Who Shoots Originals?

[Josephg]

I certainly do. Mostly originals.

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

The longer of these is an 1865 hayes pattern Enfield 3 band Medium rifle.
It was used in the NZ wars.
When the US was having its troubles.
NZ couldn't get Enfield rifles with demand from US at the time & were offered these instead.
Very accurate rifle for the time.
& not that shabby nowadays.
I shoot wild pigs & this year two deer have been taken with it.
.its got a very light trigger and I enjoy shooting with it.
Have a awesome day black powder fellows.
Chris from New Zealand
Nga mihi
Ki kite

 

[TFoley]

Kia Ora, Chris!!! And welcome from UK! I've just been watching a load of stuff on Youtube about the Maori Wars - reminding me to watch 'UTU!' again, too. I have friends in the model trains interest on both islands and a special friend in Christchurch from many years ago. Looking forward to hearing more of your shooting with proper guns.

 

[Josephg]

One of my rifles is a Seth Millard.

 

[user 33882]

I'm glad to see there are lots of shooters here keeping these old guns going. Thanks for sharing photos and info everyone.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

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.

View attachment 78848

52, You know where to come for the Best of the Best. Looks a nice Rifle..Very Birtish OLD DOG..

 

[Feltwad]

52, You know where to come for the Best of the Best. Looks a nice Rifle..Very Birtish OLD DOG..

Yes there is a big difference between cream and milk saying that I am a patriot
Feltwad

 

[Relic shooter]

Much thanks to Seth I. for opening this link for history buffs who collect & shoot originals. I got bit by the vintage gun bug over 60 years ago as a teenager & was fortunate enough to have a good gunsmith teach me the ropes on how to pick out good shooters. Age & arthritis has slowed me down but I still enjoy shooting my handguns.
I'll post pictures of some of my favorites.
-The rifle is a .70 cal. Danish Jaeger & most consistently accurate rifle I've ever owned.
The canvas & leather trimmed hunting bag is also original, complete with small game ties & a leather cap holder.
-The single shot pistol is a rifled .70 cal. French officers pistol.
- A couple of 58 Remingtons.
-

 

[JCKelly]

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.

Springfield probably made the absolute BEST .58 barrels ever. Superior to what is made today in America out of screw stock.

 

[thompson50]

I'd love to say I shoot an original Hawken but it's a bit more than my income. A bit? Who am I kidding? I'd need to win the lottery.

I am a Hawken junkie as well

 

[user 36911]

Springfield probably made the absolute BEST .58 barrels ever. Superior to what is made today in America out of screw stock.

I was born and brought up in Springfield Mass. I used to drive by the Springfield Armory everyday.

 

[Relic shooter]

The deeper progressive-twist rifling used on Civil War period Remingtons, Colts & Rogers & Spencer revolvers explains why their accuracy is far superior to most replica revolvers.

 

[gemmer]

Springfield probably made the absolute BEST .58 barrels ever. Superior to what is made today in America out of screw stock.

You might not say that if you tried a Hoyt or Whitacre barrel. They both use progressive depth rifling like the originals.

 

[JCKelly]

There are some questions one might ask about privately hand forged, un-proofed barrels.
That little green patch is an old brazed crack. Didn't hold up so well to light loads at friendship. I was given this in the 1980's.

 

[JCKelly]

First muzzle loader I ever shot, 1954. Was Grampa's ~20 g. shotgun. Made after the war (Mr. Lincoln's) from a bored-out musket barrel. Guess it was usually kept loaded, as Pop's sister hurt her shoulder when she loaded it to shoot s groundhog. And I had recently unloaded it of #6 shot, nice dry gunpowder & a red waxed paper wad.

 

[Flinty Scot]

I was born and brought up in Springfield Mass. I used to drive by the Springfield Armory everyday.

Spent a few years outside Spfld as a kid; I remeber the Armory well. Doubt I'll ever forget the "organ pipes", as I saw the ranked .58's.

 

[Flinty Scot]

Past tense, but a short barrelled 8 ga SxS (market gun?) threw a decent pattern - but is too much for my shoulder these days.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

ORIGINALS! Shot them Maybe?

 

[jlatz]

Original percussion shotguns in good condition are fun to use.

 

[sawyer04]

How many here shoot original, antique rifles?

I am not sure what antique means, but I have shot several original weapons. But there might be some discrepancies on a person's definition of original is too. It seems that Brit and feltwad has access to more what we call originals than we do on this side of the pond.