How many avid black powder shooters here?

[The Old Man]

Just kind of curious. Do we have any serious black power guys back on reloaded? I kind of figured with the geriatric crowd returning here,(me included), there has to be some avid traditional black powder hunters around.


I keep at least five BP guns on hand, presently there is my 54 flinter rifle, 50 cal flinter rifle, 50 cal flinter pistol, 50 cal caplock rifle, and a 36 cal cap lock rifle. That sums up the Traditional but leaves the "modern" designs for another thread........

[northwoodneil]

I shoot black powder but wouldn't call myself avid. I have 50 & 54 flinters and percussions and a 32 percussion. I shoot them a few times a year and always get in a squirrel hunt or 2 with the 32.

[Ranger99]

I have since the 80's, but had to scale
back considerable when I got sick
a few years ago,  then started back
and had to stop again when my mother
got sick and I had to care for her.
I'll get back in the swing.


If you were asking about organized
shooting, NO.
Not in this area. Tried it before. No

[Lloyd Smale]

does my inline count. 

[The Old Man]

It's great to know we have a couple of guys who play our muzzleloader games!


I have to admit that I don't shoot my muzzleloaders as often as I used to, mainly because the clean up is a little involved, and I get tired much easier than I used to. I try sparking a little extra interest down at the gun club by letting a few of the other members see how much fun they can have with it, and most times they like the novelty of a flintlock. Just how accurate these rifles,(and even the pistols) are gets more attention than you might think.


Mine are primarily for hunting things like deer and groundhogs, like northwoodneil, and like Ranger99, there aren't any organized competitive shoots that I'm aware of in my area.


I hope our combined experiences can get things moving here again, maybe helping out some of the newer guys with the gazillion questions that go along with learning to muzzleload. To be certain there are little things that make a big difference, and here just could be the place they can get the answers!


Thanks for posting Guys!

[Ranger99]

There's probably organized shooting here,
I just wouldn't care to be around the kind
of people that were running it and associated
with it back when I was trying to get involved
with it.
I'll leave it right there and not disintegrate
into a full blown rant

[The Old Man]

does my inline count. 

Sorry Lloyd, our posts went up about the sme time, and I missed seeing it.


Accordind to the forum rules inlines are separate from traditional black powder guns on reloaded.

[The Old Man]

There's probably organized shooting here,
I just wouldn't care to be around the kind
of people that were running it and associated
with it back when I was trying to get involved
with it.
I'll leave it right there and not disintegrate
into a full blown rant




No problem with me on that one. I love my flinters and my cap locks too, but for some reason the rendevous thing never held very much appeal for me either. I think they're an ok bunch of people, just not something I would want to get involved with.


It's the nostalga of taking a deer with a flintlock that attracted me, and the learning that comes with taking that giant step backward to make them go off regularly, be accurate enough to cleanly take game, and just knowing that you only get one shot to do it right.

[Ranger99]

I keep thinking about a gravel buster,
but it's one of those things I never got
around to. I've been hunting with BP
since the 80's and always enjoyed it.
I've always been thankful for the man
that got me started, and I've helped
several others get started.
I hope we can continue to buy powder
without having to take out a loan

[The Old Man]

In my area, Goex is running about $25 a pound, and Swiss is in the low thirties I think. I'm using Goex, but have a pound os Swiss to try. I've been told the Swiss is cleaner, yields a higher velocity, and in many cares is more accurate.


I don't maintain a larege inventory of black powder, so once I find what is the best hunting powder for me I'll be buying another can.

[Old and grumpy]

Just kind of curious. Do we have any serious black power guys back on reloaded? I kind of figured with the geriatric crowd returning here,(me included), there has to be some avid traditional black powder hunters around.


I keep at least five BP guns on hand, presently there is my 54 flinter rifle, 50 cal flinter rifle, 50 cal flinter pistol, 50 cal caplock rifle, and a 36 cal cap lock rifle. That sums up the Traditional but leaves the "modern" designs for another thread........

                         Posted on the old GBO. I am hoping there are more smokers. I'll put out some bait.

[Old and grumpy]

Yes the tiny one is Cap&Ball.  NAA Super Companion. .22

[Old and grumpy]

 I try sparking a little extra interest down at the gun club by letting a few of the other members see how much fun they can have with it, and most times they like the novelty of a flintlock. Just how accurate these rifles,(and even the pistols) are gets more attention than you might think.

         The best way is to let them shoot it.  The smoke,the smell is a drug. "Go black you may never go back!"   Tell them it attracts GIRLS. I have had them walk all the way down the line to see what I am doing.  It's a ice breaker and that is the hardest part of the game after all. Plus you know up front she is a "gun girl".

[The Old Man]

 

         The best way is to let them shoot it.  The smoke,the smell is a drug. "Go black you may never go back!"   Tell them it attracts GIRLS. I have had them walk all the way down the line to see what I am doing.  It's a ice breaker and that is the hardest part of the game after all. Plus you know up front she is a "gun girl".
[/quote]


Little true story for you about the black powder attracting girls.
About 30 years back my "new" bride, (second time around), was with me at a gun shop while I was just looking over some BP guns. I picked up a T/C Thunderhawk and asked her if she would like to shoulder it. She did, and had a one word response as she got it to her shoulder.......MINE!!!!!

We're still married, and yes, that muzzleloader is still hers.

[Buckskin]

Since building a Chambers 54 and 40 cal flinter I'm far more interested in hunting with them than any modern firearm.  I should just sell my inline, probably will never shoot it again. 

[The Old Man]

I feel pretty much the same, I own four flinters and one inline(actually my wifes inline), but I do own three caplocks also.  one of the flintlocks a Lyman Deerstalker, and a T/C New Englander are recent additions that turned out to  be decent shooters.
 Even though the rock lock guns limit my range a bit, only because I'm not as steady as I once was, they are my deer rifles of choice. If it wasn't for the fact I won a 30/06 at an NRA Banquet.....yes the background checks are still required....which prints hundred yard groups of under a MOA with handloads, I would have no question on the rile to take along opening day this year.
I just would love to break in that modern with a good buck, but the flintlocks are a serious temptation.
Maybe if the shots start about 300 yards the '06 may win the contest