who here shoots original guns ?

[Da_swed]

Is there anyone here that shoot non replica

original muzzleloading guns (old original guns) . :hmm: ?

 

[2shute]

I have a number of original percussion shotguns I have fired and hunt with on occasion. I do inspect them thoroughly, including barrel solder separations and dents, bore condition, make sure the nipples are tightly threaded--the whole nine yards--then proof them with a string before putting them to the shoulder. Careful thorough inspection is key here--along with sensible loads.
I'm sure others may see the issue differently. The best to you.

 

[fleener]

I do.
I love old guns.

One of my favorite ML shotguns is a W. Greener.
Condition, Condition, Condition.

When I first started buying originals, I bought a lot of wall hangers. But it was an education and I think I have learned a lot in the past 15 years with these old girls.

snapper

 

[George]

I do. I shoot a 13 ga. British SxS double percussion shotgun, an American 28 ga. flintlock smoothbore, and have shot a W.W. Greener 10 ga. SxS double percussion.

Spence

 

[54mountain]

I shoot a Belgian made 14 guage double quite often. It was made around 1856 and is still in good condition, I just wish the old girl could talk. :hmm:

 

[mooman76]

I picked up an old squirrel gun a few years ago that I shoot. It was missing a nipple and a screw that holds in the lock in. I replaced the nipple but need a better screw for the lock. The one I put it just so I could fire, it's a regular bolt.
Anyway it's in good shape mechanically but shows signs of repair and minor modifications over the years. It weighs a ton. 32 cal 1 1/8" flats and something like 39 inches long. It does shoot very good though.

 

[George T.]

I do Shoot a Scott & Son's 13 gaugh precussion shotgun. I have never found a rifle with a good bore that I could afford. Geo. T.

 

[greggholmes]

It wasn't a muzzle loader but i shot a 10g Manton breechloader with brass shells

 

[ohio ramrod]

Percusion shotgun, but no rifles. I would if I had one. :idunno:

 

I used to, but the two originals I shot were both stolen.
One was a Moore & Harris 10 gauge side by side and the other was a J.R. Brumfiel chunk gun. Both were very, very good shooters.

 

[Jason Lewis]

I do, i shoot an original 1868 william moore 13ga SxS. it's my primary pheasant gun. my other original is a hammerless new worchester 12ga SxS circa 1898. it's my crappy day pheasant gun.

both are excellent killers, and they are of course BP.

 

[desi23]

I have owned and shot several original guns. If they are in good shape and not some extremely rare piece I have no trouble about shooting the old ones. Currently have an H. Ashton 1848 pistol, an 1860 Army and an old squirrel rifle that I shoot.

I also shoot some early cartridge guns too, especially fond of an 1870 trapdoor in 50-70 caliber. So long as the gun is sound and you keep it clean and properly maintained I think it's fine to shoot them. They were made to be used after all!

 

[Supercracker]

I do most of my bird shooting with an original Belgian 12ga by Schepers.

 

[Dave K]

I shoot many originals. Both rifles and shotgun/fowlers. My oldest one is a 1790-1810 SxS flint shotgun.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I shoot an old percussion dbl barrel 12 ga.

I also have and have competed with an old 27 pound percussion chunk gun in 62 cal.

 

[Bill Hall]

I too hunt with an original single barrel shotgun. I don't know the maker, guage, or year of it's birth, but after doing a little research, I do know it's English, from the mid 19th century.

I find it funny that most of the replies are using original shotguns. I wonder what happened to all the old rifles. Bill

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Just a guestimate, but there were thousands of double perc guns sold in the second half of the 19th century and, at least in the East, fewer rifles for hunting. They were a cheaper alternative to the cartridge shotguns of the day, but were abandoned for breech loaders as soon as a little more money became available. The catelogues of the 1880's to 1900 were full of ads for dbl and single muzzle loader shotguns for rather low prices. A single percussion shotgun ran just a dollar or two, a cartridge shotgun was usually several times that. I think the vast number available and the price is what resulted in so many still being serviceable today.

My 1887 Lamberson & Furman cat lists remmie dbl breechloaders for around $40. English and Belgian breech loader dbls $12 and English and Belgian dbl percussion guns ran $5.00 or $7.00 Single barrel percussion shotguns ran $2.50 to $4.75 for a fancy engraved model. Sears Roebuck still had similar prices in 1902.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

 

[Col. Batguano]

I shoot a Model 1841 Mississippi rifle upon occasion.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

I have 3 English SxS's (10, 12 and 14 gauge), two of which I shoot with some regularity.