Good idea or talk me out of the crazy tree...

[Double 30]

Recently I switched to using muzzleloaders exclusively , for hunting deer and black bear here in Penn. Most of the time I use inlines , but I'm seriously thinking about switching back to sidehammer percussion and black powder. My biggest concern is although we muzzleloaders have been under the radar of the political whack jobs in D.C., I think that will be coming to a quick end after 20 Jan. My biggest concern is the availability of black powder. I dont want to make the switch and find myself either unable to get powder or it will be so difficult it might as well be impossible. I like running ball and am thinking of a .54 ball gun ( percussion). Am I worring too much or...

[kb]

You could always get together with a few buddies and order it in bulk online to minimize the hazmat fee.  Or if your shooting a percussion, switch to a sub like pyrodex or something similar.

kb

[Ladobe]

As one who has hunted with tradtional sidelocks, real black and patched RB's since about 1970-71, I don't consider in-lines as primitive muzzleloading, so naturally I'd say go for it.   Black while getting more regulated will continue to be available I think, it keeps very well so a good supply can be kept on hand within your localities regulations.   I'll never run out in what's left of my life.   

My current 54 capper is a first year TC Renegade with an extra 12 GA. switch barrel.   Deer, elk and bear would be no problem for it with good shot placement, although some bear hunters prefer a 58 or even larger.

FWIW-YMMV

[coyotejoe]

The substitute  powders do work OK in percussion sidelocks. I used Pyrodex for years with very good results. It does take some attention to keeping the flash channel clear but taking pains in everything is the key to good results with any rifle. Flintlocks absolutely require at least a priming charge of real blackpowder but a percussion shooter can do just fine with Pyrodex.

[Two Bears]

Do what I did,

I have puchased two different orders of Goex FFFG from Powder INC. and saved a ton of money and at the current rate of using this powder I should have enough for the next 25 years. But I am sure I will order at least 1 more bulk order so that my son will have enough to shoot for many years as well.

Check out their web site for their prices. www.powderinc.com  Its well worth it to buy in bulk. You could even have a couple friends go in on it with you so you do not need to absorb the whole amount yourself.

[alleyyooper]

Don't worry about being able to buy any powder least of all real black. State of the USA today will not allow time to mess with anything but the economy for some time.
Real black you can make your self too.

  Al

[Swampman]

Blackpowder isn't that hard to make.  Read Backwoodsman Magazine.

I consider inlines to be even more primitive than sidelocks.  Many of them are about as complicated as a plunger fired .22.  Personally I'd find one of the older Knight or Remington inlines that uses #11 caps.  They can be had in stainless.  Mine shoots cast round balls quite nicely.  Traditional muzzleloaders do not use the substitute powder very well.  It's so much easier to find the subs than it is to find real blackpowder.

I hunted with flintlocks and shot them competitively only for many years.  They are ok but they misfire.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

A .54cal sidelock CVA Mountain Rifle, Great Plains rifle, will do the job and be very easy on the wallet.

Pyrodex RS/ P will be excellent for the sidelock and very reliable.  I like the hollow based Spitfire nipple and the CCI magnum #11 cap.  I have some Remington #11s now but they seem to fall off of my nipple.

If you want to shoot conicals and patched round balls, 1:48 twist is were to look.

[Glanceblamm]

I have some Remington #11s now but they seem to fall off of my nipple.

Those Rem caps always did seem to do this and I am suprised that they have not corrected it.
I like to use the RWS caps for both fit & reliability.

[Double 30]

Thanks for the advice. my current stable consists of ; a 10 year old Euroarms P-53 Enfield .577 cal which has been soldiering with me fighting the Yankee hoards ( Confederate re-enactor  1st Texas Vol. Infy Co.E ), an Omega Z5 .50 , a Black Diamond XR .50 and a T/C Hawken .50 flinter with a GM ball  barrel. I've got alot of bases covered and am confident that I can take care of anything needing to be shot. Alleyyouper I do , however, disagree with the notion that the economy will keep the, ahem , gentlefolk, in congress from making life difficult for us as they have declared a willingness to do, because all you have to do is look at all the unrelated crap they put in bills. Stuff that would never stand on its own , so they put it in a bill that no one can vote against ... ie look at all the pork they put in the bailout ...

[Swampman]

Here's my Enfield....10th Texas....

[forest2]

Am I worring too much or...

or just paraniod. I'm thinking the later. if your a good and true ML fan,
 all you need to stock-up on is lead.
 The same kind of noid' hit us all just before Y2K, remember? It's gonna be ok,' There are too many of US for THEM to find us all,,p.s. just keep a low profile

[wgr]

its not if your paraniod its if your paraniod enough.  if they can they will make it hard to shoot anything.

[Double 30]

Swampman  Isn't it nice! we've got our gray suits before the rush... God save the South! Was the 10th The Army of Tennessee or Trans Mississippi dept?     

[JBlk]

I have several BP rifles that I hunt with and I have also been concerned about the availability of real black powder.The cap guns work fine with pyrodx and the flint works great if you load 10 grains of black powder and the remainder of the load with pyrodx.I have used this duplex load numerous times and have yet to have a misfire.Your black powder supply will last allot longer.

[boommer]

Well have not heard of any black powder bombings lately or front stuffers murders  mostly fireworks plants and such going K-BOOM I think black will be one of the last things PINHEADS trying to SCREW US Lead is the bigger issue and that probably will be easier for them to slide through, EPA has the power they dont need to worry about VOTES!!
Order 25# of different grades and you'll be set for awhile.Then again you can make your own black.
I go thru 50+# a year and I'm more worried about my casting lead drying up. 

[ironglow]

Double;
  By then, you may not have to worry what "Washington" does...(give it a few seconds to load);

     http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85351

   

[JPShelton]

Am I worring too much or...

I think you're worrying too much.  There are plenty of jurisdictions all over the world where firearms are more stringently regulated than they are in the U.S.A., yet real black powder remains available to shooters.

I prefer to use "holy black" when I can obtain it.  But I don't fret too much if my local source of supply is temporarily out of the real thing.  I  just buy the Pyrodex they usually do have and use that.

My .50 Great Plains Rifle actually turns in its best groups with Pyrodex P.  It goes bang every time, with 100% reliable ignition, too.

-JP

[j two dogs]

Instead of the North and South this time, it may be the Dem's and the Rep's.

Hmmm. Blue and Red, instead of Gray and Blue.