Author Topic: Why do you like and use TRADITIONAL muzzle loaders? (Read 2909 times)

Ron T. · « **on:** March 14, 2011, 08:55:17 AM »

I really love shooting traditional (flintlock & percussion cap) muzzle loaders. I love the aroma of burnt black powder and all the traditional aspects and motions we must go through to load and shoot these traditional black powder rifles and shotguns.

Give it some thought and then, tell everyone reading this thread why YOU enjoy them so much... and why YOU put up with all the actions you must go through to shoot them since shooting a cartridge rifle or shotgun is so much easier and a lot less fuss.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful posts...

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

spooked · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2011, 09:17:19 AM »

Don't like the smell!

Do like using them because that is what my grandads used in their younger days (late 1880's)also one of my ancestors used them in the revolutionary war, Several did in the war of Northern aggression , nostalgia..

+just to test myself to see if i can, + enjoy shooting about all types of firearms..

thesalos · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2011, 11:43:35 AM »

I had money before I got into ML. My first was a CVA kit $99.oo. I how have about 8. I even became a instructor for the NMLRA. And Officer in a ML club. I have been involved and still do work at ML shoots. I always said You start with A $100 gun $6000 worth of accessories. and a $30,000 truck to haul it a in . A-Tee Pee anyone
Animal

Semisane · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2011, 11:50:19 AM »

Couldn't really tell you why. It just tickles my fancy. Don't like golf. Don't follow professional sports much. I enjoy a day on the range shooting muzzleloaders almost as much as a day hunting.

keith44 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2011, 12:38:44 PM »

The picture shows a .44 Mag and .38 spcl handload and their projectiles, along with 2 conicals for .54 cal, and a .54 cal roundball. Do I really need to say more?

keith44 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2011, 12:44:48 PM »

Ok, show me a centerfire that looks this good, and feels like this does

Besides there is nothing more satisfying to me than squeezing off a perfect shot, and verifying it after the smoke clears

keith44 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2011, 12:47:41 PM »

no it is a double RIFLE

flintlock · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2011, 08:12:13 AM »

I was born in 1955...In 1964, Fess Parker came on every Thursday night at 8:00 as Daniel Boone...I was at the prime age to watch and I never missed a show...Today, I have the DVDs and still love to watch them...We also gathered around the TV every Sunday night for The Wonderful World of Disney...Back then, we only got 3 channels and had one TV so the whole family watched TV together...We all loved to see Fess in the Davy Crockett series as well...

As a young boy, I read every biography in our school's library...Later, when I could drive, I would go up to Williamsburg and watch that fellow (Wallace Gusler) build rifles...

I moved to Atlanta in 1979 and started my career...One weekend, I went to Stone Mountain and walked into a gunshop owned by Bob Watts...Bob made and sold flintlock rifles...He had one he had made a few years before and I put a down payment on it...For 10-12 years that's all I hunted with...In later years, I built my own...I now hunt with flintlocks and give talks on the American Revolution to local schools and scout groups...

I still remember the first time I shot that first flintlock and still get chills every time I touch on off...I simply love early American History and hunting with and shooting flintlocks...

That's the long answer...

The short answer...So an older man can dress up and walk around in the woods like this:

Hooker · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2011, 08:52:07 AM »

Because no rifles ever built can match the beauty grace and class of an American Longrifle.
No matter if it's a plain Southern style or a decked out Pennsylvania or Kentucky.
And no other type of firearm has ever felt as good when I carry it.
I love all kinds of firearms but longrifles captured my soul long ago.

Pat

keith44 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2011, 07:09:19 PM »

Just thought of another reason...

How many times have you had to try to explain how a flinter even works?? The sheer wonderment in the eyes of those who just don't get it. All they know is scoped, sabboted bullets, and pellets for propellent, and shotgun primers. Sad really they just can't understand how such a complicated and finiky device like a flintlock can group better than their plastic and stainless contrapsion with the latest of the most "improved" everything they could buy. Poor fellow won't even do any load development just buys the latest and drops it.

I am a handloader, I develope loads for each gun I own and take the time to actually shoot a barrel enough to patch polish it

My .54 Hawken is so slick from use I have to use .020 patches and .535 round balls. She still groups into 2 inches at 100 yards, and being a .54, well you guys know.

mahd776 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2011, 08:36:34 PM »

Good question! For me there is just something about the look and feel of a traditional style muzzleloader that no modern firearm can match. That combined with the history and all the accouterments play into it as well. One time my wife and I was canoeing across a local lake. I had purchased and shot my first muzzle loader a few weeks prior. I told her that I was coming to the conclusion that I was born to late in history. I loved canoeing and now loved the old style firearms! So much for a lot of modern stuff that complicates our lives.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2011, 05:54:50 AM »

Mostly 'cause I watched Fess Parker as Davy Crockett when I was a kid!

'sides, it's a type of firearm I can design and make myself.

I would imagine shooting a "modern" BP rifle has all the romance of pulling a new CF rifle outa box and banging away.. $:-\$ I dunno, I never shot one!

Victor3 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2011, 09:22:51 PM »

Same reason why I like my charcoal BBQ. Might be slow to get cookin' but there's nothing quite like it.

okielectrician · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2011, 05:47:57 PM »

When I go to the range theres always a lot of AR-rifles going through a lot of shells.
Then I break out the 54 Hawkin and the 45 sharps(bp only)I get a lot of attention,usually on a still day when I put up a smoke screen.But I always get comments on how they would like to get back to BP.

ratdog · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:31:20 PM »

i went on a trip along the california coast years ago to an old russian fort in the magazine it had kegs of powder and about thirty brown besses in there rack small cannons in the upper corners of the fort i couldn't get enough of that place over looking the ocean.i think it was called fort ross. have a great week end.

sidewinder319 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:15:19 AM »

There is nothing like shooting a well built flint lock. A well tuned flinter is a fine weapon. Most of my B/P shooting is targets. I have been shooting these weapons for over 50 years. There is a real pleasure in firing a well balanced flint lock in to the 10 ring at one 100 yards off hand. It always gets me to thinking of the American Rifleman at the Battle Of Cow Pens and Kings Mtn.

dodd3 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:18:07 AM »

its real hunting and just bloody good fun.
bernie

Ladobe · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2011, 08:04:01 PM »

For me it was for the same reason I became a predator and long range varmint hunter in the 50's, a long bow archer and handgun hunter by the mid 60's and a traditional muzzleloader hunter in the early 70's that more and more got away from hunting with modern rifles - for the extra challenge they afforded. I've been a spot and stalk hunter all my life that always hunted alone and never wore camo (bought some a few years ago but never did feel the need to ever wear it). The archery, handguns and traditional muzzleloaders really helped me sharpen my skills to hunt smarter, get closer and make sure the first shot was always spot on. I did predator and varmint ADC for landowners most of my life, and that required my using mostly modern laser guided missle launchers to score as may kills as possible when it was for a landowner. But the last years I hunted predators it was just for me, was with my traditional rifles and pistols while wearing my Rondy clothes, and it was some of the most enjoyable hunting of my life. I also ran with reenactment groups off and on from the 70's (mountainmen/freetrappers) until a few years ago, and enjoyed their primitive matches way more than all the other shooting disclipline matches I also competed in during my life with modern firearms.

lakota · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:43:41 PM »

Someone on one of the blackpowder forums posted "There is magic in these guns" That about sums it up for me.

groundhog107 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2011, 02:20:03 PM »

I guess there are two reasons I became involved in this hobby. First, I have a love of history and have traced my geneology to the 1600s. Second and most important, I have absolutly NO patience. I took up the flintlock to force myself to slow down and appreciate the subtle things which has had mixed results.

. At any rate it has made me take my time and get things right which was/is much needed. In addition, there is nothing like the smell of blackpowder.

Ghog

Ron/Pa. · « **Reply #20 on:** April 05, 2011, 04:22:06 PM »

I have yet to find a firearm that falls into place as my .62 Cal. Smoothbore. Nothing matches the sound the Lock makes when it is pulled into full Cock. Nothing matches the feeling one gets when dressed in Period clothing complete with a Hawk and Knife stuck in your belt. When at a shoot, the gunshots and drifting smoke seems to echo the past. Man, I love it.....

lefty41 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 09, 2011, 10:21:40 AM »

That is a tough question. Have never done the "period dress", started muzzleloading with an **line just to extend the season. Found a LH T/C caplock and enjoy that so much more. Like the feel of my New Englander and Renegade so much that all others are setting in the safe and possible sale. This will be the first year that all of my shooting may be with sidelocks. Sort of like a "Jeep thing", it just feels right.

sidewinder319 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 09, 2011, 05:55:14 PM »

This .58 yeager provides enough power for most American game out 100 yds. This flinter has a Longhammock radius cut
and hand lapped by builder Steve Zhin of Miller Crossing, Wyoming

AtlLaw · « **Reply #23 on:** April 09, 2011, 07:12:38 PM »

That's PURDY!

I always wanted to build a Yeager; 62 caliber. Maybe someday...

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #24 on:** April 14, 2011, 12:18:34 PM »

History. Like the accoutrements as well, sundial compasses, 'hawks and knives, etc, etc. I don't dress the part, but ya never know. That may be next. Traditional arms have, I don't know, a soul? Character? Spirit?

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #25 on:** February 22, 2014, 07:45:29 AM »

Time to bring this back to the front burner!

I was hooked when I bought a used .36 Navy Colt replica in 1968; followed that with a Hopkins & Allen Heritage model underhammer to see if I liked b-p rifles also. Then I found a CVA mountain rifle kit cheap and put that together, and on, and on.... Flinters now are what I shoot. I guess it just gets into your blood!

~WH~

rawhidekid · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2014, 07:06:16 AM »

Jonhy Cash wrote a song about shooting black powder, said the smell made you want to paw the earth like a bull. Don't know about that , but I also watched fess Parker as Danial Boon, My ancestors also used them, and I dig all the smoke. The most natural I ever felt was riding a horse in the back country of Az with a 45 on my side and Winchester in the boot. First time I tried Bp I made the mistake of using Pyrodex. Stank when cleaning and just didn't feel right. Quit for several years then got a good deal on a 54 cal that came with Goex 3F black powder. Doesn't stink when cleaning and cleans faster, I'm hooked.