Picking up the basics - books

[catskin]

Hello.

I’d like to expand my firearms hobby to include a long rifle or three. As a start I figured I’d try one of those Lyman Great Plains kits over at Midsouth, the price is right and I’m a kicthen table gunsmith as my good friend says anyway, the wood looks really plain but what do you expect for $265.

Other than the above I have no idea what I’m doing and have never really, that I remember fired one. So that brings me to you good folk looking for a good source of all the basics, from tools and toys to load data and ballistics, sort of a traditional long rifle reference bible (with lots of pictures, I like pictures) is what I’m looking for, any pointers?

[ogemakw]

get a copy of "The Complete Blackpowder Handbook" by Sam Fadala.

[bfoster]

Short on pictures but well written: The Muzzleloading Cap Lock Rifle, by Ned Roberts, this had been reprinted many times since it was published in 1939.

Ned Roberts was a rifleman of very wide experience whose life spanned the period of traditional black powder rifles through the introduction of practical repeating rifles and well into the Smokeless powder era. In addition to designing the 257 Roberts cartridge (Remington made some changes) he had a deep and practical knowledge of all black powder arms which he was able to write about wery well in this, and other books.

Bob

[crow_feather]

Catskin,

Go to a range where they are shootin traditional black powder firearms.  Say hi, I'm new to the sport and stand back.  Most of us love discussin how and what we shoot more than shootin itself - or almost.  Any ways, you will get a lot of info.  Best of luck with your kit.

C F

[simonkenton]

That is good advice from Crow Feather.
I am interested in getting another muzzleloader and want to look at the different styles. I knew there was a muzzleloading club in my area, but did not know the name or where the range is. I went to google and punched in Muzzleloading club Asheville and pretty soon I had the phone number of the club president. Turns out the range is 6 miles from my house and the next shoot is Saturday at 9am.
Also you can look up the National Muzzleloading Rifle Assoc. and see if a chapter is near you.