What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

[cynthialee]

I found my TC maxi Hunter bullets!
They were in a box of muzzle loader parts from some old guns, a couple of broke locks, a derringer barrel, some trigger parts and a lever assist stiletto I forgot I owned. It was in the junk closet buried under other crap.

I need to re-lube those bullets the Bore Butter they come packed in has dried to the point it is just falling out. But I have them.

I like to use the TC Maxi Hunters for second shots when hunting if my first misses or I need to coupe de grace. They load a lot faster than the tight PRB I like to load. So they are great in the field and the load I figured out for them hits same point of aim as my roundball load inside of 75 yards.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Loaded the car up with two 45s and all the shooting gear for I and visiting grandson to hit the range this afternoon. Threw in some fishing gear to try a few casts along the way. Never got to the range! Kept four and released 35. Never got to the range.

I got a first grandson , he’s just over i year, walking and me 81 in March. His dad, eldest son “ Stephen Courtney “you will find on google Dyson. I only mentioned it as I was working on my 50ft home made catameran, I dreamed of taking it up along hunting along a norther coast , dream come and go. A guy was watching said “ getting on a bit, well ????how old am I “”

53 !!!

Made my exhausted body so happy.

I just sized last weeks •5 ml bullet to .485. I have several sizing dies up to •510, but at .485 patched it is perfect for 3 of my ml. When less exhausted I’ll do one for .577 , watch this space still feel exhausted 24hours at home Extra positive I tried a ,510 split collet for 3 jaw lathe chuck so I can drill out base for a Minnie bullet

Lovely to chat from across the pond and many many thanks for all “ the LOVE “ comments. I do my best.

The .5 double barrels were Westly richards uk mint bores Metford rifling 1886 BP proof , now got too much brass on it, I’ll go back to steel , looks like made in India. Ha ha don’t want it “ made in India”

Photos ok



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[PathfinderNC]

Carved these two horns over the last couple of days- ready for some engraving now.

 

[Terrier]

Carved these two horns over the last couple of days- ready for some engraving now.

Hey there... What do you use to blacken the tips? It comes out very nice.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Hey there... What do you use to blacken the tips? It comes out very nice.

Ancient Chinese Secret





lol. Waterproof India Ink

 

[wiscoaster]

Ordered a Kibler Colonial fancy maple .58 cal smoothbore no patch box.

 

[Black_Feather]

Spent 3 hours at our local Sportsman’s show today hoping to see some muzzleloading related goods and vendors….Not a single one…Disappointing there….Still had fun tho.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Drilled this Brown Bess lock plate for a tumbler bushing. I was expecting it to be hardened, but it cut like butter.

Now to cut a key slot, solder in, and file down…

 

[LANEY REECE]

Started some preliminary sketches on the " Nothing but squirrels" horn in preparation for scrimshaw. Got a long ways to go yet but it's a start.

how long is the horn? nice work.

 

[Moleman]

how long is the horn? nice work.

Approximately 18" . Plenty of room for some scrimshaw and carving at the spout.
I need all the room I can get so I can fix uhohhhhs.

 

[Terrier]

Approximately 18"

Wow! That’s a BIG powder horn.

 

[John Stark]

"what muzzleloading stuff did you do today" ...... I discovered that a 95 gr charge under a 320 gr bullet has significantly more felt recoil than 95 under a 188 gr PRB. I mean, yeah I understand Newton's Law and all but the difference was WELL outside my projected increase. Color me impressed. I doubt seriously I'd care to do a full day of shooting using a 120 gr charge under those punches. Also, it could just be me but I'd swear there was less fouling than the 65 gr charge I usually tinker with.

 

[Terrier]

@John Stark
Generally, it’s not necessary to use more than a charge equal to the caliber, and not recommended to exceed twice the caliber in grains of powder. Exceeding more than twice just wastes powder and adds to the kick.

I.E,, 50 grains of powder for a .50 cal ball and no more than 100 grains of powder. Test to see what within that range shoots most accurately.

For squirrels and targets, you might find that even less than equal will shoot very accurately

 

[SciAggie]

Carved these two horns over the last couple of days- ready for some engraving now.

I can't wait to see what you dazzle us with next.

 

[Banjoman]

Went up on the mountain today and shot my Genuine Thompson Center Hawken rifle. Life is good.

 

[Bnewberry]

Worked on inletting the trigger guard and trigger plate.

This guard is on the small side, but it isn’t a big gun and I am using a single trigger.

 

[jrweis1997]

Drilled out the touch hole and filed down the plug on the bess, also cleaned up the lock and stained both the bess and sea service waiting on flints in the mail as well as a .69 ball mold then i can go out and do some shooting!

 

[Psycho Mike]

Well, had some things going on, but still managed to get the lock and side plate in earlier this week. Today I swung by the local woodworking store and grabbed a different aniline dye to see if I can get closer to the color I was originally looking for to finish my Colonial.

If I cannot find the secret sauce to reach my original idea (my options outside of the US are more limited....LMF, Transtint and such are as common as hen's teeth here), I may have found a few other options. The first is a pretty good combo to make my curly maple stock look like a curly cherry that has been treated with alkanet root or lye (nice deep red with distinct dark curl...but you can still see the wood grain). The second comes across as "it's wood" (darkens the light maple a bit, adds some warmth), but the curl and chatoyence are pretty dang stunning. The third (I hope) will be using the newer dye in combo with the dark and brown I already had...if it behaves as planned, it could be the winner....we'll see.

 

[LANEY REECE]

Had Basic Training at Ft. Lewis in 1970..
Beautiful area.

THANK YOU for your service. Laney

 

[CuNosecap]

Working on a couple of horns, and will be able to pin the trigger on my PA fowler. Next up will be the trigger guard inletting.