Muzzleloading paraphenalia

[Rich8100]

I'm new to muzzleloading. I have a Connecticut Valley Arms 50 cal. Muzzleloader (Mountain Stalker)rifle and an 1858 New Army revolver replica that I really like. I made a reloading jig for the revolver but it is cumbersome to carry about and is just good if you have a table handy.

My question: I'm not sure how all the paraphenalia (powder, caps, balls, and wadding) is carried conveniently and how to go about reloading the sidelock rifle muzzle loader and the revolver. Where do you put all the stuff so that it is conveniently handy? I feel like I need 3 hands to get all the stuff together in order to load my guns. I watched a documentary on the "Guns of the West" and the narrator said a man could reload and shoot 4-5 times a minute; this is not possible with me.

Can anyone give me a Youtube site or other kind of video showing how to quickly but safely reload a muzzleloaing rifle and revolver.

Many thanks
Rich

 

If all you're going to do is shoot at the range, use a box (any box). If you're going to venture into the field, use a "Shooting Bag".

 

Everything you need to shoot this rifle can be carried in this bag and horn.....

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/261702/

 

[Rich8100]

OKI see the powder horn and the bag. BUT: does the bag have separate comparments for the capper, balls, etc. I just have a terrible time trying to get the powder measure and the capper, and the wadding and the ball in a convenient place to reload. I guess I'm just not understanding the logistics.
Rich :idunno:

 

[necchi]

Here's a pdf format of the Thompson Center Traditional Muzzle Loader Handbook. It's got's pictures, :applause: http://www.tcarms.com/assets/manuals/noncurrent/Shooting_TC_Side_Lock_Black_Powder_Guns.pdf

All kidding aside, it's a good starters handbook to scroll through and read. Copy it to your hardrive for future needs, it's a safe download.

 

[S.Kenton]

I really like the bag and horn Jack!

 

[Rat Trapper]

For range use and to store items an old fishing tackle box works very well. I have seen some just use a cardboard box too. MTM makes a plastic muzzleloader box which works good too. The MTM box has dividers for different sized items. When you go to the field you need a shooting bag. Several guys here make some nice ones. I have two made by Horner75. He will build them any way you want.

 

[Rifleman1776]

the narrator said a man could reload and shoot 4-5 times a minute; this is not possible with me.

Maybe someone can reload an ml rifle that fast. I don't know anyone who can. But, really, there never is any need to. If you want to shoot a lot real fast the ml game is not for you.
As for feeling like you need three hands.....welcome to the club. :grin: Loading an ml rifle from the pouch is an exercise in controlled fumbling. With time you will get accostumed to doing it and will arrange all your 'junk' in a manner that suits you. Hang around others, attend matches and keep asking questions here. I'm sure someone will chime in with a list of all the 'stuff' you will be needing. Welcome to the madness and good luck.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Loading is just a matter of having your items within reach. For bench shooting many like a shooting box. For trail walks and hunting most use a "possibles" bag, often with compartments.My self I have an "impossible bag". Since it has no compartments, it is impossible to find what I need when I need it! :idunno:

 

[SgtSchutzen]

My self I have an "impossible bag". Since it has no compartments, it is impossible to find what I need when I need it! :idunno:

:rotf: I can relate to that Ramrod.

I load from my pouch when I`m in the woods plinking or hunting, but have never figured out an easy way to do it. I sure can`t reload 3 or 4 times a minute. I don`t worry about speed loading my rifles anyway. I take a shot then leisurely reload.

I can reload alot faster when everything is laid out on a bench, but I have more fun doing it the hard way. Go figger :idunno:

 

[jethro224]

Inside my shooting bag there is a small leather pouch with a jag, ballscrew, worm, and screwdriver (and a spare nipple and nipple wrench for the caplock). Besides that there are a few cleaning patches, a ball bag, and a small tin full of pre-lubed patches. That's it. I can find everything I need by feel.
My powder measure is attached to the bag strap by a leather whang just long enough to load the rifle and allow the measure to be put in the bag when not in use.

I wear my horn and bag on my right side. When loading I hold my rifle in the crook of my left arm while I pull the measure out of the bag by the leather whang and hold it in my left hand. My right hand pulls the plug from my horn with the thumb and first finger, then pours the powder into the measure and replaces the plug. Sounds harder than it is.
I then take the full measure in my right hand fingers and grasp the rifle near the muzzle with my left hand, pour the powder down the bore and drop the measure so I can fish a ball and my patch tin(when cutting at the muzzle I use a small deerskin pouch to hold a rolled strip of lubed patching) out of my bag. The ball bag stays in the main bag while I squeeze out one ball. When I'm going to be shooting a lot I usually just throw a handfull of loose balls in the main bag.
With the ball in my right palm I open the tin and take out a patch then put the tin back in the bag. Place the patch over the muzzle and the ball over the patch and start them down the bore. My new flinter has a coned muzzle so I can thumb start. :thumbsup: When shooting my GPR I carry a short starter in a loop on the side of my shooting bag. Then pull the ramrod and shove the ball down.

Figure out what works best for you and shoot a lot. It gets easier with practice. :wink:

Oh, the capper goes around my neck on a leather string. The flint guns I usually prime with the main horn.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

My bag straps contain "sheaths" that hold such things as powder measure and pan primer. A ball board holds the patched round balls. Everything is attached by a thong which is long enough to permit using the item, but not so long as to get tangled. The short starter is in a sheath on the strap right in front. About muzzle high when the gun is straight up. The horn and measure are about the only things that are clumsy to handle. Of course you could use something like the Dutch 12 Apostles, with premeasured charges, Or paper cartridge type powder tubes. Tear or bite off the top and dump in the bore.

Keep in mind that such repetitive shooting was also when risks were so great that the dangers of a spark in the breech were less than getting skewered by arrows.

 

[Stumpkiller]

With paper cartridges I had no problem keeping up 5 shots a minute with my smoothbore Bess for as long as the cartridges held up. I was trying for seven shots (starting with a loaded gun) but never topped six per minute.

With a rifle? Much slower. Also much more accurate.

Here's my contribution to the world of Youtube.

http://youtu.be/bBZsbLUF4Wg

 

[Rich8100]

OKI'm understanding a little more about the ML paraphenalia. I've got all of it, I just need to figure out how to have it handy. Seems like most shooters have a "fumble" way of finding things. I like the idea of hanging things on leather thongs and then storing them in the leather bag away from the elements (if necessary).
I used to have a lot of leather but gave it away when I sold the old house and retired. Thanx for the info
Rich

 

[ken.clements]

if your are going to the range pre measure your powder and store it in powder tubes....you can also put them in a "Impossible Bag" (pre wieghed = fast)
prelub minie's (or balls)and then either a ball board or a piece of copper pipe (minie's) with caps
caps in the original little plastic container ...only put 20 or so in there.....saves you trying to collect 50 or 100 from the bottom of you bag.

 

[William O.]

You can find bag "kits" that have all the leather pieces cut out and ready to be assembled and sewn together or you can get leather from Fur & Hide, Tandy and places like that. You might also check evil-bay for leather. I would suggest that you either buy a bag or make one that is 7X8 or larger and has gussets on the side to allow it to expand for your gear and your hand when reaching into it.

 

[jethro224]

Most of those shooters who are doing all the fumbling have too much junk in their bag in my opinion. That's why they're fumbling.
The only thing I want on my bag strap is my powder measure and a vent pick when shooting flint. The pick pokes thru 2 holes, in one and back thru the other, to hold it in place just above the bag and has a short whang attaching it to the strap. Lots of guys like their powder measure attached to their horn strap rather than the bag strap. Personal preference.
Anything else just gets in the way. Also, too long of whangs get in the way and tangled on stuff.

I get most of my leather from Tandy because there is one near me. Costs a little more but it's convenient.

I have to disagree with bull 3540 on bag size. I'd recommend 7x8" or SMALLER. Too big of a bag just invites you to put in a bunch of extra junk and get the fumbles. I do like a tapered gusset to allow the bag to hold more at the bottom tho.

BTW, a "possibles bag" is for all the extra junk you might possibly want along. A "shooting bag/pouch", "hunting bag/pouch", or "shot bag/pouch" carries just the stuff you need to shoot your rifle. :thumbsup:

 

[Linc]

It hasn't been mentioned but cloth can and is used for shooting/hunting/possibles bags. Cloth can also be used for ball bags. A heavy canvas duck will make a good bag. Track of the Wolf and Dixie Gunworks carry canvas bags. One is a possibles and the other is a shotgunners bag. I just made up a version of the shotgunners bag and have been using it this past week and I am quite happy with it.

Another option is going to a goodwill store and seeing what they have for leather bags that can be repurposed. Which is great if you are budget minded. I have 3 such bags. They suite the purpose quite well.

 

[jamesthomas]

The problem I think we all had in the beginning was that we started out with too much stuff,(had to have every possible thing), either in our range box or in our shooting, hunting bag. You will gradually reduce this to just what you really need, which will turn out to be about half of what you thought you needed.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Amen. Some people think you need an Erector Set and a Chemistry Set to shoot a flintlock. Ain't so.

I have a three-shot ball block on a wang that slips under a small retaining strap on my horn strap. A powder measure hangs from the horn tip (only thing I have that hangs and that gets tucked in my shirt or jacket or under my belt) and a vent pick on the measure wang just above the measure.

I have gone out deer hunting with the rifle and this horn with no shooting bag at all. Sometimes it is nice to travel light. (I do always keep a spare flint and a ball-puller jag in the patchbox of the rifle).