What is the Fascination with Muzzleloaders?

honda53s · Jan 2, 2015

I guess the smoke part is cool... I just don't have the patience to deal with it, haha.

kenpo333 · Jan 2, 2015

AntiGun said:
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.

You forgot grease. it can get in places I won't talk about. It is just a dirty way to shoot firearms. Now that I've said that. I did enjoy the experience of learning what people had to go through in the beginning of firearms training. I then bought a savage muzzle loader that was much more civilized. Even became a NRA muzzle loading instructor but I usually only teach that class upon request. Still fun to go deer hunting with a muzzle loader. You want to knock it down on the first shot.

outrider58 · Jan 2, 2015

The recoil (rifle) is so different, too. Instead of a jab in the shoulder, it's more like a nudge. A totally different feel.

Kagetsu · Jan 2, 2015

The living history is a fun way to spend a weekend. French & Indian era rendezvous were something I'd have liked to have gotten involved with.

BlackBart · Jan 3, 2015

iH8DemLibz said:
Never had a Walker, but I love my Uberti Dragoon.

The magnum of its day.

View attachment 140498

It would be interesting............. yours maxed out and mine maxed out on a chronograph. 60 gr vs what...50 or 55 and a 9 in barrel vs a 7 1/2? Same powder and bullets. Hmmmmmm :cool:

Boats · Jan 3, 2015

The smoke is nice, as is the fireball.

NFA does not apply (such as the LeMat revolver, a NINE shot .44 revolver with a 20 ga shotgun as the center pin. Shotgun barrel is about 6" long)

You can get them mail order. No FFL

MikeTF · Jan 3, 2015

Perfect for home defense: shock and awe. It creates an instant smoke screen allowing for a ninja like retreat.

All joking aside, I like my muzzle loader for hunting and the occasional target practice with it. It is a modern muzzle loader and it is very accurate. It has harvested several deer.

Inigoes · Jan 3, 2015

Muzzleloaders give you accuracy beyond shotgun distances for hunting, when rifles are not an option.

100 to 200 yard shots are the norm.

The smoke is like a present. You have to wait for the smoke to clear, to see the effectiveness of your preparation and skills.

AntiGun · Jan 3, 2015

Boats said:
The smoke is nice, as is the fireball.
...
NFA does not apply (such as the LeMat revolver, a NINE shot .44 revolver with a 20 ga shotgun as the center pin. Shotgun barrel is about 6" long)
...
You can get them mail order. No FFL

Yep. No NFA.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Pedersoli-Howdah-Hunter-Ga-Pistol/740261.uts
Straight to your door.

j_h_smith · Jan 3, 2015

I don't believe it's necessarily a fascination but just another extension of one's shooting experience. I would prefer to shoot my modern day firearms, but I also like my BP rifles and pistols. For me, it's another outlet for my shooting hobby.

Jim Smith

Johnthetoolguy · Jan 3, 2015

I got hooked on BP when I got involved in CW reenacting when I was still in high school. That lead to joining the Muzzle loading club at AGC. I sort of got away from shooting them to just 'collecting' BP stuff. I started a collection of second generation Colts. I sold some of them a few years later. BIG mistake. I still have some of them though. Below are a few things I still own.

Colt 2nd generation 1860 Army Butterfield Commemorative (1 of 500)
Colt 2nd generation 1862 Pocket Police
1849 Wells Fargo repro
1861 Navy repro
Smith Carbine (one of 500 made as a repro by a guy named Yeck, before anyone else made reproductions of the Smith)
Pietta 1858 New Army Remington
Colt 2nd generation 1860 Army
Colt 2nd generation 3rd Dragoon
Sharps reproduction

llkoolkeg · Jan 3, 2015

They extend your hunting season and they are just plain COOL.

Bafflingbs · Jan 3, 2015

I've got a brass .44 black powder revolver, which has never been shot. $275 display gun. I'll probably never shoot the damn thing. No interest.

Pale Ryder · Jan 3, 2015

iH8DemLibz said:
...in the morning.

Kinda like sex, morning is as fine as any time.

I have to agree with Moose, love shooting ML, but not the cleaning.

Maybe it's the reason I moved from revolvers too. Clean one hole instead of 7.

outrider58 · Jan 3, 2015

Modern muz loaders are definitely easier to clean. With Tripple 7, I don't even use soap. Just water unless it's really fouled up(range trip).

Mike OTDP · Jan 3, 2015

I grew up shooting BP, so it's normal. I keep shooting because I'm good at it...and I like competition. Not to mention the intimidation factor when the people shooting suppository guns realize I'm shooting a group half the size they ever could - at twice the distance (easy these days, I'm afraid)

Besides, the guns have personality. Especially once you get into duelling pistols.

Blacksmith101 · Jan 3, 2015

Helps connect with history, the shot heard around the world was from a flintlock muzzle loader.

Makes you understand things like: Flash in the pan, straight as a ramrod, the fog of war, and lock stock and barrel.

Not everyone does it. You will see people looking on in wonder and admiration, unless they are down wind.

No HQL, FFL, NICS etc.

When the SHTF you can make your own powder.

Did I mention the boom and smoke. :clap:

I got percussion cap and flint lock in both rifle and pistol now thinking about making a matchlock just because.

Blacksmith101 · Jan 3, 2015

Here are some links for you to wet your appetite .

You are within driving distance of one of the famous Muzzle loading activities. The Gunmakers’ Fair at Dixons will be July 24, 25,& 26, 2015
http://www.dixonmuzzleloading.com/33rd-annual-gunmakers-fair-dixons-will-july-24-25-26-2015/

Here are a couple of sites with catalogs you can drool over:
Track of the Wolf.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Category.aspx/485

Dixie Gun Works.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=22_162

The national associations:
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Assoc.
http://nmlra.org/

The North-South Skirmish Assoc.
http://www.n-ssa.org/index.php

fivepointstar · Jan 4, 2015

Johnthetoolguy said:
I got hooked on BP when I got involved in CW reenacting when I was still in high school. That lead to joining the Muzzle loading club at AGC. I sort of got away from shooting them to just 'collecting' BP stuff. I started a collection of second generation Colts. I sold some of them a few years later. BIG mistake. I still have some of them though. Below are a few things I still own.

Colt 2nd generation 1860 Army Butterfield Commemorative (1 of 500)
Colt 2nd generation 1862 Pocket Police
1849 Wells Fargo repro
1861 Navy repro
Smith Carbine (one of 500 made as a repro by a guy named Yeck, before anyone else made reproductions of the Smith)
Pietta 1858 New Army Remington
Colt 2nd generation 1860 Army
Colt 2nd generation 3rd Dragoon
Sharps reproduction

nice collection!!!

rico903 · Jan 4, 2015

fivepointstar said:
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!!

Too much freaking work for me.

What is the Fascination with Muzzleloaders?

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Eats Bacon Raw

Active Member

Banned

Broken Member

Ultimate Member

Head'n for the hills

.

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Attachments

Hairy Flaccid Member

Gozer the Destroyer

Ultimate Member

Eats Bacon Raw

Ultimate Member

Grumpy Old Man

Grumpy Old Man

Thank you MD-Goodbye

Ultimate Member

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics