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Why Black Powder? Muzzleloaders?

Slow_Hand
I'm relatively new to the world of guns and I am quite surprised at the enthusiasm and the number of black powder and muzzleloader shooters. Every large retail hunting store has a big section devoted to it. I understand the basic premise and also that muzzleloaders are not regulated or restricted like regular rifles and handguns.

Can you tell me what makes this type of weapon and operating process so popular with shooters as it seems like it's an awful lot of work and requires various paraphernalia?

And, is a bullet fired from a black powder weapon nearly as potent as a self-contained round? Say for hunting game?

I'd appreciate an education here if you would be so kind.

Thanks![:)]
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Comments

21 comments

Date Votes
  • MVP
    I hunt with a muzzle loader during Elk season because the season is longer and at a better part of the year. I use modern type muzzle loading equipment so I am not the purist/traditionalist type and only use a muzzleloader for the hunting season benifits.

    I know some guys who are the mountain man types and go to the rendevouze where they dress up in the old time outfits and sleep in a teepee.
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  • gskyhawk
    i'm some what like MVP as i use a modern T/C Omega 50 cal inline , our muzzle loader season comes right after our 9 day gun deer season , so by hunting then there are very few hunters in the woods , much safer that way , less chance of getting shot by some ahole that doesn't attention to where their bullet is going , plus its fun :)
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  • sheepdip
    I don't hunt much any more but do a lot of paper punching.
    I do like to hit the 10 ring.
    Black Powder just seems more of a fun thing, and I can still take out the 10 ring.
    Yes it can be as potent.

    R1-14-c.jpg
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  • Highball
    Nostalga plays a huge role, I think...almost like a call to the past.

    Killing power ? They wiped out the buffalo with those weapons...a 4 or 500 grain chunk of lead loping along at 1300 fps can do terrible damage...and the newer methods of saboting makes a fairly flat-shooting projectile.

    Learn the trajectory, and 1500 yard shots have been recorded....there are regular 1000 yard shoots using black powder in various rifles....
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  • Kodiakk
    quote: I know some guys who are the mountain man types and go to the rendevouze where they dress up in the old time outfits and sleep in a teepee.

    I'd love to get into that stuff. Learn alot of cool skills that otherwise you wouldn't learn. http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/amm/moreamm.html
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  • Cubslover
    I've asked myself the same question sometimes.
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  • Sperry
    I'd like to pick up a couple of cased dueling pistols, and learn the practice.
    I'm reading the Jack Aubrey series, and that's what they used in the 1800s.

    Just like I learned how to reload, it is another part of my education.
    Besides, you never know when it might be a valuable skill, the way the gub'mnt is headed.
    That, casting ball, and making gunpowder.
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  • spurgemastur
    quote:Originally posted by sheepdip
    I don't hunt much any more but do a lot of paper punching.
    I do like to hit the 10 ring.
    Black Powder just seems more of a fun thing, and I can still take out the 10 ring.
    Yes it can be as potent.

    R1-14-c.jpg





    Nice picture!
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  • allen griggs
    "seems like it's an awful lot of work and requires various paraphernalia?"

    It is, and it does. The only reason that Bass Pro Shop has such a huge muzzleloading section is that there are special seasons for muzzleloading. If you get one of these guns, you get to hit the woods before the regular firearms season, which is a huge advantage.
    If you took away the special muzzleloading seasons, big companies which only make inline muzzleloaders, such as Knight, would cease to exist.
    You would see little or no muzzleloaders at Bass Pro Shop.
    I killed over 40 deer with a 30-06. I now use a Savage inline muzzleloader. The Savage kills them better than the 30-06 does. I have also killed lots of deer with an old-style Hawken using patched round ball, and it is also a very effective deer killer.
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  • Permanently deleted user
    Not sure about anyone else, but I grew up around blackpowder shooting and hunting. My PaPa was an old ridge-runner, trapper and hunter. He and his clan shot muzzleloaders for fun, sport and competition. Heck, he even built a half dozen of them. I have 2 of those.

    I started shooting them and hunting with them at an early age. I was a purist, or traditionalist until recently, generally hunting with flintlock, but sometimes with standard percussion. I have taken a number of whitetails, mulies and elk with muzzleloaders.

    I still like the idea of a single shot, it adds challenge. As a young man, there was a certain amount of nostalgia and "romance" involved in doing it like our forefathers.[;)]
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  • gskyhawk
    If you get one of these guns, you get to hit the woods before the regular firearms season, which is a huge advantage.

    all depends on your state , here in WI our black powder season comes right after our 9 day gun season , , the last day for our regular gun season is the sunday after thanksgiving , black powder starts the next day, monday morning at sunrise and if you want to hunt during it you have to have a UNUSED tag from the regular gun season
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  • strokn47265
    Here in Indiana, firearms season is about 2 1/2 weeks long( pistol, shotgun, blackpowder). But after firearms goes out, muzzleloading season comes in. So i get the benefit of hunting with a muzzleloader, for say 5 almost 6 weeks with the same weapon- muzzleloader. Mine is a CVA Optima Pro, nickel/mossy. Also when i just want to plink with it a the range, being a muzzleloader it will slow you down more, make you pay more attention to details, cleaning, bullett size, powder size, etc... I also found out its a good conversation piece at the range, especially when other blackpowder enthusiasts are there.
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  • elkoholic
    Here in CO the muzzleloader season is right on the peak of the rut. If you want a big bull shoot black powder.
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  • chappsyny
    Hunters like them, but there's an equally large secondary market since even a felon can own a muzzle loader (in most states) since they aren't considered a firearm. They can also be purchased without any sort of background check from an FFL.

    DISCLAIMER: I am not casting aspersions or insinuations towards anyone on the forum, it's just an observation from my time selling guns.
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  • Slow_Hand
    Are the cap 'n' ball pistols/revolvers very accurate to say 25' or 30', considering that they fire a round lead ball and that each load is somewhat different from the last or the next? Or is the accuracy more generalized as within an area the size of a paper plate?
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  • Warpig883
    quote:it seems like it's an awful lot of work and requires various paraphernalia?


    That is reason enough for many.
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  • oldemagics
    quote:Originally posted by Slow_Hand
    Are the cap 'n' ball pistols/revolvers very accurate to say 25' or 30', considering that they fire a round lead ball and that each load is somewhat different from the last or the next? Or is the accuracy more generalized as within an area the size of a paper plate?

    i have a navy cap and ball in .44 that is as accurate as my 9mm at 75'
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  • MVP
    quote:Originally posted by Kodiakk
    quote: I know some guys who are the mountain man types and go to the rendevouze where they dress up in the old time outfits and sleep in a teepee.

    I'd love to get into that stuff. Learn alot of cool skills that otherwise you wouldn't learn. http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/amm/moreamm.html


    Our gun range turns into a mountain man city every Memorial Day Weekend.
    All the ranges are closed, except one for black powder competitions, and they set up camp up and down the other ranges like a trading camp. You could go to one of these and everything needed can be bought right at this rendevouze.
    I liked the Axe throwing contests. Those are fun.
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  • SXSMAN
    Mvc-813f.jpg



    [:)]
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  • Blade Slinger
    In western New York you can carry a smoke pole with the capabilities of a rifle during shotgun season.This takes the 100 yd shotgun and puts it in the back seat by a huge margin, like 250-300 yds at 2800 ft per second wacking power.Oh yea! you cant use a 410 dear slug, its to much like a rifle, what bull shut.[}:)]
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  • earlwellman
    I got one for PA flintlock season, Dec 26 til after New Year. It gives a last chance at any big buck that may be left. Also allows for some whitetail hunting while home on leave for Christmas. [:D]
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