Who hunts with there match lock?

[3 stinky dogs]

Any match lock hunters here ?Or do you know anyone who hunts with them ?

 

[casey4469]

Sir:

A few years back I read an article in Muzzleloader or a Blackpowder publication about a gentleman who hunted with a Matchlock. I remember a picture of him holding it outside of a camo blind while the slowmatch was burning. I'm going to visit my father tomorrow and see if I can find the article. Oh by the way he was succuessful in his hunt.

Casey

:thumbsup:

 

Seems I remember an article in the "Backwoodsman" magazine where a fella built a matchlock and went hunting with it. If I have time, I'll dig it up.

Just :m2c:

 

[benvenuto]

THIS GUY says he shot a buck with his
I can't find the message thread he reffers to about matchlock hunting tho'.

Blown away for the second time!

 

[Chuck Thom]

Nick Barber from Michigan has gotten deer, wild dogs, ducks , geese,squirrel, turkeys. aiso Issac Walters from Wisconsin has gotten turkeys and I think deer

 

[rifleshooter2]

I hope to hunt with one. I just need time to finish building it. LOL

Andy

 

[Itegorm]

I have done quite a bit of hunting with mine. I've taken deer (even wrote an article for guns magazine about one of them), coyotes, squirrels, all manner of fowl, bunnies and even a couple nasty tempered feral dogs. Got my turkey with it this spring even. I'm hopeing for another deer or two in a couple months when firearm season opens here. I will also have it out in the next few days when small game season opens up. My matchlock has become my usual hunting gun for everything except waterfowl and grouse (for those I use an early dutch flintlock). I highly recmend taking ones matchlock to the field and trying it out to find out what it realy takes to use one in the woods as opposed to on the range.

Nick Barber

 

Any match lock hunters here ?Or do you know anyone who hunts with them ?

Its illegal to use a Matchlock for hunting during the centerfire seasons in Oregon. Its listed under General Provisions, Centerfire Firearm. But get this, they don't say anything about it during muzzleloader season!

Hunters may use any muzzleloader with any ignition type, except matchlock, any legal sight, any propellant, or any bullet type during centerfire firearm seasons, provided the weapon meets caliber restriction for the species.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

However they are legal in Illinois:

Muzzleloaders: a single or double barreled muzzleloading firearm of at least.45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least sixteeninches in length; must be percussion cap, wheellock, matchlock or flint type ignitions only...

Found this under Section 685.30 Statewide Firearm Requirements for Hunting the Youth Deer Season

3) Percussion caps, wheellock, matchlock or flint type ignition only may be used.

4) Removal of percussion cap, or removal of prime powder from frizzen pan with frizzen open and hammer all the way down, or removal of prime powder from flashpan and wheel un-wound, or removal of prime powder and match with match not lit shall constitute an unloaded muzzleloading firearm.

Montana says its legal:

4) is ignited by a percussion, flintlock, matchlock or wheellock mechanism;

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe in Washington State says:

 

[Light Dragoon]

Wow, cool! Since I live across the road from the S'Klallam rez, I guess I can use my matchlock with impunity there, LOL! Well, getting the proper permission and licenses may help a might too...

Thanks for posting those regulations. Rather interesting that they all mention wheellocks! VERY cool! :front:

Cheers,

Gordon

 

Seems to be a lot of us pre-flinters out there to have that sort of effect on the regulations. Now if we can get them all to start posting here and sharing their experiences!

Just :m2c:

 

[PedroB]

I hunt with my Matchlock though I must confess I do cheat a bit.
Instead of using the matchcord, I use an electric ignition system not unlike the ones that kids use to launch model rockets.
9v battery, solar igniter, small button. Works like a charm and I don't have to keep moving the matchcord in the serpentine every 5 mins.

 

[44-henry]

I hunt with my Matchlock though I must confess I do cheat a bit.
Instead of using the matchcord, I use an electric ignition system not unlike the ones that kids use to launch model rockets.
9v battery, solar igniter, small button. Works like a charm and I don't have to keep moving the matchcord in the serpentine every 5 mins.

:idunno: Kind of seems like you might be missing out on the experience.

 

[BillinOregon]

I have never been able to figure out why matchlocks are illegal in Oregon, unless the rule was promulgated during a really bad fire season.

 

[Darto]

I hunt with a matchlock, not with any of my more modern weapons which I only fire just for fun. You bag less with old fashion guns. And enjoy the experience more.

Check your State laws, and beware the burning fire hazard of match in forest and grass land.

And keep in mind what you already know well, that many wheel locks were rifled weapons, less than 1% of matchlocks were.

If you want to hunt with a matchlock, go for it. You still stand a better chance than with a bow. :thumbsup: