smack dab as a VV,
Tell him Thanks, next time you see him.