Loading BP.............

[Nevada Ed]

Just got off the phone with a old friend that I worked in the field with
that makes knives and also does some gunsmithing as well as builds, custom PB rifles.

We all know that shooting a Black Powder rifle is a hoot and if you
can drop a deer with it, you are right up there with Daniel Boone & Crocket.

Long story short he and a friend are going to the Sparks Nev gun show on Nov. 19th and we got talking about guns and bullets.
During the long phone call, Bill mentioned to me that his son, used one of his BP rifles with a .45 Cal. Sabot and Black Horn 209 powder to get the bullet to reach out over 300 yards to drop his deer, last year.

To me 300 yards with a 30-06 is a good shot................

I know this is true, since he has 50 cal. BP's that will reach out
almost 500 yards.

Nice to talk to him and catch up on things...............
and also learn that BP is not just for 100 yards.

 

[lihpster]

The last 20 or so seasons my father hunted, except for one, he hunted exclusively black powder, often in period dress. Hunting with a gun he made from scratch, with accessories he made from scratch, and even clothing my mother had sewn for him, was a great joy to him. Here are some pictures of some of his BP rifles. The grey tacks in the stocks each represent a deer taken with that gun. They were all taken with lead round balls or cast lead conicals, true to caliber and genuine black powder. Ranges from 25 -125 yards. 300 yards is mighty fine shooting no matter the equipment, and on game is quite an achievement. Quality built muzzleloaders can be very accurate guns.

 

[mtgianni]

While I enjoy shooting black powder, I recall that the intent of the muzzleloader seasons was to get people hunting with period correct guns. I cannot see the advantage of a special hunting season with weapons that you can exceed 125 yards with. Just my two cents.

 

[Nevada Ed]

While I enjoy shooting black powder, I recall that the intent of the muzzleloader seasons was to get people hunting with period correct guns. I cannot see the advantage of a special hunting season with weapons that you can exceed 125 yards with. Just my two cents.

I totally agree, with you ........
and I don't even shot that far, since i only have a original .36 Cal.
revolver and rifle
that has way less energy than a huge 45 cal. bullet.......
but do take small deer.

 

[glenwolde]

While I enjoy shooting black powder, I recall that the intent of the muzzleloader seasons was to get people hunting with period correct guns. I cannot see the advantage of a special hunting season with weapons that you can exceed 125 yards with. Just my two cents.

I recall differently. I don't know why Fish & Game would care about getting people to use traditional weapons. Certainly the bows they use these days aren't anything resembling something historical.

I thought it was because due to the limited range of most black powder guns, and bows, having a separate season allowed hunters choosing those weapons to hunt at a time when there was much less hunting pressure which increases their chances of being successful.

But yeah, some guys are going to come along and figure out a way to improve the performance. They could outlaw sabots if it's a problem.

 

[dave1918a2]

I like Pennsylvania. If I recall it's flintlock only. Colorado, no sabots, only granulated powder. My old Buddy and I hunted all the BP deer season with flintlocks and patched round ball. Average kill around 65 yards. I don't agree with inlines, scopes, and sabots. Don't know the rules up here.

 

[SS336]

Personally I do not consider these modern plastic stocked, sabot bulleted, 209 primered, scope sighted modern rifles a muzzle loader. They do load by the muzzle, but were made to get around the letter of the law in the muzzleloader season.
This is a muzzle loader, very accurate but it will take practice and some dedication to be a hunter with it.
Just my opinion and by the sales of "modern' muzzleloaders I think I'm in the minority, as usual.

 

[Fishinfool]

lihpster - nice collection of BP rifles your father left you, and the "tack" count is impressive.

Most people consider traditional front stuffers to be 100 yard, or so guns, the scoped inlines maybe 250 yards. But not really. Given a good shooter, and accurate rifle and proper conical bulleted load, along with quality aperture sights, a side hammer cap gun can be just as accurate as a modern in-line rifle. The key to hitting "way out there" is knowing the targets exact distance, and your loads drop / windage.

PA handles the modern / traditional ML debate quite well. There is an "inline season" in Oct. where any kind of ML is allowed, then a "flintlock season" in January with guns being restricted to flintlocks and iron sights only.

A couple of my favorites pictured below. A .54 Lyman Deer Stalker, and a .50 TC Custom Shop Hawken. I also use a .54 Lyman Deer Stalker flintlock for PA's late season (not shown). I do limit my shots to about 125 yards with the cap guns, only because, just like a modern gun, range estimation becomes critical when you push them. At the range, from a bench rest, my .54 cap gun, with an aperture sight produces solid minute of deer groups at 300 yards.

Larry

 

[mtgianni]

I recall differently. I don't know why Fish & Game would care about getting people to use traditional weapons. Certainly the bows they use these days aren't anything resembling something historical.

I thought it was because due to the limited range of most black powder guns, and bows, having a separate season allowed hunters choosing those weapons to hunt at a time when there was much less hunting pressure which increases their chances of being successful.

But yeah, some guys are going to come along and figure out a way to improve the performance. They could outlaw sabots if it's a problem.

In Montana people wanted a special season or zone where they could use muzzleloaders. Sabots have never been legal here.

 

[sourdough44]

Lately I've mostly used my M-L in IL. The choices are shotgun slugs, muxxle-loader, or certain handguns. Since it's IL, I'll happily use my Knight 'Elite' with a Zeiss Conquest scope. I much prefer to stay inside 125 yards or so, could add another 50 with good conditions.

I realize regulations vary, many Midwest States have few restrictions, fine by me.

 

[Luke Duke]

BP

Grew up hunting with Black Powder muzzle loaders . My Dad was an avid ML BP guy. Went to all the ML shoots when I was a kid. Old school Thompson Center inlines are awesome . But I dont feel like sabots and all this new stuff is worth a darn. Keep it old school as much as possible. I shoot a LEE REAL bullet in my inline .50 on top of 80 gr 2F . 100yards no problem. My side locks get fed with RB's and patch. ML should be left like it was.
My Dad was a.58 guy , he could reach way out there when we were just messing around and having fun. Grew up in dark timber and never got a shot over 100 yards. That .58 Springfield replica was an impressive Killer? Elk never moved a foot when that 525 grain Minnie sunk home

 

[Igiveup]

I have a .36 cal. muzzle loader I have not shot, yet. In Oregon, I believe cross bows are not allowed and in-line muzzle loaders are not allowed. Must be the traditional flint lock or percussion cap type rifles. Will try to see you in Reno a couple weeks from now, Nevada Ed.

 

[Baxter6551]

My .50 cal T/C white mountain carbine shoots patched round balls much better than any of the sabot bullets.

 

[Luke Duke]

I have a .36 cal. muzzle loader I have not shot, yet. In Oregon, I believe cross bows are not allowed and in-line muzzle loaders are not allowed. Must be the traditional flint lock or percussion cap type rifles. Will try to see you in Reno a couple weeks from now, Nevada Ed.

Sweet ! A .36 what make is it? Had a Cherokee T/C .36 that was so much fun to shoot. Foolishly let it go when I was a kid (22 year old) kid

 

[Luke Duke]

I have a .36 cal. muzzle loader I have not shot, yet. In Oregon, I believe cross bows are not allowed and in-line muzzle loaders are not allowed. Must be the traditional flint lock or percussion cap type rifles. Will try to see you in Reno a couple weeks from now, Nevada Ed.

Sweet ! A .36 what make is it? Had a Cherokee T/C .36 that was so much fun to shoot. Foolishly let it go when I was a kid (22 year old) kid

 

[Newtire]

I recall differently. I don't know why Fish & Game would care about getting people to use traditional weapons. Certainly the bows they use these days aren't anything resembling something historical.

I thought it was because due to the limited range of most black powder guns, and bows, having a separate season allowed hunters choosing those weapons to hunt at a time when there was much less hunting pressure which increases their chances of being successful.

But yeah, some guys are going to come along and figure out a way to improve the performance. They could outlaw sabots if it's a problem.

They pretty much do outlaw most things like sabots, sealed ignition, magnifying scopes in Idaho.