first black powder gun?

[Zonie]

mattri

Welcome to the forum.
Sense you joined our forum which deals with "Traditional" style muzzleloaders I assume (and hope) that you have ruled out the new style things that are being marketed.
That said, you need to know that the Great Plains Hunter, unlike the Great Plains Rifle is made for shooting the modern (expensive) sabots.

You would be wise to look for a gun with a rate of twist of 1:48 or slower (like 1:60).
Barrels with these slow twist rates shoot patched roundballs and short solid lead bullets very well once the right powder load is found.

If you have ready access to real black powder you might want to consider a Flintlock but if you are like many of us where the synthetic black powders like Pyrodex are the only things available you will definitely want to go with a Percussion style gun.

As I'm sure you've noticed by now, the folks here will be more than happy to give you all of the help you would ever need to get into shooting your muzzleloader.

Oh. As for the best caliber for you, because you live in Wyoming I agree with the others that a .54 would be best. If you can't find a .54 caliber rifle then go with the .50. :hatsoff:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Your location may prove to be an asset. It's just possible that you can find a few real buckskinners in your area. They may be able to put you onto a used Hawken copy in .54 caliber or better and advise you in the first steps of black powder shooting. Buy the best gun you can afford. Check local gun clubs. They often know who is into muzzleloading. Good luck--you are beginning a fascinating and worthwhile journey! Welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

 

[mattri]

Wow, thanks to all who responded. I will deffinetly check out the links. I've been wanting a muzzleloader for a long time and now I'm just starting to put all the information together. Thanks for the advice on caliber, I'll bee looking for a .54-.50. How do the muzzleloaders compare to modern rounds price wise? Say compared to a .308? Thanks again, Matt.

 

[cowpoke1955]

Since you are starting off in muzzle loading, might as well start casting your own balls. After you get your equipment, all you need is pure lead. Compare the cost of casting to store bought balls and you will see how much you save. The more you shoot, the more you save! Soon, casting will pay for itself. Also, you'll never have to worry if the store has your size balls in stock. You can't reload a .308 that cheap :thumbsup:

 

[ian45662]

Since bigger is better what about a big 58 more specifically a zoli "zouave" rifle. You can get them on gun broker for around 400 give or take a few bucks and you can shoot either round ball or mini ball out of them but mini would be better. Its a well built good looking cap lock with a pretty good degree of accuracy and that mini ball will drop just about anything in north America

 

[Zonie]

Its just my opinion but I feel that although the Military .58's will shoot roundballs many of them are somewhat marginal. This is (again my opinion) due to the shallow rifling grooves and the marginal sights that many of them have.

I would suggest sticking with the heavier barreled .50 or .54 calibers.

mattri: You asked about costs and of course this varies with what the prices are in your area.

I can say without hesitation that shooting patched roundballs is the least expensive way to shoot a big bore gun.

Now don't exactly quote me but I think you can get Pyrodex for about $18/pound, roundballs for about $12.50/100, caps for about $4.00/100 and if you can find some close weave cotton fabric the patches are almost free.
You can make your own patch lube for very little money so I'll throw in 2 cents for that.

If you shot a 80 grain powder load (87 shots/pound) that would cost about 21 cents plus the 13 cent roundball plus the 4 cent cap plus 2 cents for lube.
That makes the shot cost about 40 cents each.

If you cast your own balls you could take about 10 cents off of that figure.

Winchester and Remington .308's are going for around $1.00 per shot now. The super duper .308's cost a lot more than that.

The thing that you need to know though is you cannot compare shooting a muzzleloader with a modern gun.
They don't have the range so hunting with one brings back the "hunting" to hunting.
You will be going on a deer hunt, not a deer shoot if you use your sidelock.

Many have found that this brings back the satisfaction that is missing when hunting with a modern rifle.

 

[Backwoods]

Mattri,
Lots of good info here. These are some of the most knowledgeable guys I've run across. Although I've shot muzzle-loaders off and on for the last 7 years, I'm still a raw rookie. Being a traditional bow hunter. I can tell you that Zonie is dead on with respects to hunting with a smoke pole. I almost retired form hunting because there was no satisfaction in sniping animals. My muzzle-loader and my bow have brought back the "Hunt". I also enjoy the quiet time at the range "making good smoke" as these guys are so fond of saying, and tossing lead down range. With two young teenagers, I don't have near the time or the money that I would like to spend on this sport, but I try to do as much as I can.
The .54 would be my first choice, with the .50 in a close second. Later you will find reasons to purchase other calibers. I would not get a kit for my first. To do a kit right requires lots of time, patience, reading and some knowledge of muzzle-loading. Buy a rifle and enjoy it. And by all means, keep us posted on what you get and all the good details.

Hope to see you in the brotherhood soon,
backwoods

 

[ian45662]

Ya I never thought about that zonie if your gonna go round ball then stick with what everyone else has said. Round ball is cheaper and easier to cast in my experience.

 

[mattri]

Ok thanks again for all the good info. I'll be keeping my eyes out for a good deal on a rifle.

 

[Old40Rod]

A Lyman GPR, Cabela's Hawken or TC Hawken in .50 or .54 are great shooters. I don't think you could go wrong with any of those for a 1st BP rifle.

 

[Trench]

Wow, thanks to all who responded. I will deffinetly check out the links. I've been wanting a muzzleloader for a long time and now I'm just starting to put all the information together. Thanks for the advice on caliber, I'll bee looking for a .54-.50. How do the muzzleloaders compare to modern rounds price wise? Say compared to a .308? Thanks again, Matt.

This will give you an idea of cost. I figured out the following cost assuming I'm using hunting loads for my rifle:

.36 caliber = (.25 cents/shot) ($5.04/20)
.50 caliber = (.34 cents/shot) ($6.87/20)
.58 caliber = (.44 cents/shot) ($8.86/20)

So, you can see it's quite a bit cheaper than centerfire cartridges and punches holes in paper and game just as well...if not better.

 

[MikeChapin]

Over Labor Day Fort Bridger has a big doin's. There are usually a lot of vendors there and there should be some rifles for sale that you can heft and see how you like them. It is just down the road from you so it is not an all day trip.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the heads up I'll check it out.

 

[bdhutier]

Ok thanks again for all the good info. I'll be keeping my eyes out for a good deal on a rifle.

Don't forget gunshows! I picked up my practically new .50 Renegade for $80 at one. Everyone was to busy drooling over M14s and 9mms, I guess.

 

[luieb45]

What about a Traditions Springfield Hawken? I've heard those shoot good and are more affordable than the other muzzleloaders listed.

 

[Robert58]

There is a nice Lyman Great Plains Rifle 50 cal. with round ball twist barrel on Gun Broker auction site for $300.00 buy now. You can get a 50 cal. fast twist hunter barrel for it (about $125.00) from Midsouth shooters supply and be set to hunt anything in North America.

Robert

 

[PvtC]

The Pedersoli Kodiak you are considering retails for about 1 grand. If that price is within your means consider something like an "in the white" semi custom. You would finish the wood and metal. TN Valley Muzzleloading, Tip Curtis among others can get you started. Pick a style and then let the forum members make suggestions. If the bug bites hard you'll likely be upgrading someday. Why wait, life is short.