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So I'm new to black powder and have always wanted a flintlock to play with on the range.
There's just something so appealing of it for me. At this stage I'm not really thinking of hunting, just plinking and that's why I'm thinking of a 32 cal or 45.
(I pretty much bow hunt only except for maybe once a year taking one of my Win 94's for a walk)
I guess I'm just looking for some thoughts from people who likely have forgotten more on the topic than I'll ever know.
Yer powder will go a lot farther with a .32 but you may find it hard to find a .30 cal. ball mold. I have had a .36 for several years and have yet to fire it. Part reason I guess is I'm still having fun with my .50 and .54.........................Daniel
45 round balls can be easily found, 32 round balls are going to be tougher to find.
If you want to cast your own and an odd gun then try to find a 32, I think they are cool too, but 45 is a lot more popular.
Once you get the blackpowder bug....you will want to hunt with it. That being said, you are much better to buy a .54 or .50 cal. Balls, sabots, brushes , patches etc. are much easier to buy. You will trouble finding this stuff for .32 or .45.....I know because I have both and .32 and .45 and had to order from the US . I have shot a number of deer with my .54 flintlock using round balls....it kills a deer easily within 75 yards. 50 to 60 grains of powder are good for plinking....80 - 95 grains for hunting. For a flintlock you need to use real black powder. Good flints are hard to find in Ontario....so again I order from the US. Go on-line to Track of the Wolf.
54 is not easy to find in Ontario either.Quote:
Originally Posted by hollywood
I just got into smoke poles, love it, but 50 cal seems to be the only one that is "normal" in Ontario and round balls and conicals are not the norm either, sabots are pretty much all you can find in normal hunting stores.
Trust me Fox........there is nothing "normal" once you get into flintlocks.:silly::thumbup:....................Dan ielQuote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Jeff good to hear you have an interest in Black Powder. I've been hooked for about 20 yrs and have pretty much forsaken my center fires. The Dec ML hunt is by far the best, more rewarding hunt I experience. Something about 'making smoke' on a cold Dec morning stirs the primal part of the human psyche.
There is a fella in Maitland Ont that make sells ball/conicals in all caliburs and he's fairly cheap. Just talking with him this morning and he's now only doing Black powder stuff so I'm a happy guy. Anyway, bullets aren't really an issue. I plink and hunt with .45, .50 and .58 ML's and he has provided me ball and conicals for all of them.
As far a Flinters go... you'll primarily be shooting Goex 2f or 3f Black Powder. I little harder to find but most places that sell powder can get it for you. It is not only fun to shoot but you get to lovingly rub and clean your entire gun after :)
You might consider going with a Percussion Cap (#11) to start with. A little easier for the beginner, they can shoot substitute BP powders (Pyrodex, T7 etc) and can still get the full 'Black Powder' experience, except for that unnerving explosion 2" from your eye that you get with a flinter :)
Pursue it if you can...you won't regret it !!
Thanks. I have a lot to learn and am looking forward to it all.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Never saw rick with 32 cal though :DQuote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Oh God, I know, I am learning a lot about it just by touching the surface.Quote:
Originally Posted by boogaloo
Since I was able to get out and shoot my Kentucky rifle I am so excited for the controlled hunt in December, I am leaving the shotgun at home, will be the 50 cal round ball only, no going to participate in the drives just sit on a runway hoping to catch one 50 yards or closer.
What I meant by "normal" was that by far the large majority shoots 50 cal, pulling numbers out of the sky but probably close to 95% and of those now most are sabot shooters. I remember getting the Cabelas catalog when I was a kid, the one from the states. It had about 50 different bullet types in 45-58 and all conicals, not everything seems to be 50cal and sabot. The good part about it is this crazy internet thing, ha ha, you can find tons of different options but mainly you need to get them shipped and since we do not produce much in this country most has to be imported.
He used to sell cast:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
But he hasn't updated the web page to reflect if he is selling them swagged now, I was pretty sure I saw them there on Sunday (Dave and I went back).Quote:
CAST BLACK POWDER ROUND BALL AND MINIES Round Ball -.312 $.15c each
edit add: I e-mailed Rick,
Reply:Quote:
Mike; Yes, I have .312RB- $12.00 per 100 in box.
Let's not forget Precision Rifle Bullets out of Anola, Manitoba. Some of the best ML bullets made and proudly Canadian !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
https://www.prbullet.com
Shipped through the states, ha ha ha.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
No, he ships to your Canadian door, if you pay the shipping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
You can get FREE shipping, during on the annual 'on-line' Dec sale if you ship to the states. But..if you call in your order, he has in the past , given the FREE shipping bonus to your Canadian address. He's pretty good when you get him on the phone.
One year he charged my VISA the US price in $$ Canadian..and gave me free shipping to my door. Great Deal !!!
Ya, I know.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Happy with the stuff I have shot so far, need to work up a "load" for that duplex with the 180gr XTP but the look of it smacking that empty propane tank at 100 yards my wife should be good to go on deer.
Fox, all I shoot now is PRB. I tried sabots in my TC Hawken some years ago and after that I could not get it to shoot anything with accuracy. Seems like the plastic sabots messed up the rifling and I could never get it cleaned out. Sold the gun and moved on..........DanielQuote:
Originally Posted by Fox
I found the opposite Daniel....I couldn't get a satisfactory grouping with my .45 Kentucky using a cloth patch, so I picked up some plastic Poly Patches They work great and give me a much better consistency. I use an bore light before/after I clean and haven't seen any plastic residue.
see: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...ght=Poly+Patch
What was the twist on that Hawken? I had a friend with one that had a 1 in 32 twist I think, not a conical twist and not a sabot twist, he did well with the great plains bullets but sabots were crap.Quote:
Originally Posted by boogaloo
Mine are twisted for what round ball and sabot, 1 is 1 in 66 and 1 is 1 in 28, it would be interesting to try a conical in the 1 in 28 twist gun but it shot the 300gr 44 cal bullets and the 180gr 357 bullets in sabots right out of the box, have not built a load yet but no reason to think they will not be easy deer killers.
Using cloth patch material, is also a matter of trial and error.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
The right thickness of patch material must be found to get good groups, pillow ticking can be found in different thickness,s.
Then again, some muzzle loaders/BP are built with slow twists to shoot only patched balls and will not shoot saboted bullets accurately, to shoot saboted bullets accurately requires a faster twist.
This is not explained to most buyers by the sales personnel at the stores, why?? perhaps they are not as informed as they let the buyers to believe.
NOW you tell me..... ah well ... damage is done.Quote:
Originally Posted by boogaloo
The Traditions have alot of 1:48" rifling and if you want to shoot something specific you might want to look at others experience.
https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/d...1365523276.pdf
There are a couple of good/bad things about the old smokies....
1) the cleaning, hot water and a black powder solvent make like better.... but it still takes time and some really hate it.....
Pro:
- expected and OK if know that.
- some REALLY hate cleaning anyway..... the PRO part is for the buyer from said person .... IF you knew how much I paid for my perc. Kentucky crescent stocked 45 (almost long enough to be a Pennsylvania) and flint Hawken in 50 ..... well calling me those names would be impolite . :moose: The Hawken obviously hadn't been cleaned but a quick look with the camera showed nothing to worry about. ** See NOTE:
- alot to learn
Con
- the time it takes, don't rush, oil it well afterwards too!
2) the "CLICK" without the bang.... no need to say more....
3) the followup shot if needed, especially in a shotgun .... I had a double, missed 1 pheasant .... 6 more came up at half the distance.... :scream: no need to say more....
OK, for a new buyer,
- pick what you want, modern, traditional....
- purpose... squirrel or moose....
- pick a price range but if the "someday" firearm shows up for sale .... well your call
- where to look new .... maybe, just not me! A few starting places.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/
https://www.kijiji.ca/b-ontario/muzz...0l9004?dc=true ( I have a list of booked marked searches in a folder, I open a new browser, click open all tabs... blackpowder, flintlock, percussion cap, rifle...make good searches.
https://mewe.com/ alot there and some descent groups too
** NOTE:
Got an old phone? Here is an accessory that has come in real handy many times for me and I don't have to worry about the phone I use.. Less than $50 that could save you alot, help you work in a spot you can't see, find something that fell down a gap.... very handy! I was also thinking it might work for ice fishing but hadn't tried it yet and it may not work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEPQ_ZxbJ4Y