What is the Fascination with Muzzleloaders?

fivepointstar · Jan 2, 2015

I have absolutely ZERO experience when it comes to muzzleloaders!! For my education, please help me understand the fascination with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ApnRX_g5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l4alj6RRkM

Seems like a lot of work to me but perhaps that's what's so enjoyable

Is it expensive to get started and going?

TIA!!

AntiGun · Jan 2, 2015

Half the fun is the ability to tweak loads on the spot. No reloading bench required.

Smoke!

Yes it's more work to clean up but not too bad.

Smoke!

You connect with history and gain an appreciation for how firearms were handled for hundreds of years prior to cartridges.

Did I mention smoke?

Get started for ~$300, maybe even less.

Melnic · Jan 2, 2015

Muzzle loaders were old school when old school was still new school

Get a sidelock shooting consistently and reliably and you have accomplished something

iH8DemLibz · Jan 2, 2015

You develop a true appreciation for what soldiers and hunters had to contend with before the advent of black plastic and anodized aluminum.

SMOKE!

You can choose between percussion and caps and flintlock and flint and ball and bullet and patches and lube and etc...

SMOKE!

After shooting with real black powder, you get to clean your gun and make your house smell like rotten eggs for several days.

SMOKE!

And if hunting, a muzzle loader will shake hands with Mr. Murphy and fail the second you try to take the buck of a life time.

And of course, there's SMOKE!

PS: Real muzzle loaders are side locks and they have wood stocks.

Pale Ryder · Jan 2, 2015

There's something about the smell of sulfur.

iH8DemLibz · Jan 2, 2015

Pale Ryder said:
There's something about the smell of sulfur.

...in the morning.

jaybee · Jan 2, 2015

at one time, it was another week or two hunting

and the guns cost less - normally

Threeband · Jan 2, 2015

You appreciate each shot, instead of mindlessly blasting away.

The history and the technology, as well as the history OF the technology fascinated me since I was given The How and Why Wonder Book of Guns when I was about six years old.

But I haven't shot any of my muzzleloaders in several years.

shooting again · Jan 2, 2015

Cost less, yes. I have my grandfather's cap and ball rifle that was made by a local blacksmith. He bought it used for $.25. The thing weighs 14 pounds, in significant part due to the approx. 1" cylinder of lead in the stock used to partially balance the weight of the soft iron barrel. I still remember the excitement when, as a lad, I finally had enough strength to hold it up to my shoulder in a firing position.

fivepointstar · Jan 2, 2015

you guys are funny!!

maybe something I need to look into

Rifle or handgun??

AntiGun · Jan 2, 2015

fivepointstar said:
you guys are funny!!

maybe something I need to look into

Rifle or handgun??

Both.

j_h_smith · Jan 2, 2015

Not bragging but a few years ago, I shot a small doe quartering away from me at a gallop with open sights. Yeah I know, my name is Daniel Boone. But my point is that these BP rifles of today are VERY accurate. If you do your part, they are more than capable of holding up their end. I really enjoy my time in the woods with my BP rifle.

Jim Smith

Mooseman · Jan 2, 2015

I love shooting muzzleloaders. I hate cleaning muzzleloaders.

PJDiesel · Jan 2, 2015

Loading from the muzzle I presume? :shrug:

outrider58 · Jan 2, 2015

they're just damned fun to shoot!

rseymorejr · Jan 2, 2015

There are 2 cap and ball revolvers in the classifieds right now!

iH8DemLibz · Jan 2, 2015

fivepointstar said:
you guys are funny!!

maybe something I need to look into

Rifle or handgun??

Rifle or musket will provide you with the most fun and are a lot less prone to having the problems MANY of the cheap cap-n-ball revolvers have.

If you want a good handgun, get an old Ruger Army or an Uberti.

The internal mechanisms on Piettas suck due to poor craftsmanship, ill fitting parts, and bad heat treating.

That's why they're only 160 bucks at Cabela's.

BlackBart · Jan 2, 2015

BP Revolvers are muzzleloaders........... BIG BOOM and lots of fun. :thumbsup:

This one mirrors 357 ballistics. You get up this way Id be happy to let you shoot it. We ALL know Clint doesn't pussyfoot around!

Threeband · Jan 2, 2015

The deep BOOM!

The smell!

The Smoke!

The smelly fouling on your hands!

Did I mention the deep BOOM! ?

Try a Minie Ball rifle. No putzing around with patches and such. Rapid fire.

A Zouave, or an Twoband Enfield.

Or if you think you can handle it... a Threeband.

iH8DemLibz · Jan 2, 2015

Never had a Walker, but I love my Uberti Dragoon.

The magnum of its day.

What is the Fascination with Muzzleloaders?

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