Muzzleloading on a budget.

hakx

hakx

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Edmonton
Been frontstuffing for some time now, and am amazed at the crap that the various vendors pawn off on us as "necessities". Here's a few examples of what I deemed to be nothing more than hype.

For example, why use speedloaders when photomats will give you all the empty film cans you could carry, or

Hornandy lock and load sabots...why? To clip a pellet to? This is an answer for a problem that doesn't exist.

1. What home grown ways do you folks create your own equipment?
2. What currently marketed muzzleloaders accesories do you folks find absolutely pointless?

....this should be an insteresting string.
 
One of the appealing things about "traditional" ml guns is that there is very little that you cannot make yourself, if you choose to do so. Apart from antiques, all my ml guns are ones that I have made; most of the accessories as well. When you consider the level of technology, there is no reason that things shouldn't be handmade.
 
For me I also like to use(besides 35mm film canisters) my empty pill containers from the M.I.R. for powder,as well as the empty tubes that contain the engraving 'bits' for my saboted rounds.
I'm also also in the process of casting my own conicals and balls(just need a ladle)
And I'm still working on the pointless accesories.
 
new to muzzloading

I am new to ML and was flipping through SIR and Wholesale the other day perusing all the stuff i want and the film canister idea popped into my head
i am glad it was confirmed now what do you carry patches and balls in, the same?
 
Fester,for my patches I use my 'used' Kiwi boot polish tin(small).I cut to size & pre-lube a bunch and they fit well,for balls,I hand crafted(sewed) together a small leather bag with a draw string,this is mainly for a "traditional look,my brother 'Gilly' gave me an old Sucrets tin (square) that he used for balls or conicals of appropiate size, he removed the old finish and then blued it for that authentic look.Imagination is the key.
Good Luck!
 
you can make it all examples as follows.........wich i have done in the past 10 yrs,
ramrod or range -rod from wood or steel rod
ball starter from wood /metal with wood or antler handle
nipple /vent pick is a sewing needle epoxy into a piece of antler or other ??
frizzen cover from leather bits
pan brush can be made from horse hair, glued into a antler piece or other.
make yer own balls / bullets really baasic.
make yer own patch knife , or throwing knife or throwing axe /hawk
make a capper from a leather belt chunk.
powder horn from old cow horn / wood.
make own possible bag or ball bag from canvas or leather
can do yr own or get yr lady to make an old time costume fer ya.
moccassins
leggings
ONLY YOUR IMAGINATION CAN HOLD YOU BACK, lots of ideas on the internet, or peek at what folks sell on ebay fer ideas, or ask other shooters.
 
I cut my own bore buttons from felt with a 1/2" punch cutter, I got from Princess Auto. Patch material from fabric store, frizzen cover from the thumb of an old glove. I do use a couple of speed loaders, they are just handy. But I also use short pieces of 1/2" copper pipe with one end soldered on and the other just slid on, to hold extra powder charges. With this setup I can put all I need for extra balls, powder, and patches in a Buffalo Bal-et plastic container that fits in a pocket, and 2 speed loaders in a top pochet for quick loads. I like to travel light some times.
 
The great thing about 35mm film canisters is they seal fairly tightly. Instead of buying some presoaked cleaning patches (vendor crap) for swabbing between shots, stuff some patches in a film canister and add a little windex or summer blend windshield washer. The patch material will wick it right up, and you can adjust the amount of moisture buy simply wringing out the patch before you use it.

My range rod is nothing more that a 3/8 '' dowel with a cleaning jag threaded and expoxied into one end. The end with the jag is then wrapped with dental floss & covered in expoxy to give it stuctural support. Total spent, about $3 vs $25 for a spare 36" ramrod.
 
I use mint or candy tins to carry my round balls and patches. For a patch knife I use a box cutter. The blade is always sharp. For storing and carrying shot it is hard to beat an aluminum cigar tube. For a volume powder measure you can use a straight-walled cartridge case like a .45-70.but don't assume that it throws 70 grains of powder measure the loads it throws.

I do not use a possibles bag as I just toss eveything into my pockets. I mostly shoot flintlocks and the little tools (powder measure and vent pick) I carry on a leather thong around my neck.

Richard
 
on a budget

hakx said:
The great thing about 35mm film canisters is they seal fairly tightly. Instead of buying some presoaked cleaning patches (vendor crap) for swabbing between shots, stuff some patches in a film canister and add a little windex or summer blend windshield washer. The patch material will wick it right up, and you can adjust the amount of moisture buy simply wringing out the patch before you use it.

My range rod is nothing more that a 3/8 '' dowel with a cleaning jag threaded and expoxied into one end. The end with the jag is then wrapped with dental floss & covered in expoxy to give it stuctural support. Total spent, about $3 vs $25 for a spare 36" ramrod.
Click to expand...

just finished making a range rod like that thanks for the great tip!!
I am now going to give it a nice finish
 
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