Any Black Powder Enthusiasts?

[Hostile]

I've never gotten into it. I have never fired a black powder weapon but I do own a pistol.

I've been offered a replica of a Hawken .50 black powder for 50 bucks. If I buy it I want to get into it.

Someone tell me about it if you enjoy it.

 

[burmafrd]

I've never gotten into it. I have never fired a black powder weapon but I do own a pistol.

I've been offered a replica of a Hawken .50 black powder for 50 bucks. If I buy it I want to get into it.

Someone tell me about it if you enjoy it.

The Black Powder world is like Bow Hunting. Very insular.

Using real black powder is the mark of the guy; pyrodex is for *******.

It is a challenge and you get an idea of how it was back in the day when you had one shot to get food for you or your family.

IF the weapon is in good shape that is a very good deal.
Check the barrel for wear and pitting. Check the pan- if it is flintlock; the nipple if it is percussion.

I think Flintlock is the real tough way to go; if it is damp at all your chances of it going off is about 1 in 3.

 

[Wimbo]

That is a good price, as long as it is in good condition. Cheapest one I see on ebay is $149.

 

[YosemiteSam]

The only black powder guns worth owning.

 

[rynochop]

I thought about getting into it years ago. Theres a lot of muzzleload only hunting opportunities in TX on public hunting lands that you get drawn for. Some that are excellent properties that are next to impossible to get on with a rifle.

I've seen guys at the gun range before shooting them, seems like a lot of work, cleaning etc. But yeah, i've always wanted a pistol, they're just cool looking.

 

[roughneck266]

Heck for 50 bucks you can't go wrong.Lay out a little more for some powder, caps and projectiles and you're shooting. Its a great sport and a lot of fun.

 

[jnday]

I have used black powder rifles since I was a kid. They are fun to shoot, but are messy and a little trouble to clean. If you like the smell of rotten eggs, you will love the smell of a fresh fired rifle.

 

[YosemiteSam]

If you like the smell of rotten eggs, you will love the smell of a fresh fired rifle.

You had me at rotten eggs. :laugh2:

 

[CliffnDallas]

I keep one behind the sofa incase the Yankees invade again.

 

[Vtwin]

I love shooting black powder. Well pyrodex because I guess I'm a *****. :

I generally shoot a Thompson Center New Englander in .50. It's a simple caplock percussion rifle.

Inlines are for *******....

 

[jnday]

I love shooting black powder. Well pyrodex because I guess I'm a *****. :

I generally shoot a Thompson Center New Englander in .50. It's a simple caplock percussion rifle.

Inlines are for *******....

Pyrodex is shoots cleaner and it doesn't have the intense smell. I have hunted with the New Englander myself. Killed close to twenty deer with mine. Thompson Center makes some fine rifles. The inlines are much more like a modern centerfire rifle.

 

[Seven]

Ahhh. The 'ol smoke pole. I got a Hawken 50 cal. Nothing like building your own shot. Got a 50 cal black powder pistol I built from a kit.......... Just waiting for someone to shoot it.

Check the barrel. Black powder guns get build up. I didn't check one of mine I bought at a gunshow. Gotta run steel wool down the barrel every 6th shot or so. (Anyone got any ideas/suggestion for a good plowin under?)

You'll love it. Kind of expensive to start.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

The Black Powder world is like Bow Hunting. Very insular.

Using real black powder is the mark of the guy; pyrodex is for *******.

It is a challenge and you get an idea of how it was back in the day when you had one shot to get food for you or your family.

IF the weapon is in good shape that is a very good deal.
Check the barrel for wear and pitting. Check the pan- if it is flintlock; the nipple if it is percussion.

I think Flintlock is the real tough way to go; if it is damp at all your chances of it going off is about 1 in 3.

:shoot1: :shoot2:

 

[Vtwin]

Ahhh. The 'ol smoke pole. I got a Hawken 50 cal. Nothing like building your own shot. Got a 50 cal black powder pistol I built from a kit.......... Just waiting for someone to shoot it.

Check the barrel. Black powder guns get build up. I didn't check one of mine I bought at a gunshow. Gotta run steel wool down the barrel every 6th shot or so. (Anyone got any ideas/suggestion for a good plowin under?)

You'll love it. Kind of expensive to start.

Do you mean a cleaning? For a quick range cleaning I use a patch lightly soaked with TC bore cleaner followed by a dry patch. For a good cleaning at home HOT water and dish soap followed by just HOT water. Stick the breech end in a bucket of hot soapy water and run a patch in an out to pull the water in from the nipple. Repeat until you get a clean patch and flush with plain HOT water. The hot water evaporates quickly.

Follow this up with a patch lubed with a natural lube like TC bore butter and wipe down all the metal with the same.

The "natural" stuff seasons the bore so it will foul less and clean easier in the future.

 

[Vtwin]

Pyrodex is shoots cleaner and it doesn't have the intense smell. I have hunted with the New Englander myself. Killed close to twenty deer with mine. Thompson Center makes some fine rifles. The inlines are much more like a modern centerfire rifle.

If it was up to me inlines would not be legal to use for black powder season. They can be as or more accurate than a lever action 30/30.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I've never gotten into it. I have never fired a black powder weapon but I do own a pistol.

I've been offered a replica of a Hawken .50 black powder for 50 bucks. If I buy it I want to get into it.

Someone tell me about it if you enjoy it.

Buy the rifle and hang it on the wall. God made centerfire cartridges for a reason.

 

[jnday]

If it was up to me inlines would not be legal to use for black powder season. They can be as or more accurate than a lever action 30/30.

My Knight .50 cal shoots 1'' groups at 100 yards. Here in Mississippi, single shot centerfire rifles are legal in primative weapon season. They just have to be .35 cal or larger. I now shoot a 35 Whelen Handi Rifle. What's primative about that? It is less trouble than the black powder.

 

[jobberone]

I've generally used a Thompson Hawken in 50 cal and enjoyed it. They can be pretty accurate. As long as the weapon is rust free and from a reputable manufacturer then its a good deal.

 

[Seven]

Do you mean a cleaning? For a quick range cleaning I use a patch lightly soaked with TC bore cleaner followed by a dry patch. For a good cleaning at home HOT water and dish soap followed by just HOT water. Stick the breech end in a bucket of hot soapy water and run a patch in an out to pull the water in from the nipple. Repeat until you get a clean patch and flush with plain HOT water. The hot water evaporates quickly.

Follow this up with a patch lubed with a natural lube like TC bore butter and wipe down all the metal with the same.

The "natural" stuff seasons the bore so it will foul less and clean easier in the future.

Thanks V. I do all that cleaning exactly as you do with my originally owned smoke poles. However the one I bought at the gunshow........I'm pretty positive it wasn't cleaned often. Like I said, I gotta run some 4-ought steel wool thru the barrel bout every 6 shots or it's a ***** to get the ball shoved in there and seated pretty good. I do use the buttered patches.

So I guess I was asking if anyone knew of a cleaning method for a barrel that's pretty fouled.

 

[Hostile]

Egads the inside of the barrel was rusty. There was some exterior rust too, but the down the barrel rust is what I couldn't believe. Guy has a swamp cooler and says the added humidity is the cause of it. I said, "no, not taking care of weapon is the cause of it." Needless to say, I didn't shell out the 50 bucks because of that. I think I want to do this though. I'm going to shop for a better gun.