New guy, getting into muzzleloading

[MattyB]

I am completely new to muzzleloading, and I've been searching the gun stores around post looking at various rifles to get started in ML. This has led me to several questions-
What kind of stuff do I need to get started, other than balls, powder, ramrod, stuff like that? I'm not into the whole re-enactment, thing (not that I think there's something wrong with it, it just doesn't seem to be my cup of tea is all).
I am eyeballing several guns at some local pawn shops/gun stores (one thing that there is no shortage of in a military town), all of them used to varying degrees.
1- A CVA Kentucky/Pennsylvania rifle that has been "bubba-ed" up with an aftermarket recoil pad, .45 cal. There's no price on it yet, but the bore looks pretty rough at the muzzle, so they probably won't want much for it. Is it pretty easy to get replacement parts for this? Are most parts more or less universal?
2- A traditions flintlock in .50, half-round, half-octagon, hawken style I think it's called.
3- A couple of T/C hawken-type rifles, but they're above $200, and I'm not sure I want to start out spending that much if I don't know that I will really get into this.
Like I said, I am a total novice to muzzleloading. I have plenty of "modern" gun experience, but the primitive stuff has been nagging at me since I started reading about Lewis & Clark.
I plan to use it mostly for plinking/target shooting out back, on my 70-yard range, and maybe hunting deer out back as well.
Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Stubert]

If you can get a clean T/C in good shape get it. If you don't like shooting black, than you can deal the gun for what you paid for it.

 

[Slamfire]

I agree the T/Cs are good guns for startin' out. :thumbsup:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

MattyB,

First of all welcome to the "dark side" and to the Forum too! .

I think the best over-all information is printed by the Boy Scouts of America, in the Rifle Merit Badge Book, which costs about $4.00 and is available anywhere scout supplies are sold.

It illustrates in step-by-step fashion all you would ever want to know about muzzleloading. From patched round ball to conicals and minnies, safety, loading procedures, tools of the trade, suggested starter loads for various calibers, accesseries, cleaning & maint., you name it!

The book contains a glossary of terms, pictures of the different tools and how to use them, even all of the different types of BP firearms from the matchlock to the caplock.

As a Eagle Scout Dad and a shooter myself with over 30 years experience, I've never seen a more easy to read and complete source for info.

A Dixie catalog will get you the price info you need, or you can get info from any of the various stores mentioned throughout the threads on this Forum.

Once again good luck in your new found interest in the sport of black powder!

And thanks for helping keep our Country safe :applause: :thumbsup: .

Happy Easter and all the best, Dave

 

[bob1961]

200.00 buck fer a good used T/C hawken is good....welcome to our camp, stay and learn what ever ya need from the great folks here....i did :v ................bob

 

[sidelock]

Listen to Smokin.50. He's got it right. And thanks for your service. :hatsoff:

 

[Robert an saa fan]

Welcome MattyB and thank you for your service!

Sounds like great advice on the Scouts info.

My vote for a rifle would go to Thompson/Center products, especially if you can get a Hawken in the $200 to $300 range for one in very good shooting condition. Be sure to check condition of the bore.

T/C's with a "K" prefix on the barrel serial number are kit guns and will need more careful inspection as they are more likely to have been modified with good intentions.

T/C's are properly made, top quality steel, etc., etc. And best of all they are made in the USA and carry a lifetime warranty even if you are not the original owner.

T/C has in the past repaired things free that were not their fault, like rusty bores and home gunsmithing that went wrong. T/C was recently bought by Smith & Wesson, another fine company.

You might also check out local gun shows.

Again, thank you for your service and welcome to black powder shooting.

Robert, RVN draftee U.S Army '70-'71

 

[Gemoke]

MattyB, If I were you I get the TC,cuz $200 is cheap for a TC hawken.But if you want real advice get your head checked, I wish I would have, cuz it won`t be long before your dressing in funny clothes and hanging around with guys who think black powder is perfume.and that hawken will be the first of many BP guns you sneak in the house when your wife ain`t home. then there`s all the stuff you just got to have like shooting bags lots of shooting bags, home made knives, and a flint and steel. then theres all the things you`ll have to have for your camp cuz you got to look good at rondezvous. you`ll start to read books by guys named Mark Baker, Osborne Russell and Terry Johnston and magazines like muzzloader or muzzleblast.Oh ya I for got then there comes a time when some other nut lets you shoot his flintlock when that day comes your lost, you`ll never make it back from the dark side.You should just for get you ever found this site or that any one ever told you about LEWIS and CLARK or you`ll end up just like us, and if this post do`nt scare you just go to the photo section of this site we`re all in there somewhere and you can tell from the pics. we`er not right :rotf: :rotf:

 

[cowpoke1955]

Matty,
A good T/C would be worth the money. They have a life time warranty. You are more likely to stay with the sport, if you a happy with your first rifle. Also, keep your eye open for a good Lyman GPR or Trade Rifle. You can buy a new Lyman Trade Rifle for $236 at DNR Sports. Here's the link:[url] http://www.dnrsports.com/acatalog/D___R_Catalog_Lyman_Muzzleloaders_1529.html[/url] . Save the CVA and Traditions for later.

 

[PreglerD]

I agree with cowpoke. The Lyman stuff is very priceworth. I own a trade rifle in .54 and a GPR in .45. They are great shooters abd good quality. Further more I bought a Traditions Deerhunter in .50. Also a very good rifle, especially for hunting because of its lightweight.

Greetings from Germany

 

[JWP]

Matt - all good advise above. Many people that get into bp do move on to doing rendezvous, reenactments, scouts and such. Of course this means your equipment and all the accouterments will change.
If you know someone that shoots bp - ask if he will take you to a range and get a little bit of a taste of what bp is all about. Then ask if you can help him clean his gun - afterwards, if your still interested and want to continue.
Think it over and ask yourself just how far you think you want to go in this hobby.
Before you go and purchase an expensive gun or any piece of equipment that you or someone else tells you you'll need. Choose a persona - do research, read and read some more. Then start your reach into your wallet - you can spend as much as you want or as little as you want. There are several books and tapes about buckskinning. Of course, this site as well as several others out there have helped so many - makes me wonder how I survived before them. hope this helps

 

[ldykeman]

I am with many others here.... spend the extra to get a decent T/C traditional rifle. As noted above, check for the K for a kit rifle, and also note, that, technically, T/C does not warranty rifles bought used (at least not as stated in the warranty page of the owner's manual I have). In it they state that the lifetime warranty applies only to the original owner of guns bought new. I know that they have stood behind rifles sent to them in the past, without asking any questions. I wonder if this will carry into the future with their present ownership. Even if the warranty did not apply, I would still recommend T/C.
If you want to read their excellent owner's manual or download it from their website, check out:[url] http://www.tcarms.com/assets/manuals/current/Shooting_TC_Side_Lock_Black_Powder_Guns.pdf[/url]

Larry

 

[MSW]

well, deja vu all over again... i bought a .50 cal T/C flint at Cumberland Knife & Gun (are they still there? somewhere on Bragg Blvd, if i remember correctly) ... i still have that one and it's served well for nearly thirty years.

you can do much worse than T/C products, and you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with Lyman as well- both excellent outfits. you can go as far to the dark side as floats your boat, but once you turn to the Dark Side, forever will it control your destiny, and you'll be getting all excited about banging little bits of rock into metal and you'll know that PRB is very much different from a PLF.

so, i'd go with the T/C, and don't spend more than you can comfortably afford- this is supposed to be a hobby, not an obsession. (i've been told that by a number of mental health professionals)

welcome to BP shooters. (p.s. stay away from the in-lin$%^$% ... that which is not to be named- they're really just not what it's all about and they're a major no- no on this forum).

msw
former 3/73rd Armor

 

[Headhunter]

T/C is what I started with in 1979 (The Top one) and the last one I bought was the Flintlock. The Second one from the top is my 50 Cal Renegade. It has a Green Mountain 1-70" PRB Barrel and I have shot everything that walks or crawls with it.

T/C is good to start and finish with.

OUTSTANDING Rifles and SHotguns. Worth twice what they cost. Rugged, accurate and Reliable.

Muleskinner

 

[flintlockmdj]

I have to agree with the rest on the T.C. they are virtually trouble free guns and have a lifetime warrenty. If you can get one for $200.00 in good condition you can later sell it for probably more than you paid when you want to advance to something better.

Being a horse trader from way back I would probably offer $300.00 for the two T.C. Side lock guns are not as desirable as they once were since the OTHER stile has come on the market. If the store takes the deal you can sell one of them on the forum classified adds probably for most of what you have in the two. :thumbsup:

 

[flintlockmdj]

Headhunter, from what I see in the pictures would I be correct in assuming that you REALLY LIKE T.C. especially Renegades? :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Just remember that production guns are no where the quality of kit guns or custom guns.

Like anything else you get what you pay for.

Foremost, forget what you know about cleaning and lubing a black powder firearm. Soap & water and bore butter. Keep your modern petroium based oils the heck away from black powder.

Call Dixie Gun Works and order a catalog, it will rock your world.

Gun stores arnt the palce to find a quality firearm. Most dont know doodly squat about bore stuffers.

 

[blacksmithman64]

Welcome to the forum,you want to stay away from the gun with the rough muzzle,chances are the rest of the bore looks the same way and you'll never get any accuracy without a LOT of work. Not worth the trouble. I've been shooting a custom flinter for 10 years but started into BP 13 years ago with a T/C Hawken capper. Won a LOT of shoots and trailwalks with that rifle.These guys aren't lying when they say go with the Thompson Center!Best production quality out there and a bulletproof warranty. (so far)Have Fun!

 

T/C's warranty is second to none. Doesn't matter if you are the first or second or third owner of the piece,they will stand behind it. Also the ruffness at the muzzle would seem to give me the indication that perhaps it was not cleaned or cleaned properly and as previously mentioned will be the same all the way to the breech.

 

[Lancer]

Matty,

please send me an email and I can fill you in on a couple of great ML groups outside of Bragg. There are at least two very good clubs out there and can help you get started. The T/C's are very good to start with but be careful; once the ML bug hits, there is no known cure. The only antidote is more BP.

Lancer