Comments at the range

[Sidney Smith]

There is a difference between stupidity and ignorance. By what you said that fellow was ignorant. You missed an opportunity to educate him and let him take a shot or two with your gun. You might have recruited another black powder enthusiasts.

Oh well! No that guy was stupid. You werent there, I was. He was shooting a couple tables away from me, and was some sort of tactical wanna be army reject. This I remember vividly. Not the kind of person Id let hamdle my weapons anyway, and I doubt Id have converted him to muzzle loaders if I had. His ilk were a main reason I joined a club and stopped going to that public range.

 

[RATROD56]

There was a young couple shooting some kind of .22 next to me at a 25 yard target. They were on the paper but nothing I'd call a group. They walked over before leaving the range. I was between shots and swabbing the barrel of my .45 Pedersoli Flintlock. After seeing the target out at the 100 yard mark, he asked " Can you actually hit that target way out there. At that moment the Range officer called a cease fire for target changes. I invited him to take a walk with me. I showed him my first shot high and left and I marked it with a #1 then my second shot low and right (over corrected) and the next three shots walking them into the 10 ring. I marked each shot and went back to the shooting bench. I loaded the weapon and let him take a shot. His shot hit just under my number one shot, high and left.
He had his girlfriend take a picture of him holding the gun. I haven't seen them again but I bet he talks about that day.
Neil

Who knows, maybe you sparked a fire under him. You might have created a new muzzleloader.

 

[RATROD56]

I get a lot of comments when there are people there, which is seldom, some good natured ribbing, and lots of questions which I am always happy to answer. Cuz, after make'n em, shoot'n em, I enjoy talk'n bout em. One comment still brings a smile to my face when I think about it, I was shooting this .62 caliber Jaeger and a fellow and his girl walk up and he says, more like a statement than a question, 'Hawken, huh, .50 cal, huh'.
View attachment 72862
Sometimes it just seems you should just smile politely and say nothing.
Robby

That is a work of art. Beautiful

 

[Col. Batguano]

My favorites;
When did they start making stocks out of wood?
I have some brass screws to replace those silver ones (on the PB finial)
I have an extra recoil pad if you want it
Why don't you have a scope on it if you're going to take it hunting?

 

[flntlokr]

I run a damascus disposal unit to help people get rid of those old things before they put an eye out or worse. Know anyone trying to find a place to dispose of one, let me know. Here to help.

I hear you, but I sort of run a home for the old girls myself. I keep my eyes open for those availble from the easily frightened Parazzi/benelli/Browning crowd. Sometimes amazingly good stuff can be gotten cheaply. I usually clean them up, check them out, and sell them on to other bp enthusiasts.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

"Nice long rifle."
Me: It's a T/C half stock, the weapon on the tail gate is a long rifle.
"Can you get a decent enough group to sight it in at 50 yards?"
Me: Check the spotting scope for yourself.
"Hmmm, looks pretty sighted in to me."
Me: You can take a couple shots if you like.
"I don't think my shoulder can take that kind of kick, but thanks anyway"

Try as I might I couldn't convince him that the recoil was low.

 

[Rudyard]

I run a damascus disposal unit to help people get rid of those old things before they put an eye out or worse. Know anyone trying to find a place to dispose of one, let me know. Here to help.

Are you serius? I doubt it. .Nothing wrong with twist or Damascus barrels , It must stem from long abused & neglected hammer BLs that being fed with supper pooper nitro loads failed & burst they being never made for nitro. & every FME persists on condemning the gun not the idiot or ignorant that who bursts it. Used as intended the twist or Damascus are my favourite any day. I don't mind the scelp barrels either which is what most service muskets had.
Rudyard.
Secratery of the Defence of Twist & Damascus league. Inc ( or pencil )

 

[dave951]

True story- about 30 years ago, my brother and I went to a local range that allowed shooting at cans and such. A group were plinking at a 50cal ammo can with their ARs and one of them was calling hits watching through a spotting scope. A couple were watching us load up a couple muskets. They went back to their pew pew as my brother took aim at their target. He sent the shot which solidly connected with the can and blowing a big hole through it and sending it up and over ther berm. Guy watching through the scope loudly said “Jesus Christ, what the h.ll was that...” My brother just stood there grinning and said “Assault rifle. Model Springfield 1863. Any questions?”

 

[Southern Bamboo]

That was a good price in 1978 , wish I could buy like that now , I'd buy all day long at that price. It's funny how
we all miss the ones we let go. The fondling factor is enough to keep all of mine. Try to exercise them all, hunting or at the range.
gunnyr

Walked into a local gun store and the owner had a TC Hawken 50 cal sitting there on the floor in the corner. How much, I asked? $100. Sold. Took it home and noticed it's loaded. I still need to pull it because I have no idea what load is in there.

Doesn't look like it's ever been fired. I guess I need to pull that load, it's been in my safe for 10 years. (Haven't had a chance to shoot BP, just reading about y'all having your fun!!)

 

[Southern Bamboo]

Holy smokes! If my black powder collection looked like that I'd sell all my other guns. Hmmmmm,,,,,wait,,,,,,,no,,,,,,,maybe,,,,,,

You mean the ones that didn't sink in that boating accident!!

 

[Southern Bamboo]

You'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many grown men are scared of muzzle loaders.Or sure seem to be.

Probably the same ones scared of the mighty AR-15...

 

[Newtire]

Are you serius? I doubt it. .Nothing wrong with twist or Damascus barrels , It must stem from long abused & neglected hammer BLs that being fed with supper pooper nitro loads failed & burst they being never made for nitro. & every FME persists on condemning the gun not the idiot or ignorant that who bursts it. Used as intended the twist or Damascus are my favourite any day. I don't mind the scelp barrels either which is what most service muskets had.
Rudyard.
Secratery of the Defence of Twist & Damascus league. Inc ( or pencil )

Hey Rudyard, you're going to blow my cover!

 

[Newtire]

I hear you, but I sort of run a home for the old girls myself. I keep my eyes open for those availble from the easily frightened Parazzi/benelli/Browning crowd. Sometimes amazingly good stuff can be gotten cheaply. I usually clean them up, check them out, and sell them on to other bp enthusiasts.

Remember looking at the Shotgun News long ago and seeing old Damascus guns going for cheap and thinking to myself that same thing, "Why would anybody want one of those?" After reading about real blow up tests on Damascus barrels vs what happens when more modern steel guns give it up, I have changed my tune! Will be happy to welcome those old timers in good condition, into my collection.

 

[user 49399]

You mean the ones that didn't sink in that boating accident!!

yeah,, the boating accident!!

 

[TFoley]

View attachment 72862

That is, apart from my bride of 49 years+, the most beautiful thing I've seen today.

 

[Capnball]

I get a lot of comments when there are people there, which is seldom, some good natured ribbing, and lots of questions which I am always happy to answer. Cuz, after make'n em, shoot'n em, I enjoy talk'n bout em. One comment still brings a smile to my face when I think about it, I was shooting this .62 caliber Jaeger and a fellow and his girl walk up and he says, more like a statement than a question, 'Hawken, huh, .50 cal, huh'.
View attachment 72862
Sometimes it just seems you should just smile politely and say nothing.
Robby

Oh yeah I can see the resemblance, it's got wood, that stick for puttin bullets in it and the dead give away is it's got that thing you put your finger on to make it go bang.

 

[BJm]

great collection there, BUT , all the locks are on the wrong side lol. Most my muzzleloaders are L/H ( mainly flintlocks ) including those built by Tipp Curtis.

 

[JohnnieT]

yeah,, the boating accident!!

Jeez, were we all on the same charter that day?!

 

[Daryl Crawford]

Jeez, were we all on the same charter that day?!

I can vouch for you being on that boat. It was a tough day for all.

 

[deerstalkert]

I've heard people walking by say something about old school. Don't know if they were talking about me or the gun.

i heard that too! i thought, then i figured out they were saying "old fool".
usually it is the grin and "thats so cool" and "I have to get me one of those!"