I wish I liked shooting Black Powder... but I don't.

[Cameramonkey]

View attachment 166850

You big tease....

 

[Trapper Jim]

 

[Levergun1]

My g-g-grandfather was a heck of a shot. He got one of those new fangeled percussion cap rifles after the family flintlock burned in a house fire. He wouldn't waste lead on a squirrel. He would whittle a hickory stick down to the correct size, point the end and then cut it off to make a projectile, use a light powder load and push the hickory plug 6-8 inches down the barrel. He wasn't known to miss, but they weren't head shots as the whole family back then loved to eat the brains. Now I will enjoy a fuzzy tailed tree rat with biscuits and gravy but I draw the line at sucking out the 'ol brain housing group...

I hope this is just a story passed down by the unknowing family.

Shoving anything 6-8 inches down the barrel of a black powder firearm and firing it is ignorance at it's best.

I barrel obstruction is a barrel obstruction. Now, with that being said, I highly doubt that this wooden projectile would have any merit to it, at all. Much too light of a projectile to have sufficient downrange energy. Nothing to engage the rifling, so it would have **** poor accuracy, at best.

Cool family, urban legend, though.

 

[Leadeye]

Real old timers, Colt 1849s.

 

[tcecil88]

My Dad builds muzzleloaders. That's what he likes, but I like my In-Lines. Much easier and alot less mess. I have been messing around with my Knight TK2000 and have a decent load built up for 35 yards. I have several other muzzleloaders from .32 caliber up to .58 caliber, but rarely shoot them.

 

[Leadeye]

I enjoy getting really old guns that don't work and getting them shooting again.

 

[jkholmes]

My big thing with Black Powder is its just a fun traditional hunting rifle. I've got one, but I believe I'm going to end up getting rid of it and get a kit to build my own long rifle. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Lumpy76]

I hated it too! Way to much work and talk about filthy! Can't even see if you hit the target until all the lead smoke clears.

My uncle gave me a revolver and a rifle. I ended up sawing the barrels off them and into the trash-ola they went. Never again!

Ahhhhhhhh! Why on earth would you do that??

 

[tribeofham]

I enjoy getting really old guns that don't work and getting them shooting again. View attachment 168246

Ah neat! A double action Starr revolver! I have the single action variant. I've never shot it but someday I hope to take it out.

 

[Winamac]

I enjoy shooting black powder. I just really hate the clean up afterwards.

 

[Mongo59]

I hope this is just a story passed down by the unknowing family.

Shoving anything 6-8 inches down the barrel of a black powder firearm and firing it is ignorance at it's best.

I barrel obstruction is a barrel obstruction. Now, with that being said, I highly doubt that this wooden projectile would have any merit to it, at all. Much too light of a projectile to have sufficient downrange energy. Nothing to engage the rifling, so it would have **** poor accuracy, at best.

Cool family, urban legend, though.

In the early 1900's people did what they had to for survival. The stores, what stores they had, were not what we think of today.

The barrels on these guns were as big as a truck axle with the idea that after the lands rotted out you would go to the next higher caliber. They were a tool, plain and simple.

A man feeding a large extended family that did not have to expend a limited resource, like lead, just wouldn't do it despite what people 100 years later have determined as 'bad'.

I am not advocating people emulate his action other than the desire to become as good a marksmen as he was. I am here as proof that he was able to provide for his family and I assure you that I am not an urban legend.

When you feel your desire for what you think to be 'truth' should trump what is fact, then it is better to remain silent and be thought a wise man...

 

[Hookeye]

Im no longer a fan of BP.

Too much hassle, yes, even w an inline with removable breechplug.

But w folks screwing up next door, its been an uneventful season so had to drag the clunker out this morning.

Didnt see diddly

 

[Mongo59]

Im no longer a fan of BP.

Too much hassle, yes, even w an inline with removable breechplug.

But w folks screwing up next door, its been an uneventful season so had to drag the clunker out this morning.

Didnt see diddly

View attachment 170293

I don't know 'diddly' but I can easily find his travelling companion, s**t!

 

[MrSmitty]

I'm sitting here next to my .45 cal. BP pistol, that has needed cleaning for a month...I know it needs cleaned, just keep putting it off....I must be a horrible person......
On the other hand I love the process of pouring the powder, patching the ball, and cutting the patch, ramming it home ( not meant to be as dirty as it sounded), and shooting...oddly I like the sulphur smell, and the clouds of smoke....Glock22 that is a sweet rifle!!

 

[EMT-Alex]

I tried it a few times but, I just didn't enjoy it. Too messy for one thing, and when I go shooting I want to shoot. I don't want to fiddle around with the powder, and patches etc. However, I enjoy watching those who shoot black powder, but it just didn't get into it.

It’s like shooting a mosin nagant with a tin of corrosive ammo. It’s a huge pain to tear everything down after a shoot, especially if there was a long drive involved.

I could never stick with it.

 

[PlaysInTheDirt]

I don't care for the clean up, either the rifles or the guest bathtub, but it's as much of the process as the slow loading/shooting is. I really enjoy the opportunity to spend some time with my Dad at the family 'range' when we shoot them. Might only be 20 slow shots or so but we get some good talks in.
I have these two...a CVA Frontier .50 kit from my in-laws and a CVA Squirrel .32. I found it in a local antique shop, loaded of course!

 

[randyb]

Howdy K.F., Welcome to INGO!

I reload BP in .45 Colt and .44-40 cartridges. It's as easy as reloading with smokeless. I love to shoot as well, and typically shoot > 100 rounds per day of each. And cleanup is just as easy, hot water is all you need - you just HAVE to do it after shooting.

I've also been known to reload .45 ACP with BP. NOTHING gets more attention than firing off a mag full of BP through my 1911!

Good shootin'

I would enjoy seeing that!!!! Maybe post a video some time?

 

[KJK45]

Same here, its just too much extra involved. Although I do find it a tricky and somewhat controversial way for people defending themselves with those big Fs, thats kinda a good and bad thing imho.

 

[Vanderbilt]

....Trapdoor and SAA Colt. Both shot with BP. I also have three flinters, a .45 rifle hand built with the help of my neighbor the late "Jerry" Eder, a .62 cal Fowler that a friend could no longer shoot built by Bill Phipher and a custom modified Pedrosoli to represent a 1798 military musket. Rarely shoot my flinters these days. BP isn't for everyone.

 

[G192127]

I love shooting black powder it's more fun with friends with friends .before you leave the range you clean them up as you shoot the bull .it's all good