Thinking of new M/L

[John V.]

Mods, I hope this is okay to post here? If you delete it though I understand.Today I was at the range shooting my(non-black powder) lever action .22's.These are not just average lever actions, but collector grade ones that start with the letter "M". As I sat there alternating from one rifle to the other. I got BORED. Yes, they are neat, but it is the same thing over and over. Work the lever, pull the trigger, work the lever pull the trigger.As I was shooting them I started to think about selling a couple and buying a nice .40 cal M/L? Maybe even a flinter? Yes...I know one could argue that it is the same with a M/L. Powder, patch, ball...shoot, powder, patch, ball...shoot. But ya know (at least to me) with a M/L every shot is just somehow different? I cannot explain it, it just is?I at least get a sense of "satisfaction" after every M/L shot. Now some may say "don't sell a modern gun to get a M/L"? But in order for me to get a semi-non production M/L I will have to sell at least one, maybe two? Just wondering if you folks had any input?Am I making any sense or just rambling? Thanks for your time.

 

[mooman76]

The heart wants, what the heart wants. When I first got started many years ago I had a got a 45. I was on a budget and at the time wanted something bigger for hunting. At that time 45s seemed like just about the only thing around unless you special ordered one. Eventually I was able to get a 50, and then another and eventually I stumbled on a 58 in good shape. They are like tader chips, can't eat just one. Eventually I though with me just going out paper punching, seems kind of silly to be going through so much lead and powder so I picked up a 32. It sufficed for awhile but then I wanted something with a little more umph than a 32 so it felt like I was shooting something but didn't need to go all the way back to the 58 so I found another 45(kit). it was over 30 years old and still in the box. At some point I got 36 stuck in my head. After several deals fell through, I could get one ordered but for just paper punching and be being a cheap SOB I gave up on that. Then I found one 2 years later and jumped on it.

What I guess it comes down to is get what you want. Life is too short anyway so if it will make you happy, go for it.

 

[bubba.50]

no real input on your quandary but, I find that with the amount of work it takes to "build" each shot from scratch with a muzzleloader I tend to appreciate it more & try harder to make a good shot knowin' I have to build the next shot from scratch too & can't just jack another round into the chamber.

 

[Zonie]

I agree.

You have to build each shot.

In modern terms, that ends up combining shooting with reloading. The only real difference is the shooter is reloading his shots one at a time and then taking the shot.

Because of all of the variables and the effects on how well the gun shoots, that can make each trip to the range a whole new satisfying or frustrating experience.
Whichever it is, it won't be boring.

Then there is the real kicker. At the end of the day you can say,

"Well, that was more than enjoyable and I did it all myself". :grin:

 

[BrownBear]

As I sat there....

That right there is my problem with any of them, modern or frontloading. I get the terminal yawns at a benchrest, and it doesn't take me long to think about something more exciting like golf or oral surgery.

I certainly encourage you to get the new 40 of your dreams, but take it for walks so it too doesn't get bored with your shooting.

 

[Jumpshot]

it doesn't take me long to think about something more exciting like golf or oral surgery.

:haha:

 

[Cowboy]

Bravo, I too have been known to sell or trade modern guns for a nice muzzleloader! Like what the others have already mentioned, you have the privilege of building each precious shot. Alot of great opportunities to think about the last shot and look forward to the next! You ask yourself, " How can I improve to make even a better next shot? ". You have the opportunity to apply what you've learned from others or from your own experiences.

I might be out of line or sound prejudice, but any monkey can pull a trigger nonstop until they're out of ammo. To each his own I guess.

As for me, I can shoot hours on end in perfect peace and serenity. The others shooting the modern guns expend their ammo at a rapid rate and are soon packing up to leave the range while I stay and enjoy the day at peace with God one shot at a time!

Yes, get what your heart desires and enjoy every moment shooting that special muzzleloader. Life is good my friend!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[Sean Gadhar]

This Topic needs an Irishman :wink:

Think of it as a cost savings plan

Sure you will need to spend a wad of cash to get that .40 Cal but. . . .

Clearly you are grinding through a ton of ammo shooting those 22s. Getting a .40 M/L you will s l o w down, shoot far less in a day at the range and yet have as much fun. In time you will make up the cost of the rifle in the savings on ammo :wink: In fact it could be argued that not buying a .40 cal is imprudent. . . But only by a Mick like me :haha:

 

[Critter Getter]

I say get your new ML and keep the levers as well. I have sold or traded too many guns in the past that I now regret not having. I have found my guns to always be a good investment and enjoy shooting them as well. One can never have too many and now a new gun safe room is in my plans for a new home when I build it. Greg

 

[John V.]

I say get your new ML and keep the levers as well. I have sold or traded too many guns in the past that I now regret not having. I have found my guns to always be a good investment and enjoy shooting them as well. One can never have too many and now a new gun safe room is in my plans for a new home when I build it. Greg

I would only need to sell probably one of my lever guns to fund a (new to me) .40cal. I still have more. Infact the one that I would sell, costs the most to shoot because it is a magnum. Don't get me wrong I still love my lever guns and will shoot them, but I sold my .50cal Traditions Pennsylvania a little while back because it just did not fit me. It had the "roman nose" stock and I just could never get comfortable with it. Probably just me? So now I am without a M/L and I really miss it. The .40 cal has always intrigued me. I have decided that I will not "settle", I will take my time finding what fits me and my needs. Admittedly I am still torn between Percussion or flint?

 

[jefftx]

All I can I say, is in the short time I have owned a ML it has been a blessing. Nothing like trying to figure out what load, patch, lube, etc like someone else posted. Also, at the range I see the gleam in people's eyes watching me load and shoot. It's uplifting. I am still breaking in my new old stock cabelas .54 and will be taking my new old Lyman GPR .54 to the range finally this week. It's just never boring to me yet and I hope to bag me a pig or deer this fall with one of them.

 

[cynthialee]

Yeah I have noticed that folks who put down muzzle loaders sure do spend an inordinate amount of time watching when one is being shot...
I think they are subconsciously pining for that sense of ease and confidence us BP burners have as a matter of course.

 

[hanshi]

I sold most of my modern shooters so I could finance another then another muzzleloader. Still mourn some of them. But the very few I chose to keep are never carried into the bush any longer and seldom get exercise at the range. All the modern stuff I managed to keep are no longer available, anywho.

When I go out to shoot or hunt I automatically reach for a flint longrifle; I no longer even think in modern terms. We're in a teeny-tiny minority but we have more fun.

 

[Artificer]

I like what Zonie wrote about muzzle loading is the essence of hand loading. I actually owned and shot a .50 cal. TC Hawken before I ever started handloading for modern guns. Shooting ML's wound up making me a much better handloader, because I had learned the importance of building each and every shot the best I could and with the load that best performed in the rifle.

When I first began earning extra money working on farms, I wanted to buy a ML, but Dad and no one else we knew of - knew anything about them. So Dad was concerned and steered me toward a "varmint" rifle. Well, I could not afford a HP one, so I sent off to Herter's and got a .22 magnum bolt action. Though it shot extremely well, it turned out to be the most useless rifle I ever owned. Ammo was WAY too expensive for plinking and virtually all the hunting I did. That is one of the few guns I ever bought and later sold that I really don't miss.

OK, so when I was home on Boot Camp leave, I finally got my ML, a .50 Cal. TC Hawken. The accuracy was great at 100 yards and I was hooked on ML's for life.

Back when I began, there was no Internet and Dixie Gun Works catalog was the bible for ML's. Since no one in our county shot ML's, it was better I began with percussion, but switched to flints in only a few years when I found mentors who shot them.

Nowadays with the Internet and especially this forum to ask questions and seek help, a flintlock is not out of the question at all for a first or even second ML rifle. So buy the one you are most interested in.

Gus

 

[John V.]

I sold most of my modern shooters so I could finance another then another muzzleloader. Still mourn some of them. But the very few I chose to keep are never carried into the bush any longer and seldom get exercise at the range. All the modern stuff I managed to keep are no longer available, anywho.

When I go out to shoot or hunt I automatically reach for a flint longrifle; I no longer even think in modern terms. We're in a teeny-tiny minority but we have more fun.

We are indeed in a "teeny-tiny minority". Yesterday while at the range shooting my lever guns. I did a informal "inventory" of what most people were shooting. As you can imagine the bulk were those semi-auto black rifles. To each his own I guess?

 

[Col. Batguano]

[
We are indeed in a "teeny-tiny minority". ... I did a informal "inventory" of what most people were shooting. As you can imagine the bulk were those semi-auto black rifles. To each his own I guess?

I'm guessing mostly AR platform guns too. Even the black rifle crowd usually stops to watch ML'ers being shot, especially if they're flinters. If you offer them a chance to shoot them, they usually jump at the chance.

Sadly though, wooden stocks (even on ML'ers) seems to be becoming a thing of the past, at least on most factory guns that is. Plastic stocks on guns are the gun equivalent of; "yeah, but she has a great personality."

 

[Ames]

Build your own guns. Load your loads, one at a time. The rewards will pay you back in spades. Similar to tying your own trout flies. When you land that fish on what you made yourself nothing can come close.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Yeah I have noticed that folks who put down muzzle loaders sure do spend an inordinate amount of time watching when one is being shot...
I think they are subconsciously pining for that sense of ease and confidence us BP burners have as a matter of course.

No kidding! :wink: I love the attention but have to repress the smiles at the questions. Just when they think they have you stumped, show them how a well tuned flint lock will fire inverted. The looks are priceless.

Agree most comments are based on lack of understanding but let them try it and it's amazing how attitudes change! :haha:

 

[John V.]

[
We are indeed in a "teeny-tiny minority". ... I did a informal "inventory" of what most people were shooting. As you can imagine the bulk were those semi-auto black rifles. To each his own I guess?

I'm guessing mostly AR platform guns too. Even the black rifle crowd usually stops to watch ML'ers being shot, especially if they're flinters. If you offer them a chance to shoot them, they usually jump at the chance.

Sadly though, wooden stocks (even on ML'ers) seems to be becoming a thing of the past, at least on most factory guns that is. Plastic stocks on guns are the gun equivalent of; "yeah, but she has a great personality."

That last part was funny, but true :rotf:

 

[Diz9000]

My introduction to M/L was a club member buying a Ruger M77/50, this is one of those modern inline bolt action muzzel loaders. I knew as soon as I'd shot it that one of my first guns was going to be a M/L 😎

Two months later the same club member had bought a T/C Renegade percussion rifle and another club member the a flintlock renegade. Again after shooting both these I knew that my one of my first rifles was going to be a M/L but one of these more traditional rifles, rather that an inline rifle.

I was lucky that less than a week after I got my firearms certificate , I found a T/C Hawken .54 cal , with loads of accessories and bits n bobs, for a bargain price of £250.

Now I'm getting used to the beast , that kicks like a mule with only 40gns of triple 7 powder. Must be that solid brass butt plate lol .😂

Now experimenting with different bullet types , lubes and soon the loads. We only shoot at 25m and 50m , so don't need the big charges that I have read that hunters are using.
Just don't want to reduce the load to the point if the bullet barely dropping out of the barrel 😩😎