Who Shoots Originals?

[Rudyard]

Felt Wad is his Own gunsmith, All his guns are in good fettle I've seem them .Other than a Parker Hale Enfield I once had .All my guns where either original or made up from old parts or new of my make, If did own a Colt replica revolver ,
I woundn't know what a' Traditions' even looked like & have no interest in such factory offerings .Bit of a snob that way cant be helped .
Rudyard

 

[oldwood]

I have one original local long rifle in need of stock work from being stored for perhaps 100+ years in a hot attic. Barrel is very good condition. I've restored perhaps a dozen old m/l guns for other folks. I have a reverence for an old rifle in abused condition and haven't fixed the one I own because I don't want to be part and parcel of it's complete destruction. An old gun deserves to be copied and left to it's final time undisturbed. Really old wood is almost granular in texture, and I've tried to emulate the texture and am only partially successful. Old guns don't deserve experimentation , just admiration........................oldwood

 

[Rabbit2047]

These are all originals and I shot them all before selling them

 

[Dwight Rutherford]

I shoot a .36 caliber J.P. Gemmer that was made after he took over the Hawkin shop in St. Louis. Great shooter!

 

[Feltwad]

Thanks for sharing everyone.

Those are beauties Feltwad. A single barrel English or American "ball and shot gun" in shooting condition is on my wishlist. Have you had any issues with the doubles? They look to be in great shape.

The stand of originals are what I restored way back in 2013 , although I never shot any of them they were sound guns if you notice one was fitted with a plate just below the lock to save a figured broken stock. I have since then moved them on
Feltwad

 

[French Colonial]

I have said before and I will say again, old double barrel percussion shotguns are one of the last bargains left in this sport.
Very few collect them and the well made ones from English makers cost little compared to rifles of the same vintage, are usually in good shape and point and balance better than modern shotguns in the same price range (this excludes modern high dollar skeet and trap guns).
And I am kind of glad, I have picked up some beauties for less than a cheap knockabout modern gun and they shoot as good as they ever did.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I shoot a .36 caliber J.P. Gemmer that was made after he took over the Hawkin shop in St. Louis. Great shooter!

As a member of the J. P. Gemmer Muzzleloading Gun Club, we say that John Gemmer made the best Hawken rifles.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Still bag a few driven pheasants with a 12g Ryan & Watson Flint gun & a Cooper & Bates Double 13b and a Green of Canterbury 16. A T.Stensby live pigeon 12b has won a fair few medals here and there. Just selling my Swiss style full Schutzen 9.6mm (about 1860 and Near Mint). OLD DOG..

 

[toot]

I will be taking my Snyder to South Africa next month to try and bag a cape buffalo with it. They are great rifles.

View attachment 78718

it seems to have a very short barrel? is it a carbine?

 

[toot]

I also shoot all of mine, pistols, rifles', shot guns, both DBL'S & AND SINGLES, and smooth bores. that just about covers them all!

 

[Daveboone]

I will be taking my Snyder to South Africa next month to try and bag a cape buffalo with it. They are great rifles.

View attachment 78718

Awesome! We will be expecting a full write up! Be safe. Wht part of SA are you going to? I go next year, Eastern Cape.

 

[Cap'n Ball]

My late father in law used an original R&S to shoot (and win) against modern 38s. This was the first muzzleloader I ever shot. Now my best handling shotgun is a 25 guage SXS Andrews (London). Everyone who mounts it loves it.

My wife has a Belgian SXS in 13 gauge left and 45 cal. right. I occasionally shoot it but the need for a combo gun is rare and it is heavy for a single shot at normal rifle or shotgun events.

 

[Jkil]

An 1863 Springfield rifled musket. All correct, as near as I can tell from research. Bought from a shop in Va. Wish it could talk. Been a lot of fun zeroing in on the optimum powder, minie diameter, grease, etc.

 

[52Bore]

Why shoot anything else? lol
I prefer 19th Century British work, with hammer(s) of course.
Life is too short to hunt or shoot an ugly gun.

 

[Dryball]

I shoot several originals. 36 cal J S Johnston circa 1850 ( Huntington County PA ), a 50 cal Fibich Jaeger circa 1860, and a 12 GA. W F Mills shotgun

 

[11Bravo]

Great thread, since I bought 3 SxS and they are all 14ga., it appears, I do plan on shooting all three if the bores clean up? I also got a type 2 1863 Springfield as part of that buy in fine condition. So I know I'll be making some extra smoke down the road.

 

[hatman]

I have an 1866 2nd Allin trapdoor. Hit a gallon milk jug at 310 yards.

 

[fleener]

Come to Friendship in a couple of weeks and you can see a lot of originals being shot. Especially at the shotgun events.

I know I am bringing at least one with me.

Fleener

 

[user 33882]

Come to Friendship in a couple of weeks and you can see a lot of originals being shot. Especially at the shotgun events.

I know I am bringing at least one with me.

Fleener

Unfortunately, I can't make it out for the shoot, but I'll be out for the long rifle show in July.

 

[Rabbit2047]

Awesome! We will be expecting a full write up! Be safe. Wht part of SA are you going to? I go next year, Eastern Cape.

Limpopo province.