Muzzle Loader

[baddwolf7]

Howdy Pards, I posted this question in another place ( wrong one me thinks ). Anyhow, I shoot SASS with regular bullets and guns, no boos please, what I am interested is getting into shooting a muzzle loader for fun, maybe in side matches. Would even consider hunting with a good rifle ifin I had a good clean shot. I handles a Springfield Hawkins the other day and loved how itt felt and looked. Didnt get to shoot it but I will. Me thinks I can get one for around $350.00 without anything else that i need, accessories and such. Any ideas? I am open to suggestion, I am from Ky so the Ky rifles also holds a spot in me heart.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

This is a bit more money, but it is a much better rifle and more in keeping with your part of the country

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Traditional-Rifles-Shotguns%7C/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104641380/Cabelas-Blue-Ridge8482-Flintlock-Rifle/740528.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1100202%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd740425&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd740425%3Bcat104641380

Pedersoli's Blue Ridge flintlock. At the current price it is a bargain.

[litl rooster]

You can pick up used Thompson Center Hawkins and Plains rifles in the Pawn and Gunshops for around $250...IMHO they are built like a Rugar.   It's coming on Muzzel Loading season but if you wait till it is over you can probably score a deal on one

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Usually we advise new cowboy action shooters to visit a match in your area before spending a lot of $$$$.$$

I'd advise the same for you in muzzleloading.  Buckskinning is a lot of fun, and authentic for our sport as well.  Most shooters of the day started with muzzleloaders.  Reenactment is another area, and hunting is another.  Your gunshop or gunclub are good first contacts to shooting groups.  Talk it up and visit groups/clubs until you know where you are going to concentrate your efforts.  By then you will have a good idea where to invest your hardearned.

I have violated the rule on several occasion, buying stuff on the advice of magazine articles, or such, and then dragging it out to an activity only to find that I should have acquired something else.  Oh Well!  It's only money.

[Professor Marvel]

Ah My Dear BadWolf

A ML Rifle! such a wonderful and desirable thing .... The decision is based so much on individual  wants, desires, and
what shoots or side matches your local Cowboy Action Club may sponser, or what ML shoots or Rondyvooz are held in your region !

Our own BD Mike (who is a gunwriter in his own right) has posted an excellent point- you may have more fun in YOUR locale with something suited to you region :-)

Sir Charles also points out some complexities that will affect your choice, and  if you choose to jump here
http://www.tradrag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5587

you will find a similar discussion about picking a first ML rifle, with more specifics vis-a-vis the peculiarities betwtixt T/C vs Lyman Great Plains, vs "generic euro hawken clone"   ... as our good Rooster points out, the T/C is built like a tank - even if it is not histerically accurate ....

yhs
prof marvel

[St. George]

A five-dollar bill should get you a copy of Dixie Gun Works' catalog - and that'll give you a very good idea of what's available in the muzzle-loading field - especially the traditional ones.

If you plan to use it for hunting - then certainly plan to practice with it.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[baddwolf7]

Thanks for the advice darksiders. I do have intentions on hunting with it, maybe next year, I wanted top go back to bow hunting but a shoulder injury ended that sport for me. As far as recoil, I am 320 lbs so I can absorb a lot and since I live in the country surrounded by hunters and family I call pratice at anytime, heck I can shoot at 9 at night and usually have one or two join in, awww the joys of rural living

[Noz]

Usually we advise new cowboy action shooters to visit a match in your area before spending a lot of $$$$.$$

I'd advise the same for you in muzzleloading.  Buckskinning is a lot of fun, and authentic for our sport as well.  Most shooters of the day started with muzzleloaders.  Reenactment is another area, and hunting is another.  Your gunshop or gunclub are good first contacts to shooting groups.  Talk it up and visit groups/clubs until you know where you are going to concentrate your efforts.  By then you will have a good idea where to invest your hardearned.

I have violated the rule on several occasion, buying stuff on the advice of magazine articles, or such, and then dragging it out to an activity only to find that I should have acquired something else.  Oh Well!  It's only money.

I bought a pair of Taurus single actions solely on the written recommendation of a gun writer in which I had a lot of faith.

He was writing for the manufacturer and not for the consumer.

Not a good experience.

[Forty Rod]

I started out in 1973 with a .50 percussion T/C Hawken, sold muzzle loaders and gear for almost 12 years to everyone from beginners to people who know more than I ever will, graduated to a Lyman Great Plains .50 percussion (which I modified very slightly) and have never owned another muzzle loading rifle.

My only advice is to pick a gun that FEELS right and learn to shoot it well before changing out.  I'd seriously consider a gun with coil springs in the lock, and if you decide to get a flinter SPEND THE MONEY FOR A TOP QUALITY LOCK AND A FEW DOZEN REALLY TOP-OF-THE-LINE CUT FLINTS.  A soft frizzen, poor flints, bad springs, and poorly shaped pan and poorly made lock will ruin a newcomer's enthusiasm faster than anything I know.

It's a whole new world once you get into ML shooting.....a truly great world.

[fourfingersofdeath]

I'd also be sniffing around the clubs, ranges, etc. You often find a package on sale from someone who tried it and didn't understand the cleaning process and got sick of it all. I have often seen a near new rifle or pistol, with all the accessories and most of a tin of powder going very cheaply. If you find you really do like it, you will nearly always get most of your money back (and you will have picked up a few useful accessories at the same time).

Thats how I started with BP, an IPSC shooter bought a C&B gun, tried it, couldn't be bothered with it, sold it to a friend who was also an IPSC shooter, he played with it for awhile, his daughter made him a pouch to store the gun in and he sold it. I picked up the gun, handheld powder measure, nipple pick, nipple, spanner, spare nipples, cleaning gear, and a few assorted cap loaders, caps, balls, patches and almost a full 1kg (2.2Lb) tin of 2f way cheaper than the price of a new revolver. I have since spent wayyyy more of this filthy habit since then though!

[Tascosa Joe]

Get a copy of Muzzleloader Magazine or Muzzle Blasts from the NMLRA.  Another good source for HIGH quality rifles is TVA.

[Jamie]

As so many have pointed out, it is a wonderful experience to hunt with, shoot in general, and learn the muzzle loader.  There are lots of great books out there that are tremendously helpful - like Ned Robert's ancient but relevant tome "The Muzzle Loading Caplock Rifle" to modern reviews etc.  Tastes vary dramatically according to purpose in one sense.  I have friends who are deeply in love with their Savage (smokeless powder) bolt actions (still technically muzzle loaders) and others who are T/C Encore fans due to the fact that their primary interest is in extending their hunting season and opportunities rather than re-living some historical era. For me, I want a sidehammer gun, and have 4 rifles and a shotgun - a T/C Hawken .50 roundball barrel, a Lyman Great Plains flintlock in .54, a Cabela's Blue Ridge in .36, and a Traditions Buckskinner Carbine in .50 with a fast twist barrel.  I've hunted with them all, and enjoy them thoroughly.  (The shotgun is a T/C New Englander)  I have about 7 deer under my belt with one or another of them, and more than a few squirrels.  There's few things that equal the thrill of the smoke and the stink!
Many of the necessary hunting accessories (and there are lots of things NECESSARY as well as lots of things that are really helpful) can be made by anyone with rudimentary crafting skills and access to a few simple tools.  You don't have to hock the homestead.  Get together with someone who does muzzle loading and I suspect that you'll find that they're quite willing to help you get started.  I've gotten a bunch of people started by loaning them a gun, and a lesson, with the proviso that if they shot it, it would be brought to me that night to clean.  Each one has stuck around to watch the process, and every one of them now owns and shoots a muzzle loader at some point during the season.  You will too, given the chance!
Jamie

[baddwolf7]

I might have a line on a used Springfield Hawkens in .5o cal. Gun looks good, havent fired it yet and it hasnt been priced yet. Anyone have a good idea on prices, there are not any scraps or dents, dings etc on the wood.

[litl rooster]

1/2 of new price

[Stu Kettle]

I might have a line on a used Springfield Hawkens in .5o cal. Gun looks good, havent fired it yet and it hasnt been priced yet. Anyone have a good idea on prices, there are not any scraps or dents, dings etc on the wood.

I'd be less concerned about the dents and dings in the wood than the rust & pits in the bore - shine a light down the muzzle & give it a good look before considering a used muzzle loader.

[sail32]

Have a good look at all sections of Track of The Wolf's web site.

[Paladin UK]

Stu Kettle says...............

I'd be less concerned about the dents and dings in the wood than the rust & pits in the bore - shine a light down the muzzle & give it a good look before considering a used muzzle loader.

+1
Once I fell for a beaut of a 2nd Generation 1861, seemed a `to good to be true` price as it looked in perfect condition, however iffn I had just bought it I`d have been really Pi44ed off when I`d got home as the barrel was in terrible condition!!
Obviously the seller knew this as it reflected in the price  Boy was I glad I stripped it down and gave it a good once over!!

Paladin (What nearly bought a rust bucket many years ago!! ) UK

[Okefinokee Outlaw]

The folks in this forum will provide lots of help.

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/index.php