The first muzzle loader I shot was the one my dad built. CVA Kentucky rifle. (45 cal) I watched him build it, although he didn’t put the sights on it that were in the kit, he put modern rifle sights on it..
I am now 60, which means the rifle is about 48 years old. I found a 54 cal Hawkins and bought it, then found a 1858 revolver at a pawn shop, that looked new.
I don’t know how old I was when I learned to shoot, I learned with an old 22 cal unmentionable, that rifle was used to teach all of us kids to shoot, as well as my son, and will be used to teach my grandson to shoot..
I really enjoy my BP ‘toys’