Finally shot black powder....

[Pork Chop]

Well, in my years, I have shot everything from BBs to MLRS rockets, but I had never shot a muzzleloader until today. (except for the Mortars, but that is another story...)

Back a bit more than 20 years ago, I helped my father build a Hawken rifle kit. It is the same one that is now sold by Cabelas - Investarms. Truth be told, there are some things I would do differently (would have then, but it was dad's gun, so I did what I was told), but will not change it now. This is a heritage piece. Dad never got to shoot it before he passed away.

It is shooting low left, but that is a sight adjustment issue and not a big deal. It sure was fun touching off that powder though! I was shooting with a friend and think that he may be getting the muzzleloading interest. I know that dad is smiling today wherever he is... :thumbsup:

 

[shmrck1]

Pork Chop,
watch out for that dredded B/P bug they tend to get ahold of you and won't let go. it is fun though ain't it
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
snake-eyes :RO: eace: :thumbsup:

 

[HardBall]

It sure was fun touching off that powder though!

I know what you mean Pork Chop,

The last few weekends have be the first time I've shot a BP rifle in almost 10 years. I honestly don't know how, or why, I went so long before getting back into it.

Squeeze the trigger of a properly loaded front-stuffer and you're rewarded with a beautiful deep bellow, magical plume of smoke, and the savory smell of sulfur...every time. A nice cloverleaf on the target is just icing on the cake.

 

Huzzah, Huzzah!!!

You will soon find that suppository-loaders just aren't as much fun...I took my youngest kid's 20gauge single shot out the other day--my flinter was still loaded with a ball and I wanted some tree rat for supper.

I knocked two fox squirrels out of the same tree thanks to fast reloading on my part, but boy, did I feel DUR-TEE after doing it! It just didn't feel very sporting on my part.

But the squirrels were still yummy with some nice Jack Daniels grillin' sauce.

Anyway, congrats on moving into the one true faith of Pure Shooting...now you need a smoothbore!

:results: :RO:

 

[Zonie]

Pork Chop: Ah'm a bettin that by tha time ye's got that rifle sighted in ye wil be hooked! No use fighten it.
Ah also know yer dad are proud of ye, an happy ye are usin that gun you an him built!

Ah gots ta warn ye that hangin 'round with us har will rub off on ye. Course, a li'l less wil rub offen me aftar tha start o' tha new yar. At's whan Ah takes ma bi-yearly bath. ::

Iffen yer friend goes wit ye tha next time, bee sure ta let him/her shoot yer gun a few times.
Won't take much mor than that befor he/she is gona be out lookin fer a rifle ta shoot too.

Happy holerdays to you ane yourn.

 

[Pork Chop]

I did let my buddy shoot. He is excited about having me over again to do more shooting. He lives in the country and we shoot off of his back deck. I got to shoot his .44 Magnum hand cannon. That was a pretty good kick! I really enjoyed the 50, but truth be known, I don't see me passing over my center fires just yet. I have some that are really special to me. Nothing spectacular, but they mean something to me. I have 3 front stuffer long guns - the 50 Interarms Hawken, a 50 Bobcat with the hideous plastic stock, and an OLDE flintlock that is at the stage of being a wall hanger. I have no idea what it is, but it is reputed to have been used in the revolutionary war. (weren't they all? :winking I have a box full of muzzleloading handguns - a couple of Derringers, a colonial, a Kentucky (I think - missing lots of parts but WILL be finished some day), a double barrel original pistol (caplock) and 4 revolvers. I want to shoot most of them. Unfortunately, money is tight (isn't it everywhere?) since I was "down sized" and struck out on my own in the cold cruel world.

 

[musketman]

Pork Chop,
watch out for that dredded B/P bug they tend to get ahold of you and won't let go.

 

[Pork Chop]

Well, if THAT is the black powder bug, I am safe as in my momma's arms! I cannot find ANYONE in town that sells black powder. Most of the gun shops talk to me as if I am a nusiance when I ask about black powder and point at the Pyrodex or Triple 7 saying that it is the same thing. The only real black powder that I have is what was in the flask that Dad had back in the early 80's. It still fires the gun, but once it is gone, it looks like I will be using the fakes.

Before anyone suggests it, I cannot afford to buy 10 or 25lbs of black powder at this point in the game. Even if I could, I don't know that I would EVER shoot it all...

 

[Rebel]

Well, if you are certain you are going to have to use one of the substitute powders, you might want to save the real bp in the flask and use just 10 grs of it or so under the sub. to get it to ignite. Might let you shoot a little longer.

 

[Stumpkiller]

... I don't know that I would EVER shoot it all...

Oh, you'd be surprised. ::

10 lbs is only 800 or 900 shots. Barely a safe reserve.

I feel your pain. No one carries it hereabouts. I ended up ordering from Powder Inc. We have a newly opened Gander Mountain that might, but is "waiting to hear back on their permits". Same story I got from one an hours drive south in PA; same story, three monthly visits running.