want to get into black powder on a budget

Black powder firearms list;
-reproduction brass barrel flintlock blunderbuss
-antique howdah pistol
-Browning Mountain Rifle (replica hawken rifle)
-Ruger Old Army
-ASM Walker
-Remington 1858
-antique Parkhurst 10 gauge SxS coach gun
-antique Prussian drilling 10x10x45-70
-Browning High Wall BPCR 45-70

It's much like an addiction. Lol
 
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Scnitzelmahn said:
I would like to get into historical black powder shooting, the history and also the knowledge required to operate them has recently got my interest. Ideally i would like to build my own musket inspired by early trade muskets - from parts to save money and have my own unique gun. The Traditions Kentucky rifle kits caught my attention since they sell for $300 but are percussion. Cabela's has completed ones for $500 in flintlock which could be an option. What are some good websites to search for muskets? Is it possible to buy unfinished guns? I'm on a budget but don't mind doing stock work and fitting parts.

thanks!
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The shooting sports are expensive, no two ways about it (golf, shmolf...welfare game), but of all the shooting one can do, I find small caliber BP rifle shooting to be the most economical there is. The cadence of the shooting slows one way down...= less $ down range.
 
There are some great BP guns out there for dirt cheap too if you watch the ee. My pietta 1860 is probably worth $300 new and I see rifles from time to time selling for less than $500. You don't have to spend a ton to have fun.
 
Here s my list
Parker hale volunteer
Parker hale muskettoon
R j Renner express rifle
1855 Springfield cavalry carbine
English percussion sporting rifle
English flintlock sporting rifle
1851 swiss rifle made by VOllmer
Shiloh 1863 sporting rifle
Erma gallagher carbine
Euroarms cape gun
Pedersoli baker shotgun
Pedersoli Mortimer shotgun
BP shooting can be highly contagious
 
A local shop had a Traditions kit up on the wall a few years back. They don't normally hold such things in the store but someone paid a deposit for them to order it then dissappeared. So they were selling it. It's long gone though.

The point is that there's not enough movement in the muzzle loading kit market for many stores to actually carry such a kit. But if you ask around at your local shops you'll likely find that they have the connections to order up a kit or completed rifle from Traditions.

As for going flint or percussion I'd say that since this is for fun that you should pick whichever you want. Yes, flint shooting has a steeper learning curve. But for some of us there's no replacement for the feel and sight of that big flash inches from our noses! ! ! !

Do seek out and join with the local black powder group. Often they'll hold monthly fun shoots where you can have a great time chatting and learning the tricks that help make flint shooting more reliable and consistent.

Take note that the flints don't last forever. Even with a little edge knapping to keep them sparking well a flint is only good for maybe three dozen shots. And on poorly tuned actions that are hard on the flints often not even two dozen shots. So plan on buying your flints from TotW or similar outlets at least a dozen at a time. I figure it costs me about the same to shoot my flint locks as the percussion folks spend on their caps.
 
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