Who else out there shoots black powder?

savagesicslayer

savagesicslayer

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May 24, 2005
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My mom and I bought my dad a flintlock for Christmas.So we've been shooting that for a while and I got the itch to get my own.So I did. I bought a Traditions flintlock Kentucky long rifle in .50 cal.
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Some nice detailed etchings on the action.
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I've yet to fire it yet.I still need some nic-naks like a proper powder measure.My dads flintlock fires pyrodex pellets instead of loose powder.I'm not going to mess around with explosives.
Dad and I both caught the muzzle loading bug at Kings Landing historical settlement.Every Thanksgiving they have a turkey shoot where you shoot at a turkey-shaped target with some old black powder muskets.
Who else out there shoots muzzle loaders?
 
I'm surprised you're getting consistent reliable ignition with Pyrodex in a flinter.
I've dabbled with BP (percussion & flint) for many years.
Pyrodex is more convenient, but I'd stick to BP in a flintlock.
Good luck.
Denis
 
DPris said:
I'm surprised you're getting consistent reliable ignition with Pyrodex in a flinter.

Denis
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Seeing as he states he hasn't fired it all yet I doubt igniting Pyrodex in it has been a problem yet...lol.

However you will find that BP is much more reliable in a flint gun and you will need a couple of different grades, 4X for the pan and 2 or 3X for the main charge. 4X is much finer and lights easier and flashes through the hole in the lock easier.

You can buy a lot of what you want from any number of online sources, except the powder of course, but if you want traditional accouterments you need to look for sites like http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(gdl15zv1fyxqdx45azzmbq55))/Index.aspx
 
savagesicslayer said:
My mom and I bought my dad a flintlock for Christmas.So we've been shooting that for a while and I got the itch to get my own.So I did. I bought a Traditions flintlock Kentucky long rifle in .50 cal.
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I used to own a nice .50 cal Hawken percussion rifle that I had assembled from a kit. It turned out really nice, and was a lot of fun to shoot but I had to sell it when money was tight at one point. I'd really like to get another smoke pole to do some more shooting with. I've been trying to decide between a Pennsylvania rifle in .36 or .45 cal, or another Hawken in .50 or .54 cal. Maybe I should just get both, huh? ;)

Absintheur said:
However you will find that BP is much more reliable in a flint gun and you will need a couple of different grades, 4X for the pan and 2 or 3X for the main charge.
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I have talked to some flint lock shooters and they all mentioned using real BP for the primer charge in the pan, but I think most of them were using Pyrodex for the main charge. These days the replacement BPs like Pydrodex are just much easier to get than real BP, that they tried to minimize their use of the harder to get product.
 
My dad's muzzle loader is a Traditions PA Pellet rifle.It's made to shoot Pyrodex pellets. We use black powder in the pan already.My rifle can't use the pellets for some reason The instruction booklet says to use loose powder only.I'm not going to mess with that.
One thing that's going to be a must is a sling.My gun is at least 4 feet long and quite weighty.I'm going to get one of those slip over lace on lings it'll look pretty neat I think.
 
OK, Ab, how about: I'm surprised your Dad is getting consistent & reliable ignition with pellets in his flintlock rifle. :)
The "you're" was sort of a collective.
Denis
 
I have considered getting a muzzle loader, but it will have to wait until after I get settled with all the modern weapons I need/want. Shot a Knight Muzzle loader and it was nice.
 
I have a traditional percussion cap smokepole. My favorite BP firearm is a Ruger Old Army revolver. That thing will take an incredibly stout load and it's very accurate. Lots of fun.

DancesWithKnives
 
I've been shooting blackpowder for thirty years - love the stuff. Don't have as many as I once had but still own a Pedersoli flintlock, Thompson Centre Hawken and Parker Hale musketoon. I also shoot blackpowder in my Marlin 94 (45 Colt).
 
There seems to be a huge rift in the muzzleloading crowd between the traditionalists and the modern muzzleloader folks. I've found that even mention of a Knight or a Thompson/Center or a CVA or some other similar gun can be met with a lot of attitude and vitriol on some forums.

I killed my very first deer with an inexpensive .50 caliber CVA muzzleloader. Bushnell 4x scope, PowerBelt bullets and powder pellets , and 209 primers. It was hardly what you'd call a traditional set-up, but it put down that little six-point with one shot.

That said, I'd like to try a Hawken .50 caliber kit gun one of these days.
 
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I haven't burned any charcoal for years, but I had a number of percussion revolvers and one of those odd break-action shotgun-to percussion rifle conversions. Actually shot fairly well.
One time, I loaded up a box of .45 Long Colt cartridges to "Wild West" specs; 40 grains of black and a 250 grain cast bullet. This is a bit of a compression load with modern solid-head cases.
The gunslingers back then were not shooting pipsqueak loads! This was a noticeably more potent load than current commercial .45 LC rounds.
Of course, cleaning the Ruger Blackhawk afterwards was a pain....
 
Hi,

I've be shooting smokepoles for around 30 years too. There was no BP substitutes like Pyrodex. I remember having to fill out the same paperwork for buying Class A explosives like dynamite every time I bought a pound of 2Fg. I always chuckled when I had to check the little boxes that said I promised not to rob banks or blow up government installations.:D

I've still got a couple of CVA .50 caplocks around here and a Pietta 1858 Remington New Army in .44 too. I've taken a fair number of deer with the trusty Hawkens. And some rabbits and squirrels with the revolver. But these days I mostly hunt with my Pedersoli SxS caplock 12ga. shotgun. I've taken everything from dove to pheasant, to big Canada geese with it. Mostly pheasant though. Lots of fun.

dalee
 
mwerner said:
I haven't burned any charcoal for years, but I had a number of percussion revolvers and one of those odd break-action shotgun-to percussion rifle conversions. Actually shot fairly well.
One time, I loaded up a box of .45 Long Colt cartridges to "Wild West" specs; 40 grains of black and a 250 grain cast bullet. This is a bit of a compression load with modern solid-head cases.
The gunslingers back then were not shooting pipsqueak loads! This was a noticeably more potent load than current commercial .45 LC rounds.
Of course, cleaning the Ruger Blackhawk afterwards was a pain....
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Hi,

I was going to add for those who might not understand why you were shooting compressed loads. The old time BP cases were balloon head rather than solid like modern casings. So the old cases had a bit more room for the powder. Also, the powders available in those days was much more sophisticated than the simple 2Fg through 4Fg we have today.

It is interesting to consider that the .44 Walker Colt was the most powerful production revolver made until the .357 magnum made it's appearance in the 1950's.

dalee
 
I believe the original intent of 'muzzle loading seasons' in most states was to provide fans of the 'old timer' guns with a special season of their own. However, technology and the desire to make money on the part of myriad manufacturers reared its ugly head.

All of a sudden, we had in lines, pellets, sabot projectiles, and so on. I hunted black powder years back with a Thompson .50 Hawken which used actual loose powder, patches and round ball or Minie type projectiles, and percussion caps. It was fun and effective.

I did not, and do not, like the modern trend to turn 'muzzle loaders' into a type of modern cartridge rifle where you more or less assemble the cartridge in the breech. Also, just my preference, but I also don't agree with optical sights on muzzle loaders. I believe the original intent was to establish a special or privileged season for 'old rifle' types that put the hunter just a bit ahead of archers with his/her 'primitive' firearm. Ah well, technology and the gadget happy public march on....
 
Old CW4 said:
I believe the original intent of 'muzzle loading seasons' in most states was to provide fans of the 'old timer' guns with a special season of their own. However, technology and the desire to make money on the part of myriad manufacturers reared its ugly head.

All of a sudden, we had in lines, pellets, sabot projectiles, and so on. I hunted black powder years back with a Thompson .50 Hawken which used actual loose powder, patches and round ball or Minie type projectiles, and percussion caps. It was fun and effective.

I did not, and do not, like the modern trend to turn 'muzzle loaders' into a type of modern cartridge rifle where you more or less assemble the cartridge in the breech. Also, just my preference, but I also don't agree with optical sights on muzzle loaders. I believe the original intent was to establish a special or privileged season for 'old rifle' types that put the hunter just a bit ahead of archers with his/her 'primitive' firearm. Ah well, technology and the gadget happy public march on....
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This is the rift I referred to earlier. Believe me, if those mountain men could have shot an in-line rifle with sabots accurately out to 200 yards, they surely would have. ;)

I understand Old CW4's view, but I also understand that many folks would never shoot a muzzleloader if it weren't for some of the more modern guns. And for some, that in-line Thompson/Center is a gateway to a more traditional set-up. At least that's the case with me. I would really like to try an older design and have given some thought lately about shooting ball ammo rather than fancy PowerBelt stuff.

If the intent is a special season, it seems states only need to specify ignition requirements on the rifles. However, I expect, given the number of muzzleloading licenses sold each year, that's probably not going to happen at this late date.
 
My rifle can't use the pellets for some reason The instruction booklet says to use loose powder only.I'm not going to mess with that.
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Measuring black powder (or loose pyrodex) is actually very easy. Unlike conventional smokeless powder which is measured by weight, BP/Pyrodex is measured by volume. Simply set the measure to the desired charged, fill to the top, level (if your measure is so equipped) and pour in the barrel. A funnel for the muzzle helps get it all in.
 
I shoot a Thompson Center Renagade, 54 cal. I use 100 gns. bp and 225 gn round ball. Shoots excellant.
 
I squirrel hunt with a .32 cal Traditions Crockett rifle (percussion). Lots of fun! It adds to the challenge.
 
Blackpowder is what got me into knifemaking. Started with the 50 caliber Hawken . We had Sunday afternoon off hand shoots South of Neosho Mo. They still go on today but I am back in oK. I only deer hunt with the 50 Encore which is a lot of fun. I still have a 36 caliber Mowrey in the closet and a45 Ethan Allen pistol on the bookcase. Sure enjoyed the a lot.
 
I've completely took a step backwards and bought a 20 ga smoothbore flint. I'm getting better with the instinctive type of shooting involved with these things. I'm casting my own with a primitive bag mould and ladle. I love this thing.
 
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