Hello, My name is Tony. I was reading an article in The Backwoodsman magazine and now I want to get a muzzeloader. Having never owned or shot one I am looking for some guidance. I am looking for a L/H flintlock smoothbore. With a barrel around 30 in. long, in .62 cal./20 gauge as to have a wide range of capability. Also I would like to have front and, if available, rear sight. I am not looking to spend a fortune, just looking for a quality not to fancy flintlock. I am also looking for advice on a good book to get me started. I live in the Knoxville, Tn area and if anyone knows of a local blackpowder club please let me know. Thank You guys for your help, tony
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Rookie, looking for advice
- Thread starter Hoosier
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Also, if you can find anyone with some MZ experience to go with you on your first few times at the range, it would be helpful. Where do you usually shoot at? I assume your're from Indiana?
....just reread and I see you're from TN. Deffinitely get someone who knows what they're doing....or do a heck of a lot of reading before you shoot.
....just reread and I see you're from TN. Deffinitely get someone who knows what they're doing....or do a heck of a lot of reading before you shoot.
Welcome Hoosier! 
Glad you posted your question.
You put up some features that are fairly costly.
The only guns that fit your "wants" that I've seen with are the ones made by TVM.
These guns are what I'll call "custom" made and they will be priced somewhere around $1000.
The reason I call them "custom" is because each one is built to the customers desire and some of the extras cost more.
Being built to your wants means they don't start building your gun until you order it so there is a waiting period before you actually get your gun.
Here is a link to their "Fowler" which fits your request: http://www.avsia.com/tvm/fowler.htm
Now, if your willing to shoot a Right Hand flintlock rifle there are some made by Traditions that cost a lot less than the TVM.
They are nowhere near the quality and they are factory made in Spain. They are good serviceable guns and a good place to start your muzzleloading experience.
A step up from the Traditions that I would recommend is the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (GPR).
This is made in Italy and it is a very good gun that can be found for a reasonable price.
Unfortunately, it does not come in a left hand configuration.
Prices for these latter two guns are somewhere in the $500 area.
Glad you posted your question.You put up some features that are fairly costly.
The only guns that fit your "wants" that I've seen with are the ones made by TVM.
These guns are what I'll call "custom" made and they will be priced somewhere around $1000.
The reason I call them "custom" is because each one is built to the customers desire and some of the extras cost more.
Being built to your wants means they don't start building your gun until you order it so there is a waiting period before you actually get your gun.
Here is a link to their "Fowler" which fits your request: http://www.avsia.com/tvm/fowler.htm
Now, if your willing to shoot a Right Hand flintlock rifle there are some made by Traditions that cost a lot less than the TVM.
They are nowhere near the quality and they are factory made in Spain. They are good serviceable guns and a good place to start your muzzleloading experience.
A step up from the Traditions that I would recommend is the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (GPR).
This is made in Italy and it is a very good gun that can be found for a reasonable price.
Unfortunately, it does not come in a left hand configuration.
Prices for these latter two guns are somewhere in the $500 area.
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found you something sweet to check out! also as for the rear sight I believe they can attach one right there for you.
http://sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com/F-41Finished Left Fowler.htm
http://sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com/F-41Finished Left Fowler.htm
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Russ T Frizzen
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You might want to rethink the barrel length. A 42" barrel will deliver better patterns than a 30" barrel can and will tend to give higher velocities with patched ball loads without using heavy powder charges. And a well made fowler will still weigh 7 and 1/2 lbs or so with the longer barrel and it will swing nicer too. The longer sighting radius is helpful when using ball.
paulvallandigham
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YOur 30 inch barrel will shoot 105 grains of powder efficiently, which is Way more powder than you would ever want or need to use in a Fowler. By comparison to the usual Fowler barrel lengths, your barrel is " Short". But, you probably know that a 30 inch barrel is considered a long barrel by modern standards. I have a 30" 20 gauge fowler, LH, that was made for me by a local gunbuilder. It would be an expensive gun to replicate these days, and probably more than you would want to spend for a first gun.
I do think the advise on the TVM site is the way to go.
When I started out I took the advice of others and bought a cheap, import rifle. Everything was wrong with it, but I used it to teach myself about locks, and fixing percussion guns, and that education has served me well, and helped dozens of other shooters over the years. But, I WAS NOT HAPPY shooting the RH action.
So, save your pennies, and buy that LH fowler. Mine is about 6 lbs. and a delight to carry in the field and to swing on flying gamebirds. I do have a rear sight, so it can be used also for shooting RB, and for hunting both Turkey and deer. It is an all around BP longgun, within its limits. Your thinking about your choice of gun is proper.
There is a huge learning curve for you to master to be able to shoot a flintlock fowler properly. But, there is plenty of help on this forum, if you are willing to read past posts, and topics, and then ask questions.
Do try to find a local club, and other shooters. Knoxville is East,and North of most of the area of Tennessee with which I am familiar. But, you are closer to Pennsylvania, and to both Ohio, Kentucky, and even Friendship, Indiana, where the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association is headquartered. The NMLRA has charter clubs in all the states. A call to them will get you the phone numbers, and names of club contact people nearest you. If you go to the Links section at the top of the forum, you will find information to contact the NMLRA. Begin there.
A final Thought: if the comments from others here have you rethinking your choice of barrel lengths for that fowler, try finding one that has a 36 inch barrel. I think its a fine compromise, and would have been my next choice. I agree, however, that the longer, 42-48 inch barrels on fowlers do make better Round Ball guns, as the powder burns more completely, and the longer sight radius will help you in accurately placing your ball, at distances beyond 50 yards. Only you can decide how much RB shooting, and how much birdshot shooting you are likely to do with this gun. Only you know what kind of hunting terraine is available for you if you decide to hunt deer. For flying targets, be they clay or live birds, that 30 inch barrel with an open cylinder bore is hard to beat for handiness, in a 20 gauge. If I were shooting a 16, 14, or 12 gauge fowler, however, I would want a heavier gun, and would opt for the longer barrel lengths.
Most deer are found and shot in forests, or in the edge brush along forests. Shots are more often less than 50 yards, than over that. I have shot much shorter barrels than a 30 inch barrel when hunting deer, and I have absolutely no worry about being able to shoot deer with my 30"-barreled fowler within the reasonable range of my gun, and its sights.
Oh, you might also look at the Caywood Fowlers, as they run about $1,000, too. I handled one this past year, and it was well made.
Welcome to our form of madness! Its a disease that will make you smile a lot! :youcrazy: :shocked2: :rotf: :rotf: :thumbsup:
I do think the advise on the TVM site is the way to go.
When I started out I took the advice of others and bought a cheap, import rifle. Everything was wrong with it, but I used it to teach myself about locks, and fixing percussion guns, and that education has served me well, and helped dozens of other shooters over the years. But, I WAS NOT HAPPY shooting the RH action.
So, save your pennies, and buy that LH fowler. Mine is about 6 lbs. and a delight to carry in the field and to swing on flying gamebirds. I do have a rear sight, so it can be used also for shooting RB, and for hunting both Turkey and deer. It is an all around BP longgun, within its limits. Your thinking about your choice of gun is proper.
There is a huge learning curve for you to master to be able to shoot a flintlock fowler properly. But, there is plenty of help on this forum, if you are willing to read past posts, and topics, and then ask questions.
Do try to find a local club, and other shooters. Knoxville is East,and North of most of the area of Tennessee with which I am familiar. But, you are closer to Pennsylvania, and to both Ohio, Kentucky, and even Friendship, Indiana, where the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association is headquartered. The NMLRA has charter clubs in all the states. A call to them will get you the phone numbers, and names of club contact people nearest you. If you go to the Links section at the top of the forum, you will find information to contact the NMLRA. Begin there.
A final Thought: if the comments from others here have you rethinking your choice of barrel lengths for that fowler, try finding one that has a 36 inch barrel. I think its a fine compromise, and would have been my next choice. I agree, however, that the longer, 42-48 inch barrels on fowlers do make better Round Ball guns, as the powder burns more completely, and the longer sight radius will help you in accurately placing your ball, at distances beyond 50 yards. Only you can decide how much RB shooting, and how much birdshot shooting you are likely to do with this gun. Only you know what kind of hunting terraine is available for you if you decide to hunt deer. For flying targets, be they clay or live birds, that 30 inch barrel with an open cylinder bore is hard to beat for handiness, in a 20 gauge. If I were shooting a 16, 14, or 12 gauge fowler, however, I would want a heavier gun, and would opt for the longer barrel lengths.
Most deer are found and shot in forests, or in the edge brush along forests. Shots are more often less than 50 yards, than over that. I have shot much shorter barrels than a 30 inch barrel when hunting deer, and I have absolutely no worry about being able to shoot deer with my 30"-barreled fowler within the reasonable range of my gun, and its sights.
Oh, you might also look at the Caywood Fowlers, as they run about $1,000, too. I handled one this past year, and it was well made.
Welcome to our form of madness! Its a disease that will make you smile a lot! :youcrazy: :shocked2: :rotf: :rotf: :thumbsup:
Welcome to the forum. I had the same wants as you. I checked all of them out and went with a Sitting Fox kit. I had someone else make it for me. Go to the "Photo" section of this forum, see "Oldarmy's" ",62 Smoothbore". That is a fine left handed flintlock smoothbore. It shoots great, handles great. Gunn
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Welcome Tony, You're off to a good start with the Backwoodsman. A great magazine. I'd opt for a longer barrel for basically the same reason's given here already. If you haven't handled a long barreled gun you may think them clumsy or hard to get used to. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'll admit if you hunt an area with a lot of undergrowth a shorter barreled gun would be an advantage but that's the only place except well maybe a canoe. I would also look at Northstar West and see if they offer the Northwest trade gun in a lefty version. You could get it in a 36" barrel which may be a good compromise for you. Also check Track of the Wolf as they have left handed smoothies from time to time. What is you're price range?
cowpoke1955
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If you are good with your hands, check out the Barn Guns kits when you are at the Sitting Fox web site.
Many Klatch
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Look up Smoke and Fire magazine. http://www.smoke-fire.com
They put a monthly magazine that lists every event for every era in the US. They also have a great list of sutlers advertising in there. Get the magazine and check out events in your area before you buy that first gun. Find the local guys and get their input. You may find yourself hooking up with people from the F&I era or the CW era, and the guns are all different.
I have known lots of people getting into this hobby that go out and spend a lot of money on equipment that they don't want anymore after a couple of years because what they bought wasn't what they really wanted.
Many Klatch
They put a monthly magazine that lists every event for every era in the US. They also have a great list of sutlers advertising in there. Get the magazine and check out events in your area before you buy that first gun. Find the local guys and get their input. You may find yourself hooking up with people from the F&I era or the CW era, and the guns are all different.
I have known lots of people getting into this hobby that go out and spend a lot of money on equipment that they don't want anymore after a couple of years because what they bought wasn't what they really wanted.
Many Klatch
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