If you could only have one......

[hanshi]

Yeah, me, too. First of all I'd never even consider living out there in the wilderness, I'm from the deep South and have thin blood. I'd prefer to stay south and "rassle" with the gators than run from g bears or wolves.

But if I was drugged and Shanghaied and woke up in the Montana brush/mountains/forest/whatever with a rifle (and ammo) lying at arms length; it would be a .54 flintlock rifle.

 

[Homesteader]

This topic really shows the importance of both "the right tool for the job" and "location location location", doesn't it?

Here in the east my two flintlock long guns are perfect (.45 long rifle and 14 bore smoothie) because of the terrain, the game, and the average distances we shoot. If I were heading west, I'd have to re-equip, I think.

Hey, a question for you westerners: How do you think a Sharps percussion would fare out that way? How about the carbine model?

 

[Grumpa]

BRAVO! :thumbsup:

 

[satx78247]

RotflmRao!!! :rotf: :rotf:

To quote "Sherman, the Destroyer & War Criminal": "If I owned Texas & Hell, I'd sell Texas & live in Hell."
(IF he only got .01 per acre, he could air-condition Hell & turn it into a tourist mega-resort.- Just think of all the "interesting characters" that would be there to entertain the guests.)

yours, satx

 

[Okie Hog]

Well said.

i would carry a .54 caliber.

My .54 TC New Englander, although not a proper period piece, is very accurate. Recently killed three big fat squirrels, all head shots, with three rounds. Yep, two of them were less than 30 yards.

 

[nit wit]

My British 1775 rifle,62 cal!
Nit Wit

 

[Stumpkiller]

I don't know much about Montana.

Do you have rabbits? Do you have ruffed grouse? Whitetail deer?

If not I guess I'd have my 16 bore fowler, cause that's lighter to pack when I trek back to New York. :rotf:

 

[Alden]

Hey, a question for you westerners: How do you think a Sharps percussion would fare out that way? How about the carbine model?

A Sharps caplock rifle was actually my choice but as they're not traditional muzzle-loaders I went elsewhere...

 

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

(IF he only got .01 per acre, he could air-condition Hell & turn it into a tourist mega-resort.- Just think of all the "interesting characters" that would be there to entertain the guests.)

Sherman owns Las Vegas? :haha:

 

[Carl Fowler III]

For out west I would prefer a .54 cal Flintlock...less weight to carry in lead than a (.58 .62 or larger caliber gun). Gun itself would have a swamped barrel at 32 inchs to keep the total rifle weight down...them there hills are awfully steep out there and the distances can be long! Load would be 100 grains of 2-F Goex using a .530 ball and tight fitting patch. Flintlock over percussion as it is more dependable and can produce many firings from one rock! As far as small game goes..that's what snares are for! :stir:

 

[larryp]

I live in the Northwestern corner of the state where it's mountainous.In the heavy timber shots are fairly short and a smoothbore will work fine for deer, elk, bear, grouse, turkey and snowshoe rabbits. I use a NSW Chief's grade .62 with a 36" barrel and a sling for when I have to drag something out in the rough terrain.

 

[ncmtmike]

My choice hands down .62 smoothbore,,asked about taking it to .69 given a sermon,so I will stand with my .62 :blah:

 

[longcruise]

Here is a question for the smoothie advocates; what is your gun loaded with as you go about your daily life? Are you loaded for big game or a bunny? If loaded for small game and you encounter an elk do you try to take it with birdshot? The rabbit or grouse you are loaded for will make a meal, an elk will feed you for many days.

If you are loaded with ball, you can readily take large or small game. And, if you will load ball, why not shoot a rifle that will greatly extend your range? If you plan to make your meat of small animals, you will need to do so pretty much daily. At the end of three weeks you will have used enough powder and lead to sustain yourself for better than six months. Way longer if you kill enough buff.

So, for me it would be a .54 rifle. Big enough but without the appetite of a .58 or larger.

In the far north of north America, the natives will tell you of "rabbit starvation". It is actual starvation as a result of trying to survive by eating small animals. It leads to diarrhea and eventually death because of the lack of fat in those animals.

The diet sought by the mountain men of the fur trade times was buffalo. The further preferred "fat cow" over "poor bull".

 

[azmntman]

"fat cow" over "poor bull or any" :thumbsup:

 

[Tinker2]

Too many variables in the question, but simple answer is a Forsyth rifled barrel in .62






William Alexander

 

[Alden]

The issue of what you'd load your smoothbore with over a rifle is odd. No-one said we were constrained in powder or projectiles. And the rifle only allows one type of load. Getting in range in the relative open would be my biggest concern with a smoothrifle for big game... I would want my Dial Deoderant Soap and Washing Soda at home.

 

[longcruise]

Why is. It odd? It's a choice to be made by the smoothie advocates since one factor driving their choice is the ability to use shot or ball. It would not be a daily decision. Once loaded it would probably remain so for a while.

My point was that since it is a ml, changing load choice is not an option when game presents itself. Therefore, why would you ever choose to prepare yourself to kill two pounds of meat when you could as easily choose to be prepared to take 120 to 1200 pounds of meat?

So, it's not an issue of what to load in a smoothie over a rifle, but an issue of why you would ever load shot. The value of shot in acquiring food or for defense is very low. Therefore, why choose a smoothie at all when a rifle Will be more efficient.

I'm pretty sure that any of the mountain men who were equipped with smooth guns were eager to upgrade at first opportunity.

 

[ncmtmike]

My advice would be,don't load nothing till needed,on the lighter side,have you ever shot a squirrel or rabbit with a 62 caliber? No lunch for you :blah: My loads are pre-made,it takes very little time to tamp either.

 

[longcruise]

Biggest cal ive let loose on a squirrel or grouse is .54 with round ball and elk size powder charge. Head shots, less meat damage than with shot!

That loading when needed scenario may get you a rabbit or grouse, but probably not an elk. Then there is the matter of that griz that smells your jerky in your possibles bag. :haha:

 

[bpd303]

If I could only have one it would be my J. Withers over under .40 cal rifled/.600 smoothbore. Best of both worlds. http://i40.tinypic.com/j923pv.jpg http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/282290/post/1308866/hl//fromsearch/1/