I started with a Hatfield flintlock, what a learning experience! Whilst I was fightin that critter I picked up a used .45 TC hawken and put a green mountain ball barrel on it in 50 cal. Between the two I had a lot of fun once I learned the secrets of making the hatty work. Then I traded the hatty for .62 cal smoothy NW trade gun and started to shoot the trade gun trails, I'll have to admit, if I were limited to 1 gun, the TG would be it. had too much fun and the tradegunners were, in general, easier goin than the too serious rifle shooters, and after all, the reason for joining in buckskinning was the fun factor. Missed the hatfield so I ordered a JP Henry in .50cal flint, kept that for several years, picked up a couple cabelas hawkens for ML hunting along the way, bought a JPGunstocks lancaster in 50 cal flint, been shooting it since. Slowed down in the rondys in '98 and since have picked up 2 TC black diamonds, .45 super XR and a .50 XR, also a CVA .45 Hunterbolt. I shoot Powerbelts and T7 in all of the inlines with good accuracy, 1.5" with a scope 3" with peeps at 100yds. I use a scope for range work, but the state doesn't allow glass in any sights here, fortunetly they do allow fiber optics! All my ML deer have been killed with the lancaster, hunted with the .62 TG a few years for both deer and turkeys, never got a shot at either. I worked up a paper cartridge turkey load for the smoothy than would extend my effective range to about 25yds with the cyl bore and #6 shot which is outstanding, I think. The last couple years I have hunted ML elk with the inlines, mostly because of my eyes and not because I don't enjoy the flinter! Also bought a pedersoli .50 cal flint pistol for adding more shootin fun just after the TG! That's it in a nutshell, hth. Tim
