[MrTouchdown]

I am a complete black powder noob, how can I get started learning about these ancient handcannons?

[Carbine]

I learned a lot about muzzeloaders from this site:

http://hunting.about.com/od/blackpowder/Muzzleloader_and_Black_Powder_Information.htm

[rickrem700]

READ everything on muzzle loading you can get your hand's on, and make sure you have somebody that know's what they are doing guide you through the steps and make sure your loads are suitable for what ever you are shooting, it can be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing!!!
you have to use the right powder for the right cal, for instance if you were to purchase smokless pistol powder and fire it in a muzzle loader you are more than likly going to blow your face off, there are alot of dismembered and dead people out there that just did not do the math, muzzle loading is a great shooting sport, just take the time to leard, you don't get any second chances and I'm sorry dos'nt fix anything!!! Good luck, and enjoy!

[PRM]

We all started somewhere. You can get a lot of good/and bad information if your not careful. Find a local group of black powder shooters and ask questions. I bought my first muzzle loader (30+ years ago) from a well known vendor. I walked right in and said I wanted a Tennessee Rifle and everything it takes to shoot it. After about an hour I walked out with paper sacks full of stuff I never used. Did they see me coming. You can buy all the bells and whistles or you can make a lot of the stuff you need like the frontiersmen did. Casting balls is a neat experience and in a lot of cases (larger calibres) can be a substantial savings. You can buy high tech lubed patches or just get some pillow ticking and some pure unsalted lard and have the same end result. Ask questions and filter your feedback. Part of the fun with this sport is its simplicity. Most shooters are more than glad to share what they have learned.

Keep your powder dry!

I do use "Wonder Wads" with my revolvers. The proper size wad between the powder and ball takes the place of putting grease or crisco over the ball. Cuts down on a lot of mess in hot weather.

[BlueXJ]

I like the original poster am a noob to black powder but only the pistols. I have a couple of black powder rifles and shoot them quite well. I use the pre-measured pellets instead of granulated powder. My question is does anyone make the pre-measured pellets for pistols? I am thinking of purchaseing a pistol and the starter kit only has the granulated powder that is why I am asking.
I am comfortable with my long guns but am uncertain about the pistols.

[Unkown Soldier]

Boys start with rifles, stay the heck away from revolvers.

This si where the flatlanders should start.

Come on over to where the big boys hang out

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/index.php?

[7iron]

www.cva.com click videos and watch Williams and Shearer do a good job .

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by Unkown Soldier

Boys start with rifles, stay the heck away from revolvers.

This si where the flatlanders should start.

Come on over to where the big boys hang out

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/index.php?

Nothing wrong with starting out with pistols. I started with a 58 Remington at the ripe old age of 12. That forum has a lot of knowledgeable people and a lot of information but it's a big ol clique of older members and a lot of jerks. I don't go there anymore. Neither do a lot of other people.

[SlamFire]

Damn near impossible to "over load" a black powder gun. That's physics. But you need to learn how to clean them. Seen a lot of screwed up black powder guns because they didn't get cleaned. Revolvers get disassembled down to THE LAST SCREW, and washed, greased, reassembled.

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by SlamFire

Damn near impossible to "over load" a black powder gun. That's physics. But you need to learn how to clean them. Seen a lot of screwed up black powder guns because they didn't get cleaned. Revolvers get disassembled down to THE LAST SCREW, and washed, greased, reassembled.

You can overload a brass frame .44. It won't blow up but after awhile you'll see the imprint of the cylinder ratchet in the recoil shield. It's not necessary to clean one immediately after shooting. You can wait a day or two with no problems. Just don't go a month without cleaning. It's also not necessary to tear one completely down to clean. I only tear mine completely down maybe once a year if I think about it. The actions do get a good dunking in hot soapy water tho.