If you could change one thing about muzzleloading...

[chazz1975]

I would like to see more matches in my area in Southeast Michigan. Also, I would like Michigan to put the ML deer season with archery at the beginning of October instead of early-mid december.

 

[kodiakmarine]

It does matter to many of us. There is something depressing about seeing our ML brethren being treated like prospective criminals :td: . We are with you in spirit.

The problem is the rest of us don't see any way we can influence opinions in other lands :idunno: . We can only sympathize and hope that your efforts and those of your colleagues will spark a reawakening of historical interest in firearms in the UK. It seems that people will act only when they have a personal stake in the outcome. Best of luck in your endeavors. - John

 

[THBailey]

Change one thing about my muzzle loading experience? Let's see...

If I could go back in time, that I would have started with it sooner in life.

Can't go back in time, so I guess I am just going to have to settle on wishing I could shoot a bit better.

 

[nkbj]

I would like to see flint outcroppings distributed more evenly across the US. Somebody get on that would you?

 

[TFoley]

Thanks for your kind thought, BigDad. As you note, you can have no influence whatsoever on what happens over here with regard to the laws on gun ownership. It's just such a RPITA.

We DO have a lot of interest in older guns - a very thriving English Civil War re-enactment group [The Sealed Knot Society] and a noisy and smokey WoNA group that can put on something like the Battle of Shiloh with a believable number of feet on the ground. However, MOST of them who carry firearms do NOT shoot anything in them except blanks, due, in the main, to the draconian gun laws that are designed to make it difficult to do so - namely, compulsory membership of a gun club for a start. True, most arms of that era are actually smoothbore and therefore classed as shotguns in UK law, but even THAT requires a shotgun certificate to possess. Replica or the real thing, makes no difference here. If you want to shoot it, you must have 'good reason' to want it in the fust place, and that requirement having been satisfied to the PTB, a certificate to possess it.

Personally I don't clearly recall the last time a black powder firearm was used in the commission of ANY crime in the UK....

Rendezvous and trail-walks are unheard of here, as are any kind of encampment of like-minded people dressed up like folks from Washington's Army. It never happened here, so it doesn't happen here.

Sorry for the rant, folks.

tac

 

[John V.]

I like the idea of a after church shooting matches and actually my church does hold a "shoot" in the fall every year. The wife and I attend a little country church here in north central Indiana where we live. Our church sets on 10 acres in the country surrounded by woods, bean and corn fields with a covered pavilion on the property. Years ago someone built a nice long dirt berm along the creek on the back of the property and that is what we shoot into. Now granted it is not just M/L that get shot during the shoot. But a fun safe time is had by all and at the end we have a big carry-in feed under the pavilion.

 

[THBailey]

I like the idea of a after church shooting matches and actually my church does hold a "shoot" in the fall every year. The wife and I attend a little country church here in north central Indiana where we live. Our church sets on 10 acres in the country surrounded by woods, bean and corn fields with a covered pavilion on the property. Years ago someone built a nice long dirt berm along the creek on the back of the property and that is what we shoot into. Now granted it is not just M/L that get shot during the shoot. But a fun safe time is had by all and at the end we have a big carry-in feed under the pavilion.

Sounds like a ton of fun!

 

[gwalker]

Bravo 4-4,

I envy you for your church shooting matches. My wife and I also attend a small Baptist Church that sits on the edge of town with a pavilion too where several times during the spring/summer/fall picnics are held but no games, much less any sort of shooting match. Oddly, nearly every male in the church owns and shoots multiple types of guns. We do have a local 'club' that puts on a monthly shoot west of town but all they shoot is paper, and all seem to be in a hurry to get their five shots at the four targets done and then head home. Not much excitement. When I put on the monthly shoot, I will mix it up with paper and primitive targets, but few seem to appreciate it. Thus, most of my time is spent alone down in the cottonwoods along the Tongue River where I go shooting up to 3 or 4 times a week when the weather is decent. I'm not complaining; it is very relaxing and I enjoy the quietness while among the cottonwoods where the beaver men of 180 years ago once plied their trade.

George

 

[mr.flintlock]

Colorado Clyde, If I could change anything about muzzleloading, it would be to eliminate these modern inlines from the sport altogether. Shooting these inline rifles with modern scopes and modern propelants and the array of bullets that are available will accurately reach out for 250 yards may technically meet the legal definition of muzzleloaders but I submit to you that it isn't really what muzzleloading is all about. I have been building and shooting muzzleloaders since 1970. I began hunting with them in 1976 and have successfully taken rabbits, squirrels, elk, deer and wild hogs with them. Have hunted exclusively with them since the 1980s and have hunted exclusively with flintlock rifles since 1996. I haven't taken a cartridge gun hunting since the mid 1980's. I hunt with these primitive firearms, as our ancestors did 200 years ago because I love the sport of muzzleloading. I don't sacrifice much. My rifles are accurate, dependable and hard hitting. Used to be that I could buy real black powder, balls and caps in many of the local gun stores in my area. Now, between the insurgence of the inline crowd dominating sales and the increased regulations on selling real black powder, I don't know of anyone within a hundred miles of here that sells real black powder. Thank goodness I can still order it online.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I wish I could find more traditional BP stuff at Wal-Mart or the local gun stores instead of just the Pyrodex pellets, 209 primers, and plastic sabot nylon tipped bullets they sell. :td:

I would also change the sometimes negative or belittling attitude some have towards the caplock system, or more specifically those who prefer them. Despite being in widespread use by the late 1830s in this country and in dominant use by the 1850s, there are quite a few flintlock shooters who for some reason almost want to lump them in with modern inlines in not being as "traditional" as their flintlocks or otherwise being inferior.

It's an elitist attitude and I don't appreciate being chided for preferring caplocks. To me, they are just as "traditional" as a flintlock, and every bit as enjoyable to shoot, while also being more user friendly.

Now I am not a fan of modern inline rifles, and echo the desire for a true "traditional" muzzleloading hunting season where they should not be allowed, but I do not think clearly traditional side lock caplocks should be barred from such a season, with only flintlocks being allowed.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Really? :hmm:

I've never encountered a flinter who acts like sidelock caplocks are any less "traditional" or "primitive" than the flintlock.

LD

 

[Kansas Jake]

Those of us who shoot traditional muzzleloaders do stick together here, but I can understand Smokey Plainsman's feeling that there is an element of snobbery from some flintlock shooters. I don't think it is intentional, but many will state they are flintlock shooters only. That may present a sense of caplock shooters not being as good.

I have both and enjoy both. Having said that, there is something special about a flintlock going off. Now maybe someday I'll have to try a wheellock or a matchlock. :wink:

 

[mr.flintlock]

Smokie, I totally agree with you! I shoot flintlocks because once I got beyond the learning curve, I began to really began to enjoy them more. I hunt with them throughout the regular firearms hunting season simply because I enjoy it. I like learning new things and it took a while for me become proficient with them but once I learned, I really enjoy them. Once a month I shoot competition with a group of friends and some of them hold national titles. Most of them shoot flintlocks but a few shoot traditional caplocks. It is a friendly group and everyone is treated with dignity and respect, as they should be. We welcome anyone to shoot with us as long as they are shooting traditional muzzleloaders, be they, flint, percussion, side slappers or underhammer.

 

[coloradoclyde]

It's an elitist attitude and I don't appreciate being chided for preferring caplocks. To me, they are just as "traditional" as a flintlock, and every bit as enjoyable to shoot, while also being more user friendly.

I don't think it is an "elitist" attitude...

From a historical perspective, Caplock owners would have been the "elite".

It's just a Ford vs. Chevy argument.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Right, and that's what I'm getting at. The word "snobbery" does good to describe it. This is only for SOME flintlock enthusiasts, a certain small but noticeable portion. It's just something I've picked up on over the years, and it is one thing I'd like to change about our sport.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I've never experienced "flintlock snobbery"

Seeing as how those that are currently complaining are from the same state, I have to consider that it might be a local phenomena.... :hmm:

 

[Zonie]

To All:

Please do not respond to this topic with comments about those modern front stuffers or the people who shoot them.

Our forum has several rules concerning discussions about those guns and the things they shoot and all of them say talking (writing) anything about them is against the forum rules.

What's the one thing I would change?

The Federal Government should recognize that their rules and regulations concerning the storage of black powder by stores is excessively strict and they should eliminate them.

If the stores didn't have to obtain a license to sell "explosives", have black powder locked away in some expensive Federal approved storage locker, and put up with Federal inspections to make sure the rules were being followed, I think more gun stores would carry black powder for sale to the general public.

If black powder was easily obtainable locally in small amounts it would be great for people who are interested in flintlocks but don't want to invest large amounts of money to mail order their powder.

 

[coloradoclyde]

What's the one thing I would change?

The Federal Government should recognize that their rules and regulations concerning the storage of black powder by stores is excessively strict and they should eliminate them.

If the stores didn't have to obtain a license to sell "explosives", have black powder locked away in some expensive Federal approved storage locker, and put up with Federal inspections to make sure the rules were being followed, I think more gun stores would carry black powder for sale to the general public.To All:

Please do not respond to this topic with comments about those modern front stuffers or the people who shoot them.

Our forum has several rules concerning discussions about those guns and the things they shoot and all of them say talking (writing) anything about them is against the forum rules.

If black powder was easily obtainable locally in small amounts it would be great for people who are interested in flintlocks but don't want to invest large amounts of money to mail order their powder.

Exactly the sentiment I was trying to make in my original post....
That and the lack of "over the counter" muzzleloaders are two of the biggest barriers IMO.

 

[coloradoclyde]

To All:

Please do not respond to this topic with comments about those modern front stuffers or the people who shoot them.

Our forum has several rules concerning discussions about those guns and the things they shoot and all of them say talking (writing) anything about them is against the forum rules.

Worth repeating.... :thumbsup:

 

[Danny Ross]

I know I am coming in late with this comment but there was a show on the Sportsman's Channel. It was called "Sasquatch Mountain Man". He hunted with a caplock and the last season I saw it he was hunting using a Pedersoli Hawkins. He hunted an assortment of animals from Caribou to Deer using it. No it wasn't one of those shows where he always got and animal, many he didn't. He was also big into trapping. I enjoyed watching it mainly because he used a caplock and they gave some Mountain Man history in the show also. DANNY