Getting into BP.

limit time

limit time

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Hi,

I’ve been wanting to get into muzzle loading for fun and hunting. I have never owned or shot one. What do you guys recommend ? I do like the old school style, but not sure if the make them accurate enough for hunting ?
Please help a noob !
Thanks !
 
Traditional BP hunting is usually carried out at the top end of the limitations of the technology of the time - certainly no more than between 100 and 120m - maximum. These figures are a generalisation, of course, but are based on the rainbow-like trajectory of the ball - something that you need to spend much time practice shooting and allowing for. Muzzleloadingforum.com has hundred of pages of successful hunts of everything between whitetail and bear taken using the APPROPRIATE calibre of BP arm, both flintlock and percussion. So it you are looking for 300m takedowns with patched round ball - PRB - then forget it. It doesn't happen.

As a BP hunter you will learn, if you haven't already done so, exactly how our ancestors in North America did it - sneakily - a euphemism for fieldcraft. As an example you could do a lot worse that get on to Youtube and watch capandball talking deer and feral hogs with his 1780 Jaeger rifle, converted around 1840 to percussion. He shows everything we've come to expect from an avid BP hunter, including final respect for his quarry.
 
low light plays a lot on weather you can be accurate enough to take a clean shot. Factors would be how old you are , eyesight, and what animal you are going after.

I shot a lot of Manitoba Whitetail with a Safari Arms Kodiak Rifle in 58 caliber, shooting a big mini bullet I practised out to 180-200yds all summer and when the deer came I was ready.
Years later I had a 54 caliber Kahnke inline with a 4 power scope ......shot lots into the dim twilight.

54 for round ball side hammer guns
50 cal for modern inlines

I am going with a 54 cal this year round ball
 
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BP guns built in the traditional style will be as accurate if not more so (better attention paid to fitment etc.) than modern inline iterations. Unless your barrel is of poor quality, there should be no down range difference.
It would a serious benefit to find yourself a local muzzle loading club, most of the old timers who play this game are very generous with their time and knowledge to folks who show honest interest. If you can get the chance to try some different guns and begin developing some preferences before dropping serious dough on a quality gun, do it! I have had excellent experiences with Lyman percussion guns (made by Investarms of Italy who make a lot of different branded stuff) and Pedersoli (a higher end Italian maker) in both percussion and flintlock. Once you get a whiff of holy mother black, you'll be hooked.
 
if your location is southern England, perhaps you should define what sort of animals you would be hunting. Further, your maximum range should be based on how accurate you are with your choice of gun and keep in mind that a roundball is closer to archery than a modern high velocity rifle with expanding slugs.. As a first gun, I would suggest one with a barrel that can be removed easily (ie hook breach) for cleaning and probably a percussion gun because there is a lot of learning if going straight to a flintlock. If there are black powder clubs near you, attend shooting with them and at least locally people would be glad to champion the good points of their particular type of gun as well as probably offer you a shot or two

cheers mooncoon
 
Get a flinter! They're more fun than percussion, and a properly tuned patch round ball is a lot more accurate than most people think.

General ranking brand ranking for muzzleloading sidelocks:
Traditions < CVA = Thompson/Center < Lyman < Pedersoli

that said they're all good, traditions might be the "budget" option but it's still fantastic for what it is, kind of like comparing a rock island 1911 vs. other brands
 
I have been hunting with a muzzeloader for about 10 years..in line modern w/scope. But I have an old CVA percussion Kentucky long rifle in .45 cal. I usually shoot 75 yards max. I would dearly (sic) like to bag a deer with the long rifle...is it reasonable to use it?
 
Limit Time, Abby does not have an active BP group. Mission, Ridgedale and Chilliwack as well as Poco do. Go to their websites and contact their discipline chairs. They will be more than willing to help you get started on the right path.
 
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