Author Topic: eliminate a step (Read 718 times)

bubba45 · « **on:** June 04, 2004, 02:43:19 PM »

i was wondering (out of curiosity) if its possible to not bother with a short starter. can you do with out? did the frontiersmen use/need a short starter?

filmokentucky · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2004, 03:32:53 PM »

Yup, as long as you don't use a super tight ball and patch combination.

bubba45 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2004, 03:44:03 PM »

thanx

flintlock · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2004, 03:49:26 PM »

bubba....I have a friend...that I shoot in competitions with...this guy builds muzzleloaders....I'm talking barrel...lock...everything...even buys wood for stock...and dries himself....he has guns that have won at Friendship...and at the Smithstonian....he knows his stuff....I asked him this same question a few years ago....In my way of thinking...."traditional" means....if you handed your rig to Daniel or Davey, would they be familiar with everything in your pouch....he has never seen or heard of a short starter, or loading block with a hunting pouch, before the 1840s era....

For competition shooting...I use a short starter....because I use larger diameter balls, for best accuracy...for hunting...I use a looser ball/patch combination....and don't really loose that much in accuracy....flintlock

bubba45 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2004, 03:50:16 PM »

thanx

bubba45 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2004, 03:53:02 PM »

thanx

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2004, 02:35:57 PM »

What was done quite often (from what I have read) is that the muzzles were coned, so they were relieved at a shallow angle. I did this to my .54 GPR and don't use a short starter with that. Actually, when I first started shooting the holy Black I just used the butt of my knife to push the ball even with the muzzle, cut off the patch and rammed it the rest of the way down with the ramrod.

-WH-

HWooldridge · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2004, 04:17:32 PM »

I grab the ramrod about 2 inches from the end and use it. Unless my hands are real sweaty, I can usually get the ball below the muzzle.

ediehaskell · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2004, 09:16:12 PM »

I have a friend with a collection of over one hundred original shooting bags. Not one has a short starter. They were a product of the later period false muzzle bench rifles.