Indian Trade Muskets?

[tim_up_north]

Super greenhorn looking for advice...

Pedersoli makes them. And there are other sources as well.

Is there a maker anyone would recommend over another.

Do you own one and are very happy with it, or not. What are the things a guy should look for?

I am finally ready to take the plunge into BP shooting, and for better or worse this is the style I'd like to go with...

Thanks.


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[tbrwlf]

Pedersoli has a solid reputation for black powder guns. I own 4. I think you may be happier with a rifled barrel gun. It will improve your accuracy and you can hunt with it. I am not sure I would take a musket into the field to hunt.

Just my .02 worth.

Welcome to the black powder club. It is a lot of fun.

 

[stevejones]

Trade gun or ?

Pedresoli has a solid rep. no doubt about it. The only thing that gets to me is all the stamped lettering all over them ie: BLACK POWDER ONLY and PEDRESOLI in GIANT letters.
A question you should ask yourself is do you have experience with muzzle loading guns and if not, do you have someone who can mentor you through the learning curve? I wished that there had been someone around when I first started. talk about learning the hard way. The gun was a _A_ that was one of the earlier ones made in _pain. Needless to say, how it did not end up wrapped around a tree is beyond me...
A flintlock is not that much harder than a percussion, its just has its own little quirks...
Check out youtube there are lots of very good "how to" videos that are very informative and your local shooting club may have a black powder group.
I'm not sure what you want to do with your gun. Hunting with one would be challenging but if you practice and keep your shots close I do not see a big problem. The reason the trade gun was so popular (much more than a rifle) is its versatility. It can fire both round ball and shot. I have seen fellows (not me...) using trade guns beat other shooters who were shooting rifles!

Just be warned black powder shooting is ver addictive! Cheers, Steve.

 

[tiriaq]

If you want a better reproduction of a Trade Gun, google NorthStarWest.
Track of the Wolf also has a NW Gun kit.
Over 35 years ago, I was involved in the manufacture of reproduction NW guns. Lots of history in these guns.

 

[nessy357]

One of the nicest ones I have seen is a Wilson Chiefs grade trade gun made by Danny Caywood wwcaywoodguns, you can get a kit or if you have them build it , you get a lifetime warranty.

Cheers nessy.

 

[Sluice]

Trade guns are fun and with a little work you can get them to shoot a 4" group at 50 yards with a patched round ball. Shot loads are usually limited to 25 yards with the cylinder bore.

I would suggest that you look at some of the US makers like Caywood, North Star West or TVM. My friend shoots a Jackie Brown Tarde Gun and I have owned a fowler from Jackie Brown. I think that you would be happier with a longer barrel(42") than a shorter barrel.

sluice

 

[BUSHMAN79]

Aren't we supposed to call them "First Nations trade guns" now? I, too, would check out the US makers before buying the Pedersoli. Not really that much difference in price, and the ones I've seen certainly look much nicer. Whatever you do, don't buy any flintlock that uses coil springs. They suck with flints! I'm pretty sure that all the trade guns use flat springs, though, so you should be fine.