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Many folks have asked me : "Why mess with those old guns...?"
Well I hope the following pictures and text can help with that.
Muzzleloaders come in many different versions.
If you look closely at the this photo...two basic differences are ignition.
We have both flint and percussion locks here.
Also note the different styling...full stock , half stock , rifled and smooth bore.
Speaking of styling...
You can have the trim and graceful lines of a "Kentucky Rifle"...either plain or fancy with carving and inlays...or the robustness and romance associated with a "Hawken Rifle".
Calibers can also vary from the small .32 caliber suitable for small game and varmints to .75 caliber Muskets...
Details of a Flintlock ( top ) and a Percussion ( bottom )
Lock works of Flintlock
Lock works of a Percussion lock
As you can see from the above three photos...
Patchboxes and Cap boxes can vary as well.
Just what is a patchbox..?
A patchbox is used to keep your shooting or cleaning patches in...maybe a flint or two , a cleaning jag tip , or in the case of a percussion gun caps...Hence a capbox.
For me just the almost endless varieties of firearms , and their details can make for a most interesting collection.
And they can shoot as well.
I have taken grouse , deer , bear and elk with my muzzleloaders.
Many matches are shot each year at ranges up to 200 yards ...all with a iron sighted rifle.
Anything from splitting a playing card edgewise , hitting a gong , or getting those really tight shot groups , we all like , can be done with a muzzleloading rifle.
You also do not need much in the way "fixin's " to shoot a muzzleloader.
Here is my bag and all the gear needed to shoot my Flintlock Fowler with round ball.
Being the history nerd that I am...
Shooting a rifle or gun that Daniel Boone or Kit Carson would like and understand has a lot of appeal for me.
When shooting a Musket , I can get a better understanding of just what those boys did at Lexington and Concord or Bull Run for that matter....
Sorry for the long ramble...hope it wasn't too boring.
Andy
Well I hope the following pictures and text can help with that.
Muzzleloaders come in many different versions.
If you look closely at the this photo...two basic differences are ignition.
We have both flint and percussion locks here.
Also note the different styling...full stock , half stock , rifled and smooth bore.
Speaking of styling...
You can have the trim and graceful lines of a "Kentucky Rifle"...either plain or fancy with carving and inlays...or the robustness and romance associated with a "Hawken Rifle".
Calibers can also vary from the small .32 caliber suitable for small game and varmints to .75 caliber Muskets...
Details of a Flintlock ( top ) and a Percussion ( bottom )
Lock works of Flintlock
Lock works of a Percussion lock
As you can see from the above three photos...
Patchboxes and Cap boxes can vary as well.
Just what is a patchbox..?
A patchbox is used to keep your shooting or cleaning patches in...maybe a flint or two , a cleaning jag tip , or in the case of a percussion gun caps...Hence a capbox.
For me just the almost endless varieties of firearms , and their details can make for a most interesting collection.
And they can shoot as well.
I have taken grouse , deer , bear and elk with my muzzleloaders.
Many matches are shot each year at ranges up to 200 yards ...all with a iron sighted rifle.
Anything from splitting a playing card edgewise , hitting a gong , or getting those really tight shot groups , we all like , can be done with a muzzleloading rifle.
You also do not need much in the way "fixin's " to shoot a muzzleloader.
Here is my bag and all the gear needed to shoot my Flintlock Fowler with round ball.
Being the history nerd that I am...
Shooting a rifle or gun that Daniel Boone or Kit Carson would like and understand has a lot of appeal for me.
When shooting a Musket , I can get a better understanding of just what those boys did at Lexington and Concord or Bull Run for that matter....
Sorry for the long ramble...hope it wasn't too boring.
Andy