Hello from UK

[BritJoe]

Hi all, new member from NE England.

Experienced rabbiter with 22LR, 17HMR and silenced 410 but been looking for something more deliberate and relaxing for general hunting so I've taken the plunge and my first step into this black powder malarky.

Last week a 1979 repro Ardesa 12 bore "fowler" crossed my path which I feel will make a good starter gun. Took it out for a few shots today with pyrodex no 5 loads, nothing serious, just plinking tin cans, getting familiar and really enjoyed myself. My shooting mate thinks I'm mad, he's not into it at all so I'm on my own and looking forward to learning a lot from this forum. He's also rubbish at taking photos, this looks like it's from the 70's but it was actually taken 6 hours ago! I had to have a picture though, it's been a day to remember.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Welcome, from The States.

LD

 

[Ponderosaman]

Welcome from the Southwest U.S. AZ. You’ve come to the right place for good advice. For the record, your shooting mate is correct, you are mad, but really is that a bad thing?

 

[Old Timer 48]

Welcome!

 

[frankie]

Hi all, new member from NE England.

Experienced rabbiter with 22LR, 17HMR and silenced 410 but been looking for something more deliberate and relaxing for general hunting so I've taken the plunge and my first step into this black powder malarky.

Last week a 1979 repro Ardesa 12 bore "fowler" crossed my path which I feel will make a good starter gun. Took it out for a few shots today with pyrodex no 5 loads, nothing serious, just plinking tin cans, getting familiar and really enjoyed myself. My shooting mate thinks I'm mad, he's not into it at all so I'm on my own and looking forward to learning a lot from this forum. He's also rubbish at taking photos, this looks like it's from the 70's but it was actually taken 6 hours ago! I had to have a picture though, it's been a day to remember.

welcome from USA Oklahoma

 

[Eutycus]

Howdy and Welcome from Texas!

 

[Rudyard]

Welcome from New Zealand , up your way is'' Felt Wad he really knows his UK hunting with MLs & I have spent many happy hours chaseing Woodies & such. Nor sure about pyrodex Iv'e neve seen a grain of the stuff .I stayed with Black NE ? What town ?. I long since gave up on UK laws so voted with my feet. We have luny left govt at present but it wont last other wise you could just about any thing an RFD could do in UK .And so many deer they are classified a' pests '. . You will find all kinds of advise on ML Forums . Pyrodex That stuff is corrosive best stay with black powder.
Regards Rudyard

 

[thomas]

Welcome to the forum.
Thomas

 

[david w]

Hi all, new member from NE England.

Experienced rabbiter with 22LR, 17HMR and silenced 410 but been looking for something more deliberate and relaxing for general hunting so I've taken the plunge and my first step into this black powder malarky.

Last week a 1979 repro Ardesa 12 bore "fowler" crossed my path which I feel will make a good starter gun. Took it out for a few shots today with pyrodex no 5 loads, nothing serious, just plinking tin cans, getting familiar and really enjoyed myself. My shooting mate thinks I'm mad, he's not into it at all so I'm on my own and looking forward to learning a lot from this forum. He's also rubbish at taking photos, this looks like it's from the 70's but it was actually taken 6 hours ago! I had to have a picture though, it's been a day to remember.

Shooting black powder is an infectious disease. You have entered the "dark side". There is no antidote at this time. Welcome from across the big pond!

 

[Auldjin]

Greetings from north of the border.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Welcome from the Australian New England.

 

[BritJoe]

Thanks for the welcome everyone, it seems to be quite an international community

Pyrodex That stuff is corrosive best stay with black powder.

Yes, it's purely a practical matter at the moment, the options were buy a gun and shoot it or buy one and wait for an Explosives Certificate to be processed and adhere to the more stringent storage conditions that apply under UK law. So I'll persevere with the Pyrodex for now as I can buy it easily on my Shotgun Certificate.

Actually I've long wanted to try muzzleloading and already have an original P59 Enfield Musket, a smoothbore version of the P53 issued to native troops who were not to be entrusted with rifles. I hold it as a "curiosity or ornament" so I can hang it on my wall but to shoot it it would need to go on certificate and be stored in a cabinet - and it's too long for the cabinet I have. Also while the bore looks perfect to my untrained eye the stock has cracks and slight shrinkage so I think it would need re-stocking first and all of that has put me off using it so far.

Under is my "new" Ardesa which I snapped up as being ideal for a beginner, modern proofs, newly made and in regular 12 bore for easier loads. It also fits my cabinet and I find it handier. Also are my flasks an original shot and a replica powder although I've got a feeling I'll be using pre measured charges most of the time as there's not going to be much point carting such quantities around. They are a nice way to store the shot and powder though and you just have to have some nice accessories don't you?

Well I'm hoping to get out one evening this week and shoot some more. Who knows where this will lead, a flintlock, a rifle? Somehow I don't think the Adesa will be my last, I'll keep you posted.

 

[toot]

Welcome to the site. that gun looks awesome! toot.

 

[jimhallam]

Hi from just outside NRA Bisley ;-)
With the ambulance-chasing lawyers around you would be advised to have any firearm that you used "Of Proof" -- the repros generally are, and so are the originals made in the Birmingham Trade (or completed from parts imported from Belgium) -- but beware of the others.
The other thing is to ENsure that you are properly INsured.
I know it sounds like doom-and-gloom but in the sad event of any problems such as a breech explosion the Insurance company will be looking to repudiate any claim.
Using a powder flask does have some potential for problems. Back in the day one could buy double-ended "chargers" with flip-top lids.
Google "antique double ended powder and shot chargers ;-)
so using chargers in a 12-bore cartridge belt is a continuation of that 19thC idea.
Plastic medicine phials are feasible, but DO check when loading that the electricity doesn't mean that some grains are left inside. (Some people use a brass cartridge case with a cork.)

You might consider joining the MLAGB -- there are some very active branches shooting clays.

ATB

Jim Hallam

 

[SamTex1949]

Howdy from the piney woods of East Texas ! very nice looking pair of shooters there and accessories !
you will hear all side of BP versus Pryro , but you have to work with what you got for now !

 

[deermanok]

Welcome from Oklahoma, USA

 

[bisleyjohn]

Welcome to the madness from Plymouth, UK. Jim is right, look at the MLAGB, I don’t shoot BP clays but many do and you might enjoy the companynof others. The explosives licence shouldn’t take long, and, its free. You need only get an approved box. Nothing bears the smell of freshly burned proper black, unless it’s Castrol R!

 

[user 49399]

Howdy from East Tennessee

 

[Mtman725]

Howdy SW Montana here.

 

[LSLibelo]

Welcome from California.