Back in 1969 , I found one of these rifles like yours , standing in a used gun rack . Knew enough to check if it was loaded , so ran it's r/rod down the bore , and the rod quit 'bout half way down the barrel , and the r/r tip came out with black goo on it. The gun shop guy said he knew nothing about the m/l rifle. It looked new , so the asking price was $35 , figured I got nothin to loose , so there went a weeks lunch money . At home , I removed the .45 cal perc. barrel , and soaked the goo out of it , she cleaned up pretty good , like a pretty girl I once met at a saloon. Called my huntin buddy , and he loaned me some .440 r/b's , and patching. Knew that cal. rifle took FFFG , went to the range. No body was there but me and my new prize rifle. Shot a few patched balls off bench rest , into a 6 bull target at 35 yds. , and was pleased that it shot , and grouped , ok. Figured somebody bought the rifle and fired salute shots through it , until it got so fouled , it wouldn't fire . Still nobody came to the range , and looking at the open end of the range , there was the high powered rifle , full size running deer target hanging stationary on it's wire. Since the State just opened their new late season m/l deer hunt , in January , I had to see if the little .45 would carry out to the hanging deer target. Loaded her up , got a good rest and cranked a ball off at about 125 yds.. I was shocked , the .440 ball cut the deer target right where I aimed , in the heart lung area for a sure kill. I became excited to go deer hunting in the new m/l deer season , after seeing I could do this m/l shooting thing. Who knew what was happening , I quit shooting trap , my interest in modern rifles wained over time , and they became safe queens. I'm closing in on 60+ yrs. of m/loader fun , and still enjoy it immensely..................oldwood
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