How bout a true story--

[blakkpowda]

Hope this is the correct section to generally conversate-Anyway I would like to tell everyone what changed my mind about blackpowder
Here in Louisiana we have an additional two weeks of blackpowder for deer season.I have not made a deer hunt for the last 10 or 15 years because the old homestead was sold to someone who did not want me to "kill everything".I never was that type.I always practiced conservation.
Anyway,the new owner is a good guy.I can now hunt.
My son-in-law owns a muzzleloader.Curious about them I asked him to let me hold it.Felt real good.It leveled off well.Good balance.I then asked him to load it.Looked simple enough.Then I asked him to shoot it so I could see how it and he reacted.He agreed.
Now its gonna get good.I told my son to take an empty milk jug,fill it with water and tie it on the fence a good 75 steps away(ap.75 yds. of course).Then I told my son-in-law (Johnny)one shot--one kill.He got to shaking so bad I thought he was going to light his cigarette before he got it out of the pack.When he leveled off he finally pulled the trigger after looking like the tooth fairy waving her magic wand.Need I say it--he missed the jug,but turning to me he said,"I almost hit it"
I told him to reload and give it to me.I took it and asked him if I could expect any "delay" between trigger pull and firing.He said no--I then asked about recoil.He said about like a 30-30,maybe less.I dont light smoke--hate em--I leveled off on the jug and maybe two seconds later it exploded seemingly before I even pulled the trigger.My son said DAMN (he did yell)and all Johnnie said was "you hit it".For sure that was obvious.
Now it gets a little better.I have set up two ladder stands on the old homestead.Johnnie is biting at the bits to go plunk his booty down on one after work.Being the sly fox that I am this is what happened next.
I asked him,"Johnnie,if I let you use one of my stands for blackpowder after work(was gonna let him anyway) you think maybe I could borrow your gun to make a morning hunt?"Being the talker that he is he said "uh-huh"(the boy never shuts his mouth,unlike me)--"Good I told him,but you still cant shoot worth a manure"--He lit another cigarette (dats tru yeah)
I now have a new outlook on muzzleloaders and will definatrly own one by next season.Being retired I am on a limited income and there are too many days left at the end of the money.Add to this fact that Xmas time is here and "poppy/mawmaw" have to pay Santa the shipping charges on the list the grandkids made since summer.Santa does not offer a buyers club discount.
Ain't life wonderful?Take MY guns--no way--gonna add to my arsenal soon.Hope everyone enjoys reading this as much as I enjoyed sharing it.And dont forget---(dats tru yeah)---Later--

 

[Zonie]

Glad to have you join us in this great sport!

Now, a few thoughts on muzzleloading guns and stuffin's. Although I'm sure you already know this, I'll say it anyway.

There are the new fangled muzzleloaders that look like modern guns. We don't talk much about them on this forum, but I'll just point out a few things about them.
*They aren't any easier to clean than the traditional sidelocks. In fact, they are a little harder to clean (more pieces to have to remove and install).
*They have fast twist barrels that are designed for modern sabots and jacketed bullets. These sabots (plastic sleeves) and jacketed bullets cost anywhere from 3 to 20 times more than the traditional round lead balls.
*Many of them have fancy cap holders that use #209 shotgun primers. These can be a pain in the A to handle, load and keep clean.

Summing it up, these guns have no tradition, shoot expensive bullets and are usually built with a plastic stock.

The typical sidelock guns are made for shooting inexpensive patched round balls and some lead slugs.
* They can often be found at very reasonable prices at used gun stores or pawn shops. Just be careful to make sure the bore isn't rusted, pitted or bulged.
In my neck of the woods, the prices for a used gun in good condition can range from $120 for a old CVA Hawken or Frontier, $150 for a Traditions Hawken or Kentucky Rifle, $220 for a Thompson Center Hawken or Renegade, $270 for a Lyman Great Plains Rifle (the Great Plains Hunter has the fast twist barrel).
*Twist rates of 48:1 thru 70:1 are made for shooting round balls. Twist rates of 20:1 to 36:1 are made for the same expensive sabots mentioned above.

Out to 100 yards, a .50 caliber or larger round ball will be all thats needed for hunting deer.
I would keep the range down to 75 yards for the .45 caliber guns.


Thanks for joining us and sharing your story.

 

[blakkpowda]

Zonie:

Well said and I fully respect that this site is steered toward traditional loaders,but in the case of a newbie to these firearms I feel that the "in-line" rifles are the only way to get ya feet wet.
I would have to wonder why anyone would want to hock a traditional loader at a pawn shop.I would rather spend my hard earned money on one of the newer types rather than risk a pitted or otherwise damaged barrel or no telling what kind of gremlins that may hide within.
This is of course only my opinion and I know it may not apply to anyone else in the loader community.An old saying that my father often repeated was "different strokes for different folks".
Where else but the good ole U.S. of A. could anyone exercise this right.
What a pity that modern loaders are not talked about much here. A suggestion would be that perhaps the site should include such a chat room.
Thx for listening--

 

.He got to shaking so bad I thought he was going to light his cigarette before he got it out of the pack.When he leveled off he finally pulled the trigger after

Just a note, I don't know if this is just some figure of speech or perhaps I misunderstood however, just for the record, never smoke while handleing black powder. This includes a loaded firearm, powder horn, percussion caps etc. Personally i like a 50 yard rule.

Cody

 

[Gary]

What's with the bias against plastic stocks? I'd love to have an ejection moulded Ferguson stock. It would be sturdier than wood and if the metal was a blackened stainless, I'd have the ultimate 18th Century Assault Rifle. OK, where's the puke smiley?

 

[blakkpowda]

Cody:

Never thought about the "smoking" scenario you just called to attention--Even tho I personally dont smoke I guess I will now look at the muzzleloader as a rifle I do not want to handle after all--Will also bring this to the attention of my son-in-law--See there--Good things does come out of forums--Thx for the info.

Gary:

Good points you make--Guess its neither "here nor there" as far as I am concerned now because Cody has changed my mind about "loaders" anyway--

 

[blakkpowda]

Cody:

I forgot to mention. My son-in-law was not smoking while holding or shooting his in-line--He was making smoke while I held his loader and after he crushed the butt I handed it back to him so he could level off.Thx again tho for pointing out the safty issue to us.I think I'll just stay with my "47's"--

 

[Zonie]

"... I guess I will now look at the muzzleloader as a rifle I do not want to handle after all--Will also bring this to the attention of my son-in-law..."

Well, I for one think you ought to continue to get familiar with them.
Whichever style you decide to go with, they are still a lot of fun.

As for In-lines on this Forum, we already tried that. Didn't work out. In fact, it ended up in a large finger pointing, name calling war so the owner decided to end it once and for all.

Hope you stop by and sit awhile. I think you will find us to be a good bunch of folks who will bend over backwards to help with any Traditional muzzleloading questions you have.

Zonie

 

[blakkpowda]

Zonie:
Never planned on leaving.Have left some gun forums tho because some there seemed to make fun of issues that some folks have interest in.
I have felt at home here from the start.Really appreciate all the replies I recieve even tho the site is not steered toward what was my new "interest"(in-line)
You can count on me sitting and chewing the fat as I love to talk. Can't remember ever meeting a stranger and also a firm believer in "tradition".Along with that I have many real life experiences and stories to tell although not directly related to loaders, only because I am a newbie.
Your photo caught my eye. Native American? When I was a lil boy my grandmother told me that my great-grandmothers people came here on the "Trail of Tears". Being a lil boy that wanted to go out and play cowboy and indians I never sat still long enough to listen--What a shame--Funny thing is I always had a knack for peeling the bark from a green pecan limb and using a piece of hay string to turn it into a bow--Any piece of stick I could find would complete my "survival loader"--My friends would use an old stick or even a corncob for a pistol--Of course my handmade bow and arrow always ruled--Never got scalped either--We had no British to teach this awful thing to the white man as a means of a bounty for wiping us out.
See there.I just sat with you and talked a while--Enjoyed it too.Hope you did also.----

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Blakkpowda Retired at 53 I had to work til I was 56.Just a hunch but I bet you will start looking in the gun shops & pawn shops maybe look in the classifieds,just a hunch. :winking: Rocky

 

[blakkpowda]

Rocky

I'm always looking for a deal whether it be a gun or whatever. Retired at 53 is not exactly correct. After 33 years on the same job its "time to leave"--I still work,but at my own pace and when I want to. I am finally enjoying life the way it was intended. I have paid my dues so to speak and still have my health to enjoy life which of course revolves around family. Guns, shooting guns and teaching my sons as well as grandkids their proper handling,maintenance and intended use is in my opinion a very important part of their future as well as the limited time that I have left.As a firm believer in the Constitution "as written" must I say more?Our sons,daughters,grandkids and those that they produce and teach are indeed our future.When I lay my head down at night I thank God for what he has given and ask only to awake to a new day of peace-------When night comes the cycle repeats itself------Thx for listening------

 

[Zonie]

Native American? No, not unless you consider being born here in the USA makes me a Native. More like German/English with blue eyes.
As for retiring, I've got 39 1/2 years in with the same company but I'm joining you at the end of this month.

Pawn shops? Sure I go to pawn shops. Bought a few guns there too. For the most part, I like gun shows better though. Not so many lawn mowers, tool boxes and dull axes to trip over. :g :g Fact is, there's a gun show this week end that I'll be stopping by.
Never ceases to amaze me how a rusty hunk of iron with a split walnut stock can be worth so much money just because it says Winchester or Colt on it.
The last show I went to at this place a guy had a original .50 caliber CVA Mountain rifle with a "Made in USA" (Douglas) barrel on it. It was in good condition too except the color of the stock was that light color CVA wood brown that I don't like. He wanted $150 for it. I thought of you guys when I saw it, but I didn't feel like dickering with him and I didn't have $150 on me at the time.

Anyway, glad your not leaving. Who knows? Maybe you will start thinking about "Shootin one of em old fashoned guns" one of these days.

 

[blakkpowda]

Zonie:
Look at it like this--If you were born here in the good ole U.S. then you are "native" --Me too!--All my current guns are old--Just dont have any "fashion"--Congrats on joining me at years end-You will not regret it--If you need any "survival" tips while adjusting to retirement life just ring my "e" phone--We'll pull up a log and sit a spell--I (we) are surviving--Even able to buy ammo for my old guns and now have time to shoot them--Looking forward to more "e"---Thx---Mike---

 

[Stumpkiller]

I feel that the "in-line" rifles are the only way to get ya feet wet.

I've heard that from other folks what is all wet.

Luckily, I got started with side-locks before in-lines was available.

Makes ye wonder how folks like Timothy Murphy, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone ever did learn to shoot before even percussions were available. :hmm:

Well, at least we's got ye sniffin in proper blackpowder fumes. It'll get to ye after a piece. They ye start heftin rocks and wonderin if theys flint. Too late to back out by then. :haha:

 

[blakkpowda]

I suppose--maybe--and could be child but who the hell is Timothy Murphy ?--Now Daniel and Davy well they be some a ma heroes---Nuff said--

 

[blakkpowda]

The saying "get ya feet wet" is a term used when describing a way to get started in something, such as a newbie getting into muzzleloading.--

 

[Stony]

Tim Murphy is the rifleman who is credited with shooting General Fraser (british general) during the Saratoga champaign. The shot was about quite a distance and played a factor in winning the battle. There are some who doubt if it was Murphy or another of Morgan's riflemen who fired the shot. Some folks have credited that shot with winning the war.

 

[blakkpowda]

Thx David--Very interesting--I love history--Wish I had more time to research such topics--Nothing like a cold winter night to hunker down and read about such--Makes me feel like I'm "there"-----