This post is a result of finding an early .58 Huntsman and posting an ad looking for some extra barrels in the Classified forum. When these first came out (and my hair was long), I worked after school and weekends in a premier gunshop in Maryland. I got one of the .58's on trade and promptly drilled and tapped it for a scope. My memory of that one was that it shot extremely well at 100 yds. with a K2.5 or K4 mounted. Sure ticked the T/C Hawken guys at the range, both because of the scope and the groups. I had this thing about hating iron sights for years - now I shoot irons a good bit on old single shots and such, but not to hunt. After a couple poor shots in low light that looked good, I want glass when I shoot at game if possible. I shot a couple deer with it on the home farm and then traded it on a Navy Buffalo Hunter (a bubba Zouve). The Buffalo Hunter never shot that well and I sold it to buy parts to rebuild an original, which I still have. I always liked the H&R and also had some breechloaders, Hornet, .30-30, 45-70. Back then I made breechplugs for 12 and 20 guage shotguns and also lined a couple, one in .45 and 1 in .36. Unfortunately, they all got away for some trade or another. I had (and still have) alot more ideas than money and these H&R's of various vintages were CHEAP! I'd been thinking lately about making a .50 barrel using a blank I already have and using it on an early frame that's been hanging on my future projects wall for years. Problem is, I prefer .40 or .45 shooting a bullet. My thinking is that it doesn't take a Maxi ball to perforate a deer and I don't really like sabots. I shoot .40-65 and .45-70 a good bit and am aware of their capabilities on game. .40 cal is the minimum allowed in my republik to hunt with a muzzleloader so I think a .40 with a 1-18 or 20 twist would work well bare or paper-patched. Yesterday, I found this very nice .58 in a pawn shop. It came home with me. Bore looked good from what I could see but I couldn't check it there as it didn't have a ramrod. I had one at home so it didn't really concern me. I found it to be loaded when I got to the shop. I shot the load out with compressed air and was surprised to see after wiping it out that the bore was pristine the whole way down. Looks like the last owner took care to be sure the bore was cleaned properly before he loaded it for his last unsucessful hunt - thanks Bud! My eyes haven't gotten any better and I'll be drilling and tapping this one too. The lead pot is currently heating up to cast some .58 minies which I hope to shoot later today. I remember making up a breechplug years back that took a musket wing cap and may do that for this one. I'm not real concerned about weak caps or blowby, I don't recall problems with this years back as long as I used good caps. I do like the ease of handling the musket wing caps though. Another thought is the 25ACP. Thats a pretty slick idea, one I learned about here. Ought to make an easy to handle primer carrier and allow use of a centerfire firing pin. My first thought on that was that I could fit a low pressure centerfire chambering, like the earlier Shikari rifle. I like versatility. I'd sure like to hear your experiences and advise regarding these early muzzleloading barrels and how they perform for you.
