Ok, Ive got a topic over on the Bowhunting section about a certain buddy at work who likes to try and state as a fact that which is only his opinion. But, alas, he also does this when it comes to the world of muzzleloaders. So, like the bowhunting forum, I am asking for folks to chime in on THEIR experinces and opinions on these topics I am about to state so I can see if he is really lost or not.
First thing is this. He has a T/C White Mountains carbine (with a scope on it.....ugh :grin: .) He shoots patched balls in it. Well, one day he told he likes to notch an X in the top of the ball because "it makes the ball expand better." HUH? I told him that wouldnt do nothing because a lead sphere kinda "pancakes" like a rifled shotgun slug would. Well he wasnt buying that and refused to believe me. He says he has never lost a deer he shot cuz the ball always goes in then out. Now, if the ball "expanded" wouldnt you think it would stay in the deer because it dumps its energy better? I just cant believe him. It dont make sense. He also says he can take deer out at 200 yards if he wanted to (again, using patched balls in a .50 cal White mountains carbine.)
Then, he tells me he likes to shoot 2f on top of a small charge of 3f. He claims it makes guns more accurate (notice I said "guns" I dont believe he was talking about just his,) and "more reliable in wet weather." Sure, I bet. He also feels it is necessary to measure each load out to the 10th of a grain perfectly (he is shooting Goex by the way.) Another dumb statement? Heck, as it was e was telling me he shoots 209 primers on his T/C. I asked how that was pssible cuz a shotgun primer would need some sort of firing pin on the hammer to ignite. He told me he had a special nipple. Come to find out he is hooting MUSKET CAPS and calling them 209 primers. Whats up with that?
And finaly, he told me "I took out the muzzelloader yeasterday, dusted her off, and checked to see if there was still a load in there." I asked how long the thing had been loaded. "at least a year or more." I said he had better shoot the gun, clean it then reload. "Na, why?" I basically told him Blackpowder DOES break down after a while ya know! "Aaah I measure all my loads and have NEVER had a misfire!" I argued with him that it would take him NO TIME AT ALL to shoot, clean and relaod the gun for simple insurance you DONT have a misfire, but he would have none of this. He says that "every time you fire the gun you do something to it so that the next time that ball wont come out and hit the same spot again!" WHAT!? How the heck would you know where the round in the gun already is going, if going by his reasoning. He is so stubborn and believes he is right.
I want to state again that Im not looking to change his opinion. What I want is for him to stop trying to prove as fact that which is only his opinion. If this goes well I will print this topic to show him. So, can y'all help me out?
Thanks,
Brian M.
