I was at the bank Friday and happened to run into a couple guys I knew were muzzleloader hunters. Now, I know, they are in-line muzzleloaders but nevertheless I wanted to seize the opportunity to make some coverts to flintlock shooting. Plus I would have someone to shoot with. We did all the greetings stuff and got the conversation to hunting with muzzleloaders. I said did you guys ever try flintlocks for muzzleloader season? No, was the reply. One guy said, “I’ve never even touched a real flintlock.”
This is your lucky day as I have one of mine right outside in the truck, c’mon on out.
I got it out and handed it to them and they both thought it was beautiful.
They continued to look it over when one guy asked how you mount a scope on one of these things. I said we don’t, and, as a matter of fact some of the purists don’t even use adjustable sights. “Well how far can you shoot with out a scope?” he said. “My last deer was over 200 yards with my in-line.” I told them we usually don’t try shots much over 100 yards and we prefer less than a 100. He said, “Wow that sabot would gut a deer at much less than 100 yards.” I explained we usually just use patched round balls. He asked, “Just how many deer have you shot that way, not many I would suspect?” Well I haven’t shot any yet as I have just started using flintlocks. He told me I better hang that pretty gun on the wall and get a real muzzleloader.
Now this long story brings me to the real point of this, which is in-lines have no place in the muzzleloader-hunting season. They are muzzleloaders only in a loose since of the word. They actually give up little to a modern center fire-hunting rifle. I don’t care if anybody wants to use them but they should have to be used in the general firearms season. They probably saved the muzzle loading sport from near extinction but they violate the sprit of muzzle loading to say the least.
Plus I did not make a new convert, I just got mad.
This is your lucky day as I have one of mine right outside in the truck, c’mon on out.
I got it out and handed it to them and they both thought it was beautiful.
They continued to look it over when one guy asked how you mount a scope on one of these things. I said we don’t, and, as a matter of fact some of the purists don’t even use adjustable sights. “Well how far can you shoot with out a scope?” he said. “My last deer was over 200 yards with my in-line.” I told them we usually don’t try shots much over 100 yards and we prefer less than a 100. He said, “Wow that sabot would gut a deer at much less than 100 yards.” I explained we usually just use patched round balls. He asked, “Just how many deer have you shot that way, not many I would suspect?” Well I haven’t shot any yet as I have just started using flintlocks. He told me I better hang that pretty gun on the wall and get a real muzzleloader.
Now this long story brings me to the real point of this, which is in-lines have no place in the muzzleloader-hunting season. They are muzzleloaders only in a loose since of the word. They actually give up little to a modern center fire-hunting rifle. I don’t care if anybody wants to use them but they should have to be used in the general firearms season. They probably saved the muzzle loading sport from near extinction but they violate the sprit of muzzle loading to say the least.
Plus I did not make a new convert, I just got mad.
Larry
