What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

[aussie pete]

I went for a quick scout to the block this morning to see how things were shaping up for a summer hunt in a few weeks' time (with the 54 Hawken). The bush is very green thanks to the recent rains, a little too much water about yet for reliable navigation and traversing but shaping up nicely. There were deer present as well as a nice little group of besser block sized pigs. The birdlife and wildlife were rejoicing in the excellent conditions. I have included an image of a nice young kangaroo and an emu for the other-hemisphere folk, purely for entertainment. Emus and Kangaroos are not targeted species here - we are very protective of them in this area.

Kind regards, Pete

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Awesome

 

[Howard Pippin]

After reading several comments from people that reclean their muzzleloaders and found rust, I thought maybe I should pay a little more attention. Anyway I have 4 muzzleloader's (1 Flint and 3 percussion,) and none have been shot since about July for various reasons, mainly because the bridge is out and it's 14 miles to the range the back way. Well I took and laid them all out and using my old standby which is kerosene, I ran went patches down everyone in the horizontal position as I don't want a bunch of stuff to run down into the breach end. Every patch came out just like I put it in. I'm sure it helps living in a dry part of the country, but apparently kerosene is doing a very good job of protecting.
Squint

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

After reading several comments from people that reclean their muzzleloaders and found rust, I thought maybe I should pay a little more attention. Anyway I have 4 muzzleloader's (1 Flint and 3 percussion,) and none have been shot since about July for various reasons, mainly because the bridge is out and it's 14 miles to the range the back way. Well I took and laid them all out and using my old standby which is kerosene, I ran went patches down everyone in the horizontal position as I don't want a bunch of stuff to run down into the breach end. Every patch came out just like I put it in. I'm sure it helps living in a dry part of the country, but apparently kerosene is doing a very good job of protecting.
Squint

Well, it is a petroleum product, but it slowly evaporates, so when you shoot it after a few months, you don't get petroleum fouling. Not what I do, but if it works for you, then it works for you. Just curious, what do you use for powder and what do you use for ball and bullet lube?

 

[45man]

Neighbor brought his barrel and a dovetail cutter. I cut the dovetails in the bottom for his lugs. Sure easier the a file and saw.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

I went for a quick scout to the block this morning to see how things were shaping up for a summer hunt in a few weeks' time (with the 54 Hawken). The bush is very green thanks to the recent rains, a little too much water about yet for reliable navigation and traversing but shaping up nicely. There were deer present as well as a nice little group of besser block sized pigs. The birdlife and wildlife were rejoicing in the excellent conditions. I have included an image of a nice young kangaroo and an emu for the other-hemisphere folk, purely for entertainment. Emus and Kangaroos are not targeted species here - we are very protective of them in this area.

Kind regards, PeteView attachment 187595View attachment 187596View attachment 187597View attachment 187598View attachment 187599

Very nice rifle!

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Just got an email from Barbie Chambers, my English fowler kit is on it's way! It's been awhile, the hold up was the barrel, looking forward to it!

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Well, Down Under, it is Summer. Up in Wisconsin, it... isn't. Had about an inch of new snow on the ground when I woke up and all the trees were coated with it as well. Looked like a Christmas card scene. In any case, I emptied out an almond milk bottle for breakfast, so I thought I might take it out and "recycle" it. Shot at it twice with the YBG .50 caliber. Missed both times. Next took a T/C Hawken .45 out. Missed twice more. Loaded up the YBG and took it fifty yards down range where I was finally able to dispatch the varmint.

From the marks in the snow, I could see that my elevation with both guns was about right, but shot wide to the right.

I was kind of surprised that the YBG .50 with only a 12 inch barrel actually would have reached the 100 yard target if I had been a better shot.
The Hawken, though, with an aperture sight, should have done better.

Have concluded that (a) I need more range time and (b) a white plastic jug on new snow makes a difficult target.

 

[TDM]

Spent the afternoon disassembling the lock and trigger assembly for my SMR build. Started sanding the lock plate and cock. I’ll finish the external and internal polishing tomorrow. Kibler builds a fine lock, but these need tuning like any other.

 

[64Springer]

Took the newly rebuilt Traditions with 25 inch barrel out for a test drive this morning.

.490 ball. .018 pillow ticking, round, with minty fresh smell. 50 grains of Pyrodex RS. At 65 grains I got six inch groups. Gotta work up those loads to see what they like. Or don't like.

40 yards. Cuzz all my shots are inside of 40 yards. Cuzz trees.

5" x 5" Bambi brown lunch bag.

 

[Fisherking]

Raining again today. :/

So I hung a paint can lid out about sixty yards, on a tree. Three shots from a covered position for one hit. I couldn’t tell where the two others went but I suspect low and to the right. I need to make a more permanent target that is bigger, obviously.

Still a good day tho.

 

[Loja man]

Sorted through my shooting bag, restocked everything and then pack the guns up! Tomorrow I’m heading to Ohio for a two day muzzleloader hunt with my older brothers and nephew! Taking my GPR 50 as my main gun and my sons Traditions Kentucky as a back up.

 

[SciAggie]

Reading “Wild Sports in the Far West” by Gerstacker.

 

[aussie pete]

Sorted through my shooting bag, restocked everything and then pack the guns up! Tomorrow I’m heading to Ohio for a two day muzzleloader hunt with my older brothers and nephew! Taking my GPR 50 as my main gun and my sons Traditions Kentucky as a back up.

All the best, Loja man. Have a great hunt, enjoy the family. I look forward to your field report.
Kind regards, Pete

 

[deerstalkert]

today i was going to shoot my fowler some more. put up a new target. loaded with 90g ff and a 1.25oz load of bismuth with a card over the powder, the shot, and a card. at 25 yards got 30 pellets in the 12x12 target. then i loaded a .018 patch and .60 ball, over 90g ff. primed with ffff. flash.
flash, flash, flash. ten flash in the pan in a row. didn't matter ffff or ff for priming. picked the vent each flash in the pan.
pulled the ball finally. poured out the charge.
lit it in a pile and it went phitz! discovered the humidity where the powder had been last night was 80%.
have the powder drying by the wood stove tonight.
thinking of installing a vent liner.
disappointed. wanted to burn some powder.

 

[TDM]

Glad nothing was chasing after you.

 

[sheriff john]

Met with lady insurance agent this afternoon to see about coverage/cost on everything, including guns & shooting stuff.

"How many do you have?" Don't really know.
"We pay replacement value, are any worth over $1,000 ?" Depends on who wants it.
"What's a muzzle loader?" My favorite ones.
"To have a special policy for your guns, we have to have a list." We're done.

Trying to assign a value for factory M/L's isn't daunting. Assigning a value for one-of-a-kind originals/custom ones bought over a 60 year span in a manner in which an insurance company will pay? Starting to make a list with photos tomorrow. Premiums are unknown. Edgy about giving a list to anyone.

 

[Trooper]

I finished installing three new Williams FP sights on our Hawken TC rifles.

 

[Loja man]

All the best, Loja man. Have a great hunt, enjoy the family. I look forward to your field report.
Kind regards, Pete

Thanks Pete,
It’s the first time we have tried this trip for a lot of years. I have strict orders from the wife to bring home a freezer full of meat or the cost of the out-of-state tags come out of my forging money!
Aaron

 

[Cannonman1]

Made up some experimental cartridges for my Whitworth. I am going to try shooting consistently using pre made paper rounds .. Will be fun to try.