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Very good post.View attachment 308692
Most of my hunting and shooting for that matter is done with traditional or antique muzzleloaders.
I like to use my .54 Hawken copy for anything I care to hunt.
From grouse to buffalo it would do fine.
I have used my flintlock Northwest trade gun to bust clay birds and grouse on the wing.
And yes flintlocks do shoot in the rain... LOL.
You do not need a ton of gear to shoot either.
A shooting bag , horn , powder , patches ,caps or flints , vent pick
( for a flinter ) and a turn screw for screws and to act as flint knapper.
Perhaps a worm and a tin of grease and you are good to go.
Pictured is my bag for flintlocks and all the gear I carry.
Some Tips:
Be sure to grease your patch with something other than spit.
I use bear grease or deer tallow. But TC's bore butter works well.
Cradle your gun to cover the lock during wet weather.
I will unprime my gun if the ground gets treacherous , otherwise its primed and at half cock.
Always reload when you walk up to your game.
As far as calibers go I would suggest .50 and up for deer and other big game.
I know .45 and smaller will work for deer and has been used on bigger game.
But some states have caliber restrictions and .50 generally covers most big game.
I like .54 caliber . 80 grains of 2f , a .15 patch and a .530 round ball will take care of most anything...
I do not feel you are giving anything up when hunting with a muzzleloader.
After all they have kept folks fed for hundreds of years.
If you or anyone has any questions about muzzleloaders please feel free to ask or message me.
Andy
Some thoughts on shooting:
Develop a loading system and stick to it.
Remember to load Powder , Patch then Ball.
I like to lightly cut a line on my ramrod where it meets the muzzle when I am loaded , so I can tell if I "dry balled".
( loaded without powder)
Some guys use more than one load. I do not.
I like one load for all my shooting , easier for me to remember to hold over or under , than how many grains at different yards.
Plus I do not have to have two measures , one for targets and one for hunting.
Check your load if you move your gun by car or horse.
I have seen loads move forward from being in transit.
Just tamp it back in place with your ramrod.
If you use off the shelf patches and ball , a short starter will be handy.
Different companies have different ideas about patch and ball sizes .
( not all .530 round balls are indeed .530 for instance )
If you use spit as a lube while shooting on the line , use grease for hunting. No likes a rusty breech LOL.
TC Bore butter , Criso , Bear grease , deer tallow will work.
Humidity will affect your powder and how your gun shoots.
If your gun dosen't go off at first , wait about 30 seconds before checking it out . Sometimes there is a "hangfire".
Practice and more practice is key.
I have shot in different weather , elevations , lighting etc...
Get to know your gun and how it shoots.
Andy
Some thoughts on guns.
First some recommendations on off the shelf guns:
The Thompson Center "Hawken" series
The Thompson Center Renegade and New Englander
The Lyman Great Plains and Trade rifle
The Investarms "Hawken" style rifle
Any of these rifles will do fine for the first time buyer.
All are well made and rugged firearms.
I would suggest that the buyer stick with percussion in these guns as the use use of coil springs and having seen way too many soft frizzens and a too small vent hole to recommend a flintlock from these outfits.
Any Rifled Musket that the Civil War reenactors use would make a dandy hunting rifle.
So would the various copies of the Remington "Zouave" rifles.
The older Navy arms Buffalo hunter is a great choice.
Perdersoli makes many a fine gun.
They do a pretty good job on their flintlocks. If you are wanting a flintlock I would start with their line.
I do not want to give the impression that I am a rifle snob and look down on off the shelf guns.
All of the above are fine guns that I have owned , shot or worked on.
I am however a history nerd and most of the above guns come up short on being historically correct.
And require a bit of work to pass muster , so to speak.
Again they are fine guns, do good work in the hunting fields and on the shooting line.
Andy
Yeah yeah I was gunna say all thatView attachment 308692
Most of my hunting and shooting for that matter is done with traditional or antique muzzleloaders.
I like to use my .54 Hawken copy for anything I care to hunt.
From grouse to buffalo it would do fine.
I have used my flintlock Northwest trade gun to bust clay birds and grouse on the wing.
And yes flintlocks do shoot in the rain... LOL.
You do not need a ton of gear to shoot either.
A shooting bag , horn , powder , patches ,caps or flints , vent pick
( for a flinter ) and a turn screw for screws and to act as flint knapper.
Perhaps a worm and a tin of grease and you are good to go.
Pictured is my bag for flintlocks and all the gear I carry.
Some Tips:
Be sure to grease your patch with something other than spit.
I use bear grease or deer tallow. But TC's bore butter works well.
Cradle your gun to cover the lock during wet weather.
I will unprime my gun if the ground gets treacherous , otherwise its primed and at half cock.
Always reload when you walk up to your game.
As far as calibers go I would suggest .50 and up for deer and other big game.
I know .45 and smaller will work for deer and has been used on bigger game.
But some states have caliber restrictions and .50 generally covers most big game.
I like .54 caliber . 80 grains of 2f , a .15 patch and a .530 round ball will take care of most anything...
I do not feel you are giving anything up when hunting with a muzzleloader.
After all they have kept folks fed for hundreds of years.
If you or anyone has any questions about muzzleloaders please feel free to ask or message me.
Andy