[saviorslegacy]

Are black powder rifles and pistols fun to shoot?
I have never had the pleasure of firing one.

Also, how much does a decent one cost? Do the newer reproductions shoot accurately? Can you get ammo for them (the little paper cylinders with the pre-measured amount of charge and the bullet).

[c3shooter]

I guess I am a cheap date- I enjoy just about anything involving guns, including my charcoal burners.

Every hunter seems to be determined to have a bolt action breech capping in line 209 primer rifle- as a result, there are some bargains on traditional cap lock rifles, like the Thompson/ Centers. Have seen some nice ones for $200 or less.

Accuracy? As good as you are. Due to lower velocity, the trajectory is a prounced curve (think rainbow) so at long range, accracy depends on range estimating ability.

You can buy Pyrodex pellets- I use JOB double wider cigarette rolling papers to make my own combustible cartridges with REAL black powder- and cast my own 50 cal maxi balls.

Nice thing about muzzle loaders? As far as the Feds are concerned, they are NOT firearms. No 4473, no FFL, and the mailman can bring it to your door.

[skullcrusher]

I use an inline rifle for hunting during muzzleloader season. I have a couple of the reproduction cap and ball revolvers. While the modern inline rifle is extremely accurate the revolvers are fairly accurate with the balls. I enjoy shooting them. Powder, caps, primers and ammo is easy to find at most sporting goods stores. I have not seen the paper cartridges. C3 seems to have the answer for that.

[jpattersonnh]

I had a .50 caliber Hawkins that I sold last year. Very accurate rifle even w/ primitive sights. I liked shooting patched round ball. I still have an 1858 New Army repro that is a blast to shoot.

[saviorslegacy]

Originally Posted by c3shooter

I guess I am a cheap date- I enjoy just about anything involving guns, including my charcoal burners.

Every hunter seems to be determined to have a bolt action breech capping in line 209 primer rifle- as a result, there are some bargains on traditional cap lock rifles, like the Thompson/ Centers. Have seen some nice ones for $200 or less.

Accuracy? As good as you are. Due to lower velocity, the trajectory is a prounced curve (think rainbow) so at long range, accracy depends on range estimating ability.

You can buy Pyrodex pellets- I use JOB double wider cigarette rolling papers to make my own combustible cartridges with REAL black powder- and cast my own 50 cal maxi balls.

Nice thing about muzzle loaders? As far as the Feds are concerned, they are NOT firearms. No 4473, no FFL, and the mailman can bring it to your door.

Out of curiosity, how do you make your balls?
I know how the British made them around the American Revolution (dropping metal off of a tower so that it makes a perfect ball and then letting it land into a pool of water so that it stays that way), but rather than that I am greener than a weed.

[Highpower]

Melt & pour. Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.

[TXnorton]

Shooting Black Powder is the most fun kind of shooting that I do.

Can it be expensive? - sure as can any venture.

You can find inexpensive ways to get started. My introduction to BP was through a BP cap and ball revolver, then I moved to BP cartridges for both pistols and rifles (I was already a re-loader), then to a percussion rifle and ultimately to a flintlock rifle. My last BP acquisition is the civil war era (replica) paper cartridge Robinson Sharps carbine. Oh, and a single shot dueling pistol (percussion cap) along the way. Now I need a flintlock pistol.

I have to say though, and intending NO OFFENSE to anyone else here, but I do not understand the modern version of the muzzleloaders. I really enjoy the (reproduction versions of) original style BP rifles and pistols of the by-gone eras. There are some challenges, but they are a hoot to own and shoot.

[spittinfire]

I've been thinking about one for a year or two now but haven't purchased anything yet. I've shot a few and it was always fun, just a lot of cleaning afterwards.

[orangello]

Traditions Performance Firearms
Revolver for $150. Check out the closeouts in the "special offers" link at the upper right of the website. They had at least one rifle for about $200, if you are lookin to stretch your deer season a bit.

[c3shooter]

Re: Casting bullets- the "pour molten lead from a great height into water" technique is used for making shotgun shot. for lead balls- or the cylindrical bullets I make, you melt lead in a melting pot, scoop it up in a dipper, and pour into a bullet mold. A muzzle loader uses PURE, butter soft lead. I also cast bullets for .357 and 9mm, using wheelweights as my basic metal.

Not a difficult process, saves a buncha money for reloaders, quite safe as long as you follow the 3 rules- read the book first, follow the directions, and do not try to mooch my source of wheelweights (3 local tire shops swap me a bucket of weights for a 6 pack of Miller) Find a copy of the Cast Bullet Handbook.

PS- I scored 150 lbs of pure lead foil at a govt surplus auction a few years back- for 50 cents. Have enuff to feed my muzzleloaders until I am 99. Will have to get more then.