In search of a foraging gun

[Africa58double]

Get a Tc Renegade and have the bore opened to .62/20g .
Then whenever you get extra money you can get another barrel like a .50. So that’s 2 guns in one… well three actually, since you can also shoot a .600 Prb out of the smoothbore.

 

[JD]

For consideration

 

[Rock Home Isle]

For considerationView attachment 142255

Love it…Love it…Love it

 

[springfield art]

I'm looking for help on my next purchase. I've long been into the idea of hunting small game with a muzzleloader but I'm stuck on what I should spend my hard earned money on. Additionally, I'm unsure if a flintlock or percussion would suit me better. Smoothbore is a must, but other than that I have no real idea what would best fit the bill for this small game/foraging gun.

I've looked at a few different 1842 Springfield's (which I'm drawn to for some reason). I'd also love to get into flintlocks, but I just don't have the confidence to get one running correctly and keep it that way. (And at the price I'm looking at they are mainly Indian made) The sxs pedersolis are just out of my reach price wise and are (from what I've heard) unable to fire ball without damaging barrels.

Ideally I'd keep the price in the $750-1,000 range. Does anyone know what I should be looking for, things I'm missing, or just general input?

So, you're FORAGING for a Foraging gun? Just me being comical. Good luck, the hunt for something you desire often leads to self-education, and is often half the fun! Look into the replica Trade Muskets. Let us know how you make out. Spending a bit more initially may be more rewarding; some of the India muskets have frizzens that need hardening, etc., but guys more qualified than I should offer advice. Don't be in a hurry!

 

[springfield art]

Muzzle Blasts magazine often has stories by hunters with good info about hunting with ML guns.

 

[Youngblood]

He said he went with a Bess carbine i believe.

 

[smoothshooter]

I'm looking for help on my next purchase. I've long been into the idea of hunting small game with a muzzleloader but I'm stuck on what I should spend my hard earned money on. Additionally, I'm unsure if a flintlock or percussion would suit me better. Smoothbore is a must, but other than that I have no real idea what would best fit the bill for this small game
I've looked at a few different 1842 Springfield's (which I'm drawn to for some reason). I'd also love to get into flintlocks, but I just don't have the confidence to get one running correctly and keep it that way. (And at the price I'm looking at they are mainly Indian made) The sxs pedersolis are just out of my reach price wise and are (from what I've heard) unable to fire ball without damaging barrels.

Ideally I'd keep the price in the $750-1,000 range. Does anyone know what I should be looking for, things I'm missing, or just general input?

I also have been thinking of a foraging gun, but from a later period.
My great-grandfather, who died in 1975 at age 91, said that when he was a boy and later a young man he had a Springfield Civil War musket that had had the stock and barrel shortened and bored out to something around 24 or 20 gauge. He always said that it worked good on all small game and nuisance animals/predators. Said most people then never measured the bore, and used wadded up newspaper for wadding. Was also cheaper to shoot than guns that used shotgun shells.
A lot of these guns were sold by Bannerman and Sears and Roebuck into the very early 1900’s for about $2.75 to $3.50 apiece, IIRC, and not many have survived. A lot of them were not much to look at, but I have seen two or three that were actually quite nice, with ribs under the barrel and checkering on the wrist.
I have a couple of flint smoothbores, but also want to try something else, too.
Getting a used 1842 and shortening the barrel to 34 inches or so tempts me.
The current and future percussion cap shortage ( musket size and the smaller #10 and #11’s ) and high prices is something you should keep in mind. Flints are easier to buy or make, and will be for the foreseeable future. I guess it depends on how many shots you think you may be shooting per year.

 

[smoothshooter]

Been busy with work and life. Got hit with a cold this week and just now having enough time to get back to this thread.

I ended up going with a Pedersoli Brown Bess carbine - I looked at several percussion pedersolis SXS, though. The deciding factor for me ended up being that I wanted to dive into black powder deeper than just dipping my toe. I have several older SXS's that must use hand-loaded cartridges (Damascus Steel) and I can't justify another SXS at this time.

I got the Bess carbine from a user on here and it throws incredible sparks - I've got flints and real black powder on order. I think going with a large production lock like Pedersoli's Brown Bess is truly the best beginner flintlock. The smaller flintlocks that I've messed with in the past are far more finicky and didn't throw sparks like this one. I feel very confident that this lock will last me years and be relatively problem free.

I appreciate everyone that has taken the time to express their thoughts and knowledge on this subject.

I used to hunt a lot with a full-length Brown Bess.
Very effective and durable. You are destined for lots of fun shooting.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I just use the 45 cal flinter. I can sabot down all kinds of light pills if necessary.

We make all the fixins, and have a wide variety of lead hunks to send down range.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I'm looking for help on my next purchase. I've long been into the idea of hunting small game with a muzzleloader but I'm stuck on what I should spend my hard earned money on. Additionally, I'm unsure if a flintlock or percussion would suit me better. Smoothbore is a must, but other than that I have no real idea what would best fit the bill for this small game/foraging gun.

I've looked at a few different 1842 Springfield's (which I'm drawn to for some reason). I'd also love to get into flintlocks, but I just don't have the confidence to get one running correctly and keep it that way. (And at the price I'm looking at they are mainly Indian made) The sxs pedersolis are just out of my reach price wise and are (from what I've heard) unable to fire ball without damaging barrels.

Ideally I'd keep the price in the $750-1,000 range. Does anyone know what I should be looking for, things I'm missing, or just general input?

1795 Springfield Musket….essentially an American copy of the 1766 Charleville Musket. Very fine musket, wonderfully balanced…great foraging firearm.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I had a chance at a navy arms sxs a few years back for about $500. Kicking myself ever since on not grabbing it.

Consider yourself lucky you did not buy it. I had one and, if a gun can be hated, it was very much hated by me. They are choked and it is impossible to get a proper size wad past the choke for loading. Undersize wads allow blow-by give lousy patterns.

 

[UndeadPoet]

I'm looking for help on my next purchase. I've long been into the idea of hunting small game with a muzzleloader but I'm stuck on what I should spend my hard earned money on. Additionally, I'm unsure if a flintlock or percussion would suit me better. Smoothbore is a must, but other than that I have no real idea what would best fit the bill for this small game/foraging gun.

I've looked at a few different 1842 Springfield's (which I'm drawn to for some reason). I'd also love to get into flintlocks, but I just don't have the confidence to get one running correctly and keep it that way. (And at the price I'm looking at they are mainly Indian made) The sxs pedersolis are just out of my reach price wise and are (from what I've heard) unable to fire ball without damaging barrels.

Ideally I'd keep the price in the $750-1,000 range. Does anyone know what I should be looking for, things I'm missing, or just general input?