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At 25 yds from a rest about a 3" group from either barrel. Holes from either bbl will usually touch. 50 gr. 3F Schutzen. Goex is not as consistant. Shot loads are 1oz dipper for both powder and shot. Goex with shot works good. Save the Schutzen for single balls.
 
The black powder hunting regulations here in Idaho specifically prohibit a muzzle loading pistol and revolver for hunting, regardless of barrel length. (Revolvers because the cylinder is not loaded from the muzzle of the barrel.)
On the plus side, during the muzzle loader only season 209 primers, and powder pellets are prohibited. The regulations specifically limit you to percussion caps, musket caps or flintlock, and loose powder and a round or conical ball that is within .01" of the bore diameter.
Sabots are specifically prohibited.
Unless a flint lock, when the hammer is cocked the cap/musket cap must be visible, too.
I'm not sure if a black powder pistol of the approprite calibure can be used in the "Any Weapon" seasons.
 
The black powder hunting regulations here in Idaho specifically prohibit a muzzle loading pistol and revolver for hunting, regardless of barrel length. (Revolvers because the cylinder is not loaded from the muzzle of the barrel.)
On the plus side, during the muzzle loader only season 209 primers, and powder pellets are prohibited. The regulations specifically limit you to percussion caps, musket caps or flintlock, and loose powder and a round or conical ball that is within .01" of the bore diameter.
Sabots are specifically prohibited.
Unless a flint lock, when the hammer is cocked the cap/musket cap must be visible, too.
I'm not sure if a black powder pistol of the approprite calibure can be used in the "Any Weapon" seasons.
That's funny, Washington State, just about the opposite. I can use my Plain's Pistol, and it pretty much fits the game dept.'s requirements to a "T". On the other hand, Washington has been allowing more and more concessions to the inline crowd, and more recently to the point that I believe about the only restrictions on ML's is no scopes, and I'm sure that will probably be coming next.

In Wa., the "Any Weapon" season(s) is actually a "any legal weapon" season. For instance bear can be hunted with "any legal weapon", meaning that a ML still has to meet it's requirements, (except that a double barrel can have both barrels loaded) same as with a modern rifle, handgun, etc. That is probably the case in Idaho, I would assume. ??
 
I have hunted and killed with a Ruger Old Army. I don't consider killing a skunk out next to the barn during the afternoon as hunting. Same for the Raccoon that was shot at the chicken coop one day around noon. I killed possums, raccoons, skunks, about 20 groundhogs, one or two errant dogs, a fox and even a few snakes. Some were just killed and most were hunted. The fox was killed late in the day as I waited for him. He had been killing one or two chickens per day. Around dusk he would come down off the hill behind the barn. I sat behind some bales of hay on a hay wagon waiting for him.
 
A fair number of Zulus had firearms already, even more after the battle. Many of the Zulus at Rourke's Drift also had firearms.
We're fortunate that two of the best made "Zulu" movies are on YouTube. Although there are inaccuracies in every movie, they neglected to depict the solar eclipse in "Zulu Dawn."





There isn't much written about him but whenever anyone gets the chance, they should research Sasha Siemel. He hunted jaguars with a spear! I first read about him in Peter Capstick's book, "Death in Silent Places." There is some rare footage in this interview of someone who knew Sasha Siemel alnog with his widow.

 
I am a fan of the spear, and often carry one when hiking, back packing or exploring. The spear is a far far far far more lethal and effective weapon than most people realize. Eskimos hunted polar bears with them, and Northern Alaskan Indians were quite fond of taking on Brown bears with a spear. And of course, some African tribes required a young man to kill a lion with a spear, to prove he was a man. Yeah!!!
cavber.jpg
 
We're fortunate that two of the best made "Zulu" movies are on YouTube. Although there are inaccuracies in every movie, they neglected to depict the solar eclipse in "Zulu Dawn."





There isn't much written about him but whenever anyone gets the chance, they should research Sasha Siemel. He hunted jaguars with a spear! I first read about him in Peter Capstick's book, "Death in Silent Places." There is some rare footage in this interview of someone who knew Sasha Siemel alnog with his widow.


As a youngster I remember some black and white films of Sasha Siemel taking on Jaguars in South America. More testosterone than I have!
 
I have hunted and killed with a Ruger Old Army. I don't consider killing a skunk out next to the barn during the afternoon as hunting. Same for the Raccoon that was shot at the chicken coop one day around noon. I killed possums, raccoons, skunks, about 20 groundhogs, one or two errant dogs, a fox and even a few snakes. Some were just killed and most were hunted. The fox was killed late in the day as I waited for him. He had been killing one or two chickens per day. Around dusk he would come down off the hill behind the barn. I sat behind some bales of hay on a hay wagon waiting for him.
Well you shouldn't have put that fox in charge of the hen-house. Therein lies your mistake. Yep, racoons can really make a mess out of the chicken flock. We got hit badly once. What a bloody mess.
 
I am a fan of the spear, and often carry one when hiking, back packing or exploring. The spear is a far far far far more lethal and effective weapon than most people realize. Eskimos hunted polar bears with them, and Northern Alaskan Indians were quite fond of taking on Brown bears with a spear. And of course, some African tribes required a young man to kill a lion with a spear, to prove he was a man. Yeah!!!View attachment 6825
Eskimos and other interior Indians here in Alaska used to use spears on bears (before they acquired firearms) in their dens, not in the open. Their technique was to find a den, work a hole in the roof and spear from above and outside,which makes a lot of sense when dealing with bears. But then was the risky job of going into the den to retrieve your hopefully dead prey. You may kill a bear in the open with a spear but not before he or she kills or maims you, which takes one swipe of a paw or head bite of their jaws and a mad bear isn't afraid of any spear wither black bear or brown bear.
 
To my knowledge, and I have studied the Eskimo, a favorite ploy of the Eskimos was to sick the dogs on the bear, and kill it with spears, in the open. That had to be quite the melee I bet. !!! I also know that some of the Alaskan (interior) Indians would tease the bear until it charged, and then put the butt of the spear against a tree, and the bear would impale it's self, "run up the spear". A longer than normal spear was used for that. I believe a bear can be killed with a spear, in the open, but indeed it is a risky business, and you may indeed be killed. And of course your odds of success go up when you do such hunting in a group...few native people would seek out a bear to kill with a spear all by their selves. !!! Killing it with several spears would work better...spears, not spear. !! :) On the other hand, young men of certain African tribes, when killing the lion with a spear, in order to become a man, were required to do it alone. And of course, one would prefer to kill a bear in it's den I'm sure, rather than taking it on in the open. But we don't always get what we prefer.
 
Let's get off of the spear discussion and back to the original topic, Handgun Hunting.

IMO, the spear discussions belong on "The Traditional Spear Forum". (I'm sure there is something like that somewhere on the web.)
 
My first hand gun kill was about 1976 up in Stephens County Texas with a 1861.
It was a hard pressed triple F running shot right through the shoulder.
What we're talking here is instant pile up, real stopping power and just about the best dead flop you ever saw on a field mouse.
 
My first hand gun kill was about 1976 up in Stephens County Texas with a 1861.
It was a hard pressed triple F running shot right through the shoulder.
What we're talking here is instant pile up, real stopping power and just about the best dead flop you ever saw on a field mouse.

Sounds like the .36 really crushed both shoulders! Ha ha!
 
My first hand gun kill was about 1976 up in Stephens County Texas with a 1861.
It was a hard pressed triple F running shot right through the shoulder.
What we're talking here is instant pile up, real stopping power and just about the best dead flop you ever saw on a field mouse.
Willy and Joe Rat.jpg
 
My first hand gun kill was about 1976 up in Stephens County Texas with a 1861.
It was a hard pressed triple F running shot right through the shoulder.
What we're talking here is instant pile up, real stopping power and just about the best dead flop you ever saw on a field mouse.
:)
 
I have strongly considered the Plains Pistol as a primary weapon. But my rifle is .50 cal so unless that changes, and it might, I’d opt for the .50 cal version. I do like the .54 cal though and wish I would have started there instead. I’ve been contemplating having this barrel turned into a 28 ga.

I’ve also drooled all over the pics of short barreled rifles I’ve seen posted here or online. Measured up my barrel to see how short I could get it without having to mess with the first barrel/thimble (rod holding tube thingy) and figure 17” would about do it. Seems it would make for a nice handy tracking carbine or just for hunting in thick stuff.
Rod, You might try shooting .50 Maxi Balls in the Great Plains. They surely will penetrate just fine, even at handgun velocity and recoil with a 50 grain load of fffg isn’t objectionable at all.
 
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