Mystique of black powder

Old Wishalot

Old Wishalot

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Since reuniting with CGN, I have often wondered about those that choose to shoot, hunt with, and carry the traditional method of discharging a round ball or bullet, whether percussion or flintlock, or inline. What has been the catalyst that got you here?
 
I'll start by saying it was a book from Lyman by Sam Fadala, followed up by a query on CGN for a left handed muzzleloader and a subsequent purchase of a 50 calibre left hand percussion. Hooked ever since. Of course, Grandafthers photo (my avatar) from the 1920 era certainly contributed to the "Mystique"
 
I like to experience the lived realities of our ancestors. I've never worn a codpiece, monks frock, or or silly tunic, envisionments of what the past may have been like such as renaissance gatherings disinterest me. It's all nonsense if you ask me.

However, loading a black powder load with patched RB and firing on target (animal or otherwise), is an actual activity that our forefathers engaged in. Without wearing silly and impractical sandals, I am standing in the shoes of those who came before me when I shoot black. I'm having to tweak my aim due to distance, wind, etc. I am engaged in an activity that they did and that I like very much.

I don't take my Hawkins out much anymore, but recent news that Kibler will be reproducing a Brown Bess Patterned gun has my smokepole juices running again. While I don't envision me in a scarlet tunic in the foreseeable, I do look forward to making a cartridge box and spinning up some loads for my "Bess". That would be fun. I wonder how long it would take me to meet the 4 rounds a minute British standard?
 
We took some friends on a hunt and their daughter was going to use a percussion cap Hawkins, but tripped in the deep snow and filled the barrel. She had to shoot with a Centre fire, but once the barrel melted clear later in the truck they handed it to me and said try it. I thought it was a cool rifle. Months later at the spring hun show, someone had a gorgeous little TC Seneca sitting on the table with required accoutrements for I think $360. I couldn’t resist and bought it. On my way out Rob from the ABPA/RDFGA saw it and asked me if I knew much about black powder, I answered no and he immediately took me under his wing. Upon attending my first rendezvous I was sold on the fun competitions and the down to earth community there. Few places have I found such a group of genuine and fun folks. The days of shooting and then visiting for hours are cherished memories for me. I firmly believe traditional black powder shooting is one of the best ways to make a better all around and competent rifleman. If you can split a card free hand with a old front stuffer, setting the crosshairs steady behind a critters shoulder at distance is all the easier. I have now shot I think 3 deer, one coyote, numerous gophers with round balls also and am always impressed with the efficiency. All have been with a .50 aside from some gophers with the .36. Deer have been: frontal throat/spine, side double lung and heart, and front chest through the heart shots. The first dropped instantly obviously and the other 2 did the reactionary sever bounds and dropped dead. Meat damage has been almost zero. I love my cap and roundballs and they are guns I will never sell.
 
I have had a fascination with black powder muzzle loaders and cartridge guns since I was a little kid over 60 years ago. It has never gone away even though I have shot modern rifles for almost as many years.
I still shoot and hunt with several family heirlooms that are black powder guns
Cat
 
I love history. Reading and watching old movies and seeing the old guns used was interesting. I decided I wanted a flintlock. I ended up buying a Lyman Great Plains in 54 cal. It taught me a lot about muzzleloaders. My first deer with was about a 700 yard stalk across a field. Sneaking behind every bush and the last 100 or so crawling on my belly to take a 60 yard heart shot. It felt great. More of an accomplishment than shooting a deer at 500 yards with my 308 Norma magnum. I have over 20 muzzleloaders original and replicas. Always seemed more enjoyable and satisfying hunting with one.
 
For me it started in 1975 when I bought a copy of Guns & Ammo annual .In it were articles about buffalo hunters and their guns plus American Revolution and Civil war guns etc.I was hooked immediately and it didn’t hurt that was around the time black powder guns started to get main stream popular thanks to people like Val Forget of Navy Arms fame and Turner Kirkland of Dixie Gunworks getting the Italian companies starting to produce replica muzzle loaders.Next thing you know Shiloh started making copies of the percussion Sharps rifles then the 1874 Sharps rifles arrived.It was a wild ride and the only thing that hurt was my wallet but luckily for me I was single and had no one to answer to but myself 😁
If you get bitten by the black powder bug there is no cure.My only other real firearm passion is 22lr rifles as I ve never been a big shotgun man
 
Barbarosa, you should really try shooting a black powder muzzle loader, it is a great experience!
Cat
 

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I do own a few muzzleloaders a navy arms buffalo hunter,a Pedersoli Mortimer flint 12ga ,Pedersoli baker shotgun ,EuroArms cape gun 12ga plus a couple of custom ones and of course my percussion Sharps carbine and sporting rifle and my 1851 Swiss feldstutzer
 
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barbarossa said:
I do own a few muzzleloaders a navy arms buffalo hunter,a Pedersoli Mortimer flint 12ga ,Pedersoli baker shotgun ,EuroArms cape gun 12ga plus a couple of custom ones and of course my percussion Sharps carbine and sporting rifles and my 1851 Swiss feldstutzer
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You say you are not a shotgun guy, yet you own several muzzle loaders- that makes you a shotgun guy by default! 😁
Cat
 
Funny thing I was kind of saving up money for a Pedersoli Baker rifle but now with Kibler going to make a first model brown Bess I m leaning more towards the Kibler
 
With Canada Day weekend upon us, I recall a July 1 parade in Bath Ont. which. Included a group of re-enactors in period dress carrying flintlocked rifles with spikes affixed. As they passed where I was standing, the troop leader impressively barked some commands and, as one this group raised their muskets and fired a very loud volley of smoke and flame. Impressive. You could not help but think what that must have looked like to an opposing force, knowing they were or would be walking into the path of discharged musket balls. Even though the re-enactors in this parade were obviously veterans and past their prime( possibly) you could not help but be impressed with the history.
 
Now you tell us.
I went to the range with a friend. He had a cap lock I had a 243. Muzzle loading shotgun is my favorite thing to do.
 
Old Wishalot said:
Since reuniting with CGN, I have often wondered about those that choose to shoot, hunt with, and carry the traditional method of discharging a round ball or bullet, whether percussion or flintlock, or inline. What has been the catalyst that got you here?
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They are interesting, engaging and great fun to shoot. 🤷‍♂️ Big BOOM and lots of smoke is always entertaining.

Da Jimmer said:
I have now shot I think 3 deer, one coyote, numerous gophers with round balls also and am always impressed with the efficiency.
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Soft lead roundball deform impressively upon impact. I sure wouldn't want to get hit with one, no matter the caliber.

We shoot 54 cal and a 230gr soft lead ball at ca. 1500 fps is a fearsome thing to contemplate. Would blow a bloody great hole through just about any meat target.
 
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