Sam Fadala's Book " Black Powder Handbook"

[aeatwood]

When I was getting into BP, I was the only one I knew doing it, and all my friends thought I was a nut for messing around with "those old guns".

Actually, I still get that: I showed my baby brother my Steve Zihn 16-bore and his reaction was "But it's a FLINTLOCK!!!"

Anyway, Sam put some doozies in, such as the barrel life statement. BUT, it may in fact have been true for his gun and here's why: He was trying every single fad "improvement" such as the plastic Poly-patch, and all kinds of wierd combinations in RB guns. I'm suspicious given his statement that he might have been using a fibre-glass ramrod. I guarantee that some of those old ramrods would put a good file to shame when it comes to cutting steel. What he attributed to bore wear from a grease cloth patch (or plastic wad thingy) may have been due to the ramrod flexing and taking out .0005" per stroke on the top of his lands. :rotf: :rotf:

Walter Cline and Ned Roberts also had their share of miss-statements: My favorite from NR was that 1400fps was about the top velocity where you could get any accuracy from a PRB. :shocked2:

 

[Skychief]

:thumbsup:

 

[Skychief]

I have Cline's and Roberts' books too. Wouldn't part with them either. :thumbsup:

 

[aeatwood]

They are utterly priceless, in that they cover the transition from people that USED the guns because they were Grandpappy's, and maybe the only gun in the house to those of us who shoot and hunt with them for fun.

I was mostly pointing out that even what some of the old timer's knew was wrong, and in competition, they may have not been quite ...forthcoming... in exactly how they were loading the guns, if you know what I mean.

The Brits and Germans were particularly dense in ignoring Forsythe for sporting rifles near the end of the ML era. You were supposed to plink the deer with a light charge and chase it down with dogs (Brits) or run over and kill it with a sword (Germans). The idea of putting the animal down from the shot was "unsporting".

 

[M. De Land]

I have Fadala's book and also Lymans black powder book. I got a lot of useful information out of the black powder section of the Sierra loading manual printed in the seventies as well.
I really learned a ton more when I joined the McKinley Mountain Men muzzle loader club here in Alaska.
I also leaned some good stuff reading Elmer Keith books and articles. MD

 

[Fullstock58]

At around 10years old, I was Blackpowder junkie, I read all and everything I cold find, and I went to friendship as often as I could, with the help of friends and family (My family had no interest in BP at all) I learned a great deal at a very young age.

I got Sams handbook in the mid to late 70's, right now it looks like it's 200years old with the pages turning a rust brown, and the pages are very worn.

Sam may not be the last word in anything Muzzleloading, but he has helped a great many people keep the fire stoked, myself included, I used what had to say as a start and refined from there. I loved all the different pics of rifles, I still love his short Lancaster, even though I have a few rifles that put it to shame, I still drool over that Lancaster!

IMHO What kills the life (accuracy) of a blackpowder guns barrel is not shooting it, but loading it! I have seen more barrels ruined because of short starters riding hard to one side, while starting the ball, then anything else!

I'm very thankful for Sam and his Handbook, it has past many hours of my time during the cold winter!

 

I also leaned some good stuff reading Elmer Keith books and articles. MD

Much of what Keith wrote, even his first book back in 1936, is still viable today.

 

[Rat Trapper]

On his web site I noticed "Dutch S" wrote about the thousand shots and accuracy going to pot. He claimed the problem was carbon build up. Remove it and the accuracy comes back.

 

[markmahaney]

I am in agreement with Idaho Ron. Sam Fadala's Book has been a great and informative starting point for me and getting into Blackpowder rifles. Since I have come to this interest recently I don't have years of practical experience to draw upon. I have always started with as much reading material as I can find. Sam Fadala's Blackpowder Handbook already has dog-eared pages from many nights of reading. I have found the book very useful in learning the basics of powder loads, types of powder, and most importantly the do's and don'ts of blackpowder safety. I don't have the detailed knowledge of many seasoned members here, but I can say that for those new to blackpowder firearms Fadala's Blackpowder Handbook is very help[ful and informative.

 

[Stumpkiller]

IMHO What kills the life (accuracy) of a blackpowder guns barrel is not shooting it, but loading it! I have seen more barrels ruined because of short starters riding hard to one side, while starting the ball, then anything else!

I agree. Improper loading damaging the crown and cleaning probably costs more in barrel wear/accuracy loss than "shooting out" the rifling. When I hear someone mention "fire lapping" a muzzleloader I get shivers. I don't even think a bronze/brass/steel brush should ever enter a m/l barrel.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Sure glad nobody mentioned Ned Roberts' book, The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle. Or Greener's The Gun and it's Development. Imagine all the "errors" there must be in those as well.

But I am shocked that some of the folks here actually read about shooting muzzleloaders. Bet Dan'l Boone and Davy Crockett never sat around reading such stuff. :blah:

 

[M. De Land]

Good point, I also have Ned Roberts and Walter Cline's books, a treasure trove of muzzle loader history and knowledge.
I didn't get them until a few years ago though. The other books are what I cut my teeth on along with a cousin that actually got me into black powder shooting in my early teens.
He had numerous percussion and flint rifles and pistols so I got to shoot virtually all types before I bought my first. MD

 

[Skychief]

Zimmer', AlanA mentioned Roberts' book. :idunno:

 

[smoothy]

My Dad is no Davey Crocket or Dan'l Boone. He wasn't going to be able to pass muzzleloading down to me. But I'll bet Davey and Dan'l learned from their Dad or other fatherly figure. I suppose that would have been the natural way. Now my son's (let me brag and tell you I have 5) are learning from there Dad how to handle a muzzleloader. My first son started with cf's, but my 2nd and 3rd sons have only hunted with muzzleloaders. But I learned from Sam Fadala's book, Muzzleloader Magazine articles and from the school of hard knocks. I'm no Dan'l or Davey either, but my sons may be closer by your implications as they learned from their Dad not by books.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Smooth flinter, I meant to be sarcastic. Seems every time a discussion of velocities and charges comes up, or lock speeds comes up somebody chimes in something about the frontiersmen not caring about such things and just shooting.

I actually had one of Fadala's books with me on the loading bench, as I loaded and fired my first flint gun the first few dozen times. I would not discount his work because I disagreed with something he wrote any more than I would discount somebody's writing due to a minor spelling error.

 

[stormcrow]

I would not discount his work because I disagreed with something he wrote any more than I would discount somebody's writing due to a minor spelling error.

Based on reading I have done including in this forum it seems that the only thing that is universally agreed upon in BP shooting is that projectiles are forced out of a steel tube at high velocity via an ignited charge. Experimentation is part of the enjoyment of the sport, so I also do not understand why Fadala’s observations upon fooling around with charges and wads would be viewed as any less scientific or credible than anyone else’s. After all, what fun would it be if there really were a single best way to do everything in BP?

 

[smoothy]

Oooohhh!!!! :redface:

 

[leslie]

There is a best way to shoot MLs,my way.Seriously I agree with you 100%.When I encounter someone who "knows it all"I go into ignore mode.Fadalla along with almost everyone else who writes a book will rub someone the wrong way,and of course a writer who agrees with me is a genius,one who disagrees is moronic.I happen to like Fadalla's books even though there is some misinformation.

 

[Leatherbark]

Never could find that "Falkenberry" juice and Irish Linen patching that he always raved about

Bob

 

[Chris Hayes]

Gentlemen, i too began with Sam's book 3 years ago. But now i realize he cost me time, energy, and money doing things his way. BUT, it did get me started, even if it was with a plastic gun. I soon found the club i belong too and this site, switched to a full-stocked rifle, and never looked back. A book should be writin about information on this site. It would truly be the encyclopedia of muzzleloading. My hat's off to everyone on this site. YOU make muzzleloading what it today. I thank you, and my son and daughter does too. And the 3 other kids who i mentor also. They all use this site and you treat them with respect. I don't think a paid writer would show the same. I don't feel they show the same love for it. I don't think Sam did either. Just my opinion.