Newbie Questions

[wab]

I am new at muzzleloading and have several questions.

1. Can a muzzleloader rifle fire shot as well as ball?

2. Since I can't afford to have 3-4 guns at this time, what would be the best gun for small game and birds?

3. I dont care for "fancy". I am sure that the ordinary person, back in the day, did not have the fancy guns you see today. What gun would the normal person have in the early 1800's?

4. Can one gun be able to be a flintlock as well as percussion?


I appreciate any help you can give. I live in South Carolina and would like to talk to people face to face to ask my questions. Are there any "doins' going on? Is there anyone close to me for a face to face?


Thanks,
WA Brown

 

[rafterob]

Sounds like what will fit your bill the best is a smaller guage smoothbore. "Rifles" will not shoot shot well at all, but a smoothbore will shoot shot and roundball both quite accurately at limited distances. You can configure a gun for both flint and percussion with enough planning, but there is extra cost.If you think at all you might like flintlocks, go with a flintlock. They take a little more fiddling and you just might have a misfire or "flash in the pan" once in awhile, but a well assembled and tuned flintlock is about as reliable as a percussion and in my opinion just more fun to shoot.That being said I predominantly shoot percussion but I have more fun with my flintlock. Google NMLRA and you can find links to muzzleloading clubs in your area to meet people that will fill you with all kinds of info and BS alike. I am in Western NC and our club has ties to at least 2 clubs in SC. PT me if you like and I could send you their contact.

 

[tnlonghunter]

With a 20 gauge smoothbore fowler, you could easily hunt everything from squirrels to deer. All you'd need to do is figure out what shot size, powder charge, etc. you need for birds and small game. Then, cast up or buy some appropriate sized roundballs (.62 caliber? I'm not certain) for deer. The accurate range won't be all that far, maybe 50-60 yards, but it'll certainly do the job.

You might even look into a "smooth rifle" which is a smooth-bore barrel with rifle sights and built onto a stock more like a typical long rifle than typical fowler. (http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles03.htm)

As far as cost goes, you can get a plain one from a really reputable maker starting at around $1000 perhaps. Perhaps less. Check out Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading (www.avsia.com/tvm). They've got a couple that might fit the bill for you. You may be able to find one for less, especially if you go used. But to get a good one new will start you around this price. Of course, if you're skilled in wood-working you can get some of these in "kits" (which are mostly just precut stocks and a collection of parts) and build one yourself. It takes about 100-150 hours or so for a moderately skilled person to build a plain one of these (less if you're good), but there's nothing like taking game with a gun you built yourself.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[David W.]

Welcome to the forum.

Do you think you can put together a kit? Track of the Wolf has a flintlock Northwest Trade Gun in 20 ga. for $572 and not a bad looking gun. It is their easiest kit to assemble. In a flintlock, you do not want too cheap. A smooth bore is good out to 50 yards, but no further. Another good choice is their Golden Age era long rifle in flint or percussion, which takes a little more skill, but are darn nice looking, but still plain (patch box is optional), and has a nice Siler lock. The early Tennessee or the Southern rifles are good choices as well, all under $600. If you want a more durable, beefy rifle with a hooked breech, choose the Hawkens half stock. I would go with a .54 caliber or larger, 20 ga. for smooth bore. Lots of choices, for you to decide.

Flintlocks take a little getting used to, but as said, once you learn how, you will want nothing else. They are addictive.

You may check out Lyman as well, either kit or fully assembled. They offer percussion and flint and are pretty good quality. Like I said, you do not want too cheap, because that is what you will get with the likes of Traditions or some other POS brand, and you will not save that much $$$.