Hello from New Zealand

[OlSwede]

Hi, I just joined after I figured out I had probably read nearly all the threads in the flintlock section, so I better join up....

I am mostly a hunter here in NZ, packpack hunting for red deer in our mountains. I have a lot of bolt modern (and vintage) rifles, but I had a Pedersoli flintlock for a while a few years ago, which I enjoyed shooting a great deal although I only took it hunting once (shot a possum).

I ended up wrecking that rifle. I read about "loading for bear" and loaded the .50 cal "Kentucky" rifle with two balls. It worked just fine. Both balls landed within an inch of each other at 55 yards. I decided this would be just the thing for big roaring stags up close, which can be pretty big animals. So I decided to so it again, This time, because of fouling, I couldnt seat the second ball down. It got stuck.

I have been fooling people for years, them thinking I had some intelligence to my thinking, but the truth is I avoid that mostly out of dumbness. So, not taking it home from the range, or trying to find the proper tools for pulling a ball, or doing very much problem solving at all, I decided to shoot it out.

No sooner thought of then done. So that blew the barrel asunder at the muzzle end, and I had to cut four inches off the barrel, which was no fun at all, and the rifle never shot the same ever again. Looking back in truth I can't help but feel partly responsible.

I did wonder if I should ever get another flintlock again, perhaps I dont have the personality for it. But I love them so. I always looked at pictures of them in magazine since I was a kid. I am 53 years old now, so I thought I should try again. Me an my father always liked the old long rifles but never got into it seriously because over here the muzzleloading world is pretty small. We have no muzzleloader season for example. (We have no seasons at all actually). The old man is from Georgia so he always interested me in American hunting rifles and suchlike. We also love lever action rifles. He is getting too old too shoot now, so he has to listen to me telling about it.

Anyway, I have a southern mountain style rifle coming down to me next week, I think its made from a kit from Pecontanica River Valley supply, its an iron mounted rifle with a 42 inch barrel in .50 cal and curly maple. It looks pretty. Hopefully its got a good lock. My plan it to do a little simple carving on it, maybe put a silver star on the buttstock, and then drag it through the mountains and wear it out shooting red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. Starting with some hares! Basically I will use it on everything.

I see I have written an essay. I hope I might ask some questions of experienced members once I get the new rifle. Obviously now and then (as above) I am in need of some wise counsel...

Welcome friend

 

[oldwood]

Welcome from Pa.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Welcome from New York State's Central-Leatherstocking region.

Don't forget to search the archives. We go back decades of posts.

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

Hi, I just joined after I figured out I had probably read nearly all the threads in the flintlock section, so I better join up....

I am mostly a hunter here in NZ, packpack hunting for red deer in our mountains. I have a lot of bolt modern (and vintage) rifles, but I had a Pedersoli flintlock for a while a few years ago, which I enjoyed shooting a great deal although I only took it hunting once (shot a possum).

I ended up wrecking that rifle. I read about "loading for bear" and loaded the .50 cal "Kentucky" rifle with two balls. It worked just fine. Both balls landed within an inch of each other at 55 yards. I decided this would be just the thing for big roaring stags up close, which can be pretty big animals. So I decided to so it again, This time, because of fouling, I couldnt seat the second ball down. It got stuck.

I have been fooling people for years, them thinking I had some intelligence to my thinking, but the truth is I avoid that mostly out of dumbness. So, not taking it home from the range, or trying to find the proper tools for pulling a ball, or doing very much problem solving at all, I decided to shoot it out.

No sooner thought of then done. So that blew the barrel asunder at the muzzle end, and I had to cut four inches off the barrel, which was no fun at all, and the rifle never shot the same ever again. Looking back in truth I can't help but feel partly responsible.

I did wonder if I should ever get another flintlock again, perhaps I dont have the personality for it. But I love them so. I always looked at pictures of them in magazine since I was a kid. I am 53 years old now, so I thought I should try again. Me an my father always liked the old long rifles but never got into it seriously because over here the muzzleloading world is pretty small. We have no muzzleloader season for example. (We have no seasons at all actually). The old man is from Georgia so he always interested me in American hunting rifles and suchlike. We also love lever action rifles. He is getting too old too shoot now, so he has to listen to me telling about it.

Anyway, I have a southern mountain style rifle coming down to me next week, I think its made from a kit from Pecontanica River Valley supply, its an iron mounted rifle with a 42 inch barrel in .50 cal and curly maple. It looks pretty. Hopefully its got a good lock. My plan it to do a little simple carving on it, maybe put a silver star on the buttstock, and then drag it through the mountains and wear it out shooting red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. Starting with some hares! Basically I will use it on everything.

I see I have written an essay. I hope I might ask some questions of experienced members once I get the new rifle. Obviously now and then (as above) I am in need of some wise counsel...

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

Hi, I just joined after I figured out I had probably read nearly all the threads in the flintlock section, so I better join up....

I am mostly a hunter here in NZ, packpack hunting for red deer in our mountains. I have a lot of bolt modern (and vintage) rifles, but I had a Pedersoli flintlock for a while a few years ago, which I enjoyed shooting a great deal although I only took it hunting once (shot a possum).

I ended up wrecking that rifle. I read about "loading for bear" and loaded the .50 cal "Kentucky" rifle with two balls. It worked just fine. Both balls landed within an inch of each other at 55 yards. I decided this would be just the thing for big roaring stags up close, which can be pretty big animals. So I decided to so it again, This time, because of fouling, I couldnt seat the second ball down. It got stuck.

I have been fooling people for years, them thinking I had some intelligence to my thinking, but the truth is I avoid that mostly out of dumbness. So, not taking it home from the range, or trying to find the proper tools for pulling a ball, or doing very much problem solving at all, I decided to shoot it out.

No sooner thought of then done. So that blew the barrel asunder at the muzzle end, and I had to cut four inches off the barrel, which was no fun at all, and the rifle never shot the same ever again. Looking back in truth I can't help but feel partly responsible.

I did wonder if I should ever get another flintlock again, perhaps I dont have the personality for it. But I love them so. I always looked at pictures of them in magazine since I was a kid. I am 53 years old now, so I thought I should try again. Me an my father always liked the old long rifles but never got into it seriously because over here the muzzleloading world is pretty small. We have no muzzleloader season for example. (We have no seasons at all actually). The old man is from Georgia so he always interested me in American hunting rifles and suchlike. We also love lever action rifles. He is getting too old too shoot now, so he has to listen to me telling about it.

Anyway, I have a southern mountain style rifle coming down to me next week, I think its made from a kit from Pecontanica River Valley supply, its an iron mounted rifle with a 42 inch barrel in .50 cal and curly maple. It looks pretty. Hopefully its got a good lock. My plan it to do a little simple carving on it, maybe put a silver star on the buttstock, and then drag it through the mountains and wear it out shooting red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. Starting with some hares! Basically I will use it on everything.

I see I have written an essay. I hope I might ask some questions of experienced members once I get the new rifle. Obviously now and then (as above) I am in need of some wise counsel...

Hi, I just joined after I figured out I had probably read nearly all the threads in the flintlock section, so I better join up....

I am mostly a hunter here in NZ, packpack hunting for red deer in our mountains. I have a lot of bolt modern (and vintage) rifles, but I had a Pedersoli flintlock for a while a few years ago, which I enjoyed shooting a great deal although I only took it hunting once (shot a possum).

I ended up wrecking that rifle. I read about "loading for bear" and loaded the .50 cal "Kentucky" rifle with two balls. It worked just fine. Both balls landed within an inch of each other at 55 yards. I decided this would be just the thing for big roaring stags up close, which can be pretty big animals. So I decided to so it again, This time, because of fouling, I couldnt seat the second ball down. It got stuck.

I have been fooling people for years, them thinking I had some intelligence to my thinking, but the truth is I avoid that mostly out of dumbness. So, not taking it home from the range, or trying to find the proper tools for pulling a ball, or doing very much problem solving at all, I decided to shoot it out.

No sooner thought of then done. So that blew the barrel asunder at the muzzle end, and I had to cut four inches off the barrel, which was no fun at all, and the rifle never shot the same ever again. Looking back in truth I can't help but feel partly responsible.

I did wonder if I should ever get another flintlock again, perhaps I dont have the personality for it. But I love them so. I always looked at pictures of them in magazine since I was a kid. I am 53 years old now, so I thought I should try again. Me an my father always liked the old long rifles but never got into it seriously because over here the muzzleloading world is pretty small. We have no muzzleloader season for example. (We have no seasons at all actually). The old man is from Georgia so he always interested me in American hunting rifles and suchlike. We also love lever action rifles. He is getting too old too shoot now, so he has to listen to me telling about it.

Anyway, I have a southern mountain style rifle coming down to me next week, I think its made from a kit from Pecontanica River Valley supply, its an iron mounted rifle with a 42 inch barrel in .50 cal and curly maple. It looks pretty. Hopefully its got a good lock. My plan it to do a little simple carving on it, maybe put a silver star on the buttstock, and then drag it through the mountains and wear it out shooting red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. Starting with some hares! Basically I will use it on everything.

I see I have written an essay. I hope I might ask some questions of experienced members once I get the new rifle. Obviously now and then (as above) I am in need of some wise counsel...

Kia Ora ehoa
Good to see you here.
You will get some fantastic information & help from the folks here.
Your rifle sounds really nice.
Happy hunting.
Nga mihi
Pukatea boy.
Great to see another Kiwi here too .

 

[Carlsen Highway]

Ha thanks brother. We are on the same island, I am not far from Dunedin

 

[Bushfire]

Where in Aus are you? (Im also an aussie citizen) Im not worried about using a .50 round ball though, I think it will be fine out to 100 metres. I just wanted to try loading for bear and if it was doable then I would do it! I have shot deer with a .222 and black powder .44-40 too.

I’m in Victoria.

I think you’d find a 50 cal round ball would sort out a black bear sized animal easily. For griz, I wouldn’t know but I’d like a 58 or bigger I reckon.

I’m having a 58 built at the moment, has a good amount of cease and desist with a 270gn ball!

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

Welcome from France! The Muzzleloading scene is pretty small here too.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

Hello and welcome from Pennsylvania.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Welcome from New England, the one close to you.

 

[BPKiwi]

Kia Ora ehoa,

Where abouts in NZ are you mate? Definitely a few smoke pole shooters around. Although I've just left my beloved Marlborough Sounds and shifted to Canada (wife's home) 2 months ago.
It's always pretty exciting when you've got big red in front of you and a smoke pole in your hands.

All the best,

BPKiwi

 

[hbasajaun]

Welcome,I am from Spain,I was hunting in NZ Seven times,wtih muzzloader and bowl,amazing place for hunting,I talke only rabbits and Canadá gosse ,shooted thars and chamois but I missed,

 

[Wncman]

Welcome from Western North Carolina

 

[Tanglefoot]

Welcome from the Texas Hill Country. Just a suggestion: Get a ball puller and a patch worm that fit your ramrod and don't shoot any more obstructions out, eh?

 

[Kristov]

Hello and Welcome from HOKITIKA STH WESTLAND NZ

 

[CVA Enthusiast]

Welcome from Kentucky!

 

[Sparks of Dutch Glory]

Welcome from Pennsylvania

 

[Rudyard]

Hi, I just joined after I figured out I had probably read nearly all the threads in the flintlock section, so I better join up....

I am mostly a hunter here in NZ, packpack hunting for red deer in our mountains. I have a lot of bolt modern (and vintage) rifles, but I had a Pedersoli flintlock for a while a few years ago, which I enjoyed shooting a great deal although I only took it hunting once (shot a possum).

I ended up wrecking that rifle. I read about "loading for bear" and loaded the .50 cal "Kentucky" rifle with two balls. It worked just fine. Both balls landed within an inch of each other at 55 yards. I decided this would be just the thing for big roaring stags up close, which can be pretty big animals. So I decided to so it again, This time, because of fouling, I couldnt seat the second ball down. It got stuck.

I have been fooling people for years, them thinking I had some intelligence to my thinking, but the truth is I avoid that mostly out of dumbness. So, not taking it home from the range, or trying to find the proper tools for pulling a ball, or doing very much problem solving at all, I decided to shoot it out.

No sooner thought of then done. So that blew the barrel asunder at the muzzle end, and I had to cut four inches off the barrel, which was no fun at all, and the rifle never shot the same ever again. Looking back in truth I can't help but feel partly responsible.

I did wonder if I should ever get another flintlock again, perhaps I dont have the personality for it. But I love them so. I always looked at pictures of them in magazine since I was a kid. I am 53 years old now, so I thought I should try again. Me an my father always liked the old long rifles but never got into it seriously because over here the muzzleloading world is pretty small. We have no muzzleloader season for example. (We have no seasons at all actually). The old man is from Georgia so he always interested me in American hunting rifles and suchlike. We also love lever action rifles. He is getting too old too shoot now, so he has to listen to me telling about it.

Anyway, I have a southern mountain style rifle coming down to me next week, I think its made from a kit from Pecontanica River Valley supply, its an iron mounted rifle with a 42 inch barrel in .50 cal and curly maple. It looks pretty. Hopefully its got a good lock. My plan it to do a little simple carving on it, maybe put a silver star on the buttstock, and then drag it through the mountains and wear it out shooting red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. Starting with some hares! Basically I will use it on everything.

I see I have written an essay. I hope I might ask some questions of experienced members once I get the new rifle. Obviously now and then (as above) I am in need of some wise counsel...

Well another Kiwi hunter & very frank ,While the glory days of many getting into Muzzle loading mostly thanks to Tony Hawkins offerings ''Got to get the jokers shooting '' to quote him .may have past there are still bods like me shootings MLs and hunting with them. Some might have done more bush miles than Thomas Brunner & Ekehu me among them . Partly responsible ? perhaps a tad more ? but I admire your frankness .Since 1968 when I was culling in the Uraweras Iv'e only hunted with MLs or mostly . I did hunt with a bow and once a WR Improuved Martini in No 2 Musket .heavy brute !,Now I like light guns my pet being a 50 cal Flint rifle made to be 5 pounds mid 18th English provincial though I have made long rifles but the only one I used was in Canada and I was fitter then .Well welcome indeed ,where abouts ? Ime Nelson way theirs a few worthys Top end shoot MLs ,from the listed tally your well south of me . Don't know if I can muster much in the' wise council department' but I never had a gun blow up on me so might have a few clues & over the years in various country's have made over 200 guns only one a breach loader & that was a' Turn Off 'Flint rifle .great idea shot hard but too fiddley to reload in the bush (Never catch on!).
I think Southern mountain is useually plain jane I stocked up an old barrel and made one 40 cal new might been one other with an iron lid tool box I forget ( Ime pushing 80 your allowed too.)so that's two or three I suppose but I only made three with a new barrel. a patron brought in the Rice brl & suitable Stock blank to have me make a flint rifle' After' Peter ? Brong ..He's a keen hunter .Now the bsteds of the previous govt have made getting any thing in hard . But we have our Nicole so that rot might get Ar ed
Welcome to the forum .Regards Rudyard

 

[Bucks Co]

And welcome from Nelson! I shoot with the Marlborough Club and Nelson Pistol Club as well as NZ Antique Arms. My favourite rifle is a 40 cal Percussion Bedford County built by Rudyard. Also have a very nice 40cal Bucks Co. My 'knock-about' and loaner is a heavily modified CVA Kentucky in 45.
The key to this game is to just have fun doing it, own your 'mistakes' and learn from them.

 

[aussie pete]

Hi, I just joined after I figured out I had probably read nearly all the threads in the flintlock section, so I better join up....

I am mostly a hunter here in NZ, packpack hunting for red deer in our mountains. I have a lot of bolt modern (and vintage) rifles, but I had a Pedersoli flintlock for a while a few years ago, which I enjoyed shooting a great deal although I only took it hunting once (shot a possum).

I ended up wrecking that rifle. I read about "loading for bear" and loaded the .50 cal "Kentucky" rifle with two balls. It worked just fine. Both balls landed within an inch of each other at 55 yards. I decided this would be just the thing for big roaring stags up close, which can be pretty big animals. So I decided to so it again, This time, because of fouling, I couldnt seat the second ball down. It got stuck.

I have been fooling people for years, them thinking I had some intelligence to my thinking, but the truth is I avoid that mostly out of dumbness. So, not taking it home from the range, or trying to find the proper tools for pulling a ball, or doing very much problem solving at all, I decided to shoot it out.

No sooner thought of then done. So that blew the barrel asunder at the muzzle end, and I had to cut four inches off the barrel, which was no fun at all, and the rifle never shot the same ever again. Looking back in truth I can't help but feel partly responsible.

I did wonder if I should ever get another flintlock again, perhaps I dont have the personality for it. But I love them so. I always looked at pictures of them in magazine since I was a kid. I am 53 years old now, so I thought I should try again. Me an my father always liked the old long rifles but never got into it seriously because over here the muzzleloading world is pretty small. We have no muzzleloader season for example. (We have no seasons at all actually). The old man is from Georgia so he always interested me in American hunting rifles and suchlike. We also love lever action rifles. He is getting too old too shoot now, so he has to listen to me telling about it.

Anyway, I have a southern mountain style rifle coming down to me next week, I think its made from a kit from Pecontanica River Valley supply, its an iron mounted rifle with a 42 inch barrel in .50 cal and curly maple. It looks pretty. Hopefully its got a good lock. My plan it to do a little simple carving on it, maybe put a silver star on the buttstock, and then drag it through the mountains and wear it out shooting red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. Starting with some hares! Basically I will use it on everything.

I see I have written an essay. I hope I might ask some questions of experienced members once I get the new rifle. Obviously now and then (as above) I am in need of some wise counsel...

Howdy @Carlsen Highway from another Aussie! Sorry - not a flintlock hunter; percussion cap for me, 54s and 58s. Welcome to the forum - great advice here from a wide range of like-minded folk. Special.

Cheers, Pete.