Hunting & Fishing Quick black powder rifle question.

[High Binder]

Hey guys, I've only ever shot a black-powder rifle a few times but I've wanted one for hunting for some time now. Anyway, I found one that looks lightly used but the hammer is on the left side of the rifle so I assume it's for a lefty which I am not. Does that pose any problems other than being slightly odd? It's a good-ish deal $150 and new they're $550..

The rifle in question is a Cabelas .54 caliber (pic below)

Any and all thoughts are welcome and appreciated! Are there any tricks to checking if it's loaded/unloaded?

 

[wfjames22]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

Are you getting into muzzleloader hunting to extend your season (why I do it) or are you getting into it for the idea of using "primitive" weapons and trying to use a more traditional weapon? The reason I ask is because if you are fairly new to muzzleloading weapons and lack lots of experience with them, there are many advantages to the newer designs.

As far as to know whether or not its loaded, you need to drop the ramrod into it and do some rough measuring to figure out if there is a powder charge/bullet in there.

I would do a lot of examination on a used muzzleloader that I was considering purchasing if you dont know the person and their cleaning habits. Its very easy to destroy a muzzleloader barrel if it's not been taken care of properly.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are you getting into muzzleloader hunting to extend your season (why I do it) or are you getting into it for the idea of using "primitive" weapons and trying to use a more traditional weapon? The reason I ask is because if you are fairly new to muzzleloading weapons and lack lots of experience with them, there are many advantages to the newer designs.

As far as to know whether or not its loaded, you need to drop the ramrod into it and do some rough measuring to figure out if there is a powder charge/bullet in there.

I would do a lot of examination on a used muzzleloader that I was considering purchasing if you dont know the person and their cleaning habits. Its very easy to destroy a muzzleloader barrel if it's not been taken care of properly. </div></div>

Oh damn. I was hoping the whole thing would be easy. The bore that I could see looked like it still had factory paint in the groves and the rifling had a super small amount of what looked like lead fouling. In the past I've had a blast shooting a rifle just like the one above so I figured I'd get one for the fun factor as well as opening up a long extra season, filling the gap between archery and rifle. I personally just like the look of these black powder rifles this style is the only type I've ever shot. I've peeked at a few modern ones but really I have no idea what I'm looking at. What is it that makes them superior to this old school design? What type of damage do you see from people abusing them?

 

[wfjames22]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

There shouldnt be any "factory paint" inside the barrel. I would say that you are seeing some sort of fouling. I would be wary if there looked to be lead fouling in the bore because this would make me think that he didnt clean it after the last shooting session. The main problem is rusting in the bore, because black powder fouling (and fouling from a lot of the substitutes) is extremely hygroscopic, so its bad juju to leave it in there. I HATE cleaning guns and I never used to shoot my muzzleloader without cleaning it as soon as I finished.

I asked about your reasoning for getting into muzzleloader hunting because I do it purely to extend my hunting season, while a lot of guys do it to use more traditional weapons. I use a Savage ML10 that I use smokeless powder in. THis solves the cleaning issue with blackpowder/substitutes and I also get almost twice the velocity that I used to with pyrodex. Therefore I get results that are closer to using a centerfire rifle, but it takes me longer to reload (duh) and I can use it during the muzzleloader seasons.

The modern ones (inlines) are far easier to clean because you can take the breech plug out and clean it similarly to cleaning a bolt action centerfire. I didnt shoot a traditional style muzzleloader for long, but since the breach is sealed I never felt like I was truely getting it clean when I cleaned it.

I have nothing against traditionalist guys shooting those old style guns as long as they dont talk shit to me about what I use. Like I said, I am just shooting a muzzleloader to get in more hunting time. If I could just use a centerfire rifle, I would. IMHO, if you are simply using it to extend the hunting season and have no real draw to the traditional guns, you are a lot better off to use a modern inline muzzleloader.

Tell me how much sense this makes, in MS you can use certain centerfire single shot rifles during their primitive weapons (their actual term) seasons, but they prohibit inline muzzleloaders using smokeless powder. WTF is up with that??

 

[High Binder]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There shouldnt be any "factory paint" inside the barrel. I would say that you are seeing some sort of fouling. I would be wary if there looked to be lead fouling in the bore because this would make me think that he didnt clean it after the last shooting session. The main problem is rusting in the bore, because black powder fouling (and fouling from a lot of the substitutes) is extremely hygroscopic, so its bad juju to leave it in there. I HATE cleaning guns and I never used to shoot my muzzleloader without cleaning it as soon as I finished. </div></div>

Maybe it wasn't paint, it was whatever the outside of the barrel is coated with and it didn't look like it had seen much action. Good info about the powder, I didn't even think about the potential rust that's worrisome. End open end of the bore was pretty clean looking other than what looked like very minor lead fouling.



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The modern ones (inlines) are far easier to clean because you can take the breech plug out and clean it similarly to cleaning a bolt action centerfire. I didnt shoot a traditional style muzzleloader for long, but since the breach is sealed I never felt like I was truely getting it clean when I cleaned it.</div></div>

That makes a lot of sense. When you used a traditional rifle did you use some sort of solvent? If so could you run into a situation where it would pool up and require drying prior to using again?


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tell me how much sense this makes, in MS you can use certain centerfire single shot rifles during their primitive weapons (their actual term) seasons, but they prohibit inline muzzleloaders using smokeless powder. WTF is up with that?? </div></div>

That's freaking retarded.

 

[wfjames22]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: High Binder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That makes a lot of sense. When you used a traditional rifle did you use some sort of solvent? If so could you run into a situation where it would pool up and require drying prior to using again? </div></div>

I am sure that could/does happen. That was a LONG time ago and I dont really remember a lot about cleaning that rifle, other than it was a PITA! Maybe someone with more experience with traditional muzzleloaders will stumble upon this thread and shed some light.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: High Binder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's freaking retarded. </div></div>

It is MS, right??

In the end, I am not trying to get you to not purchase the muzzleloader in question (or any traditional muzzleloader for that matter). I read that you were inexperienced with them and just thought I would let you know a little about some of the nuances of shooting (more so cleaning/maintaining) them.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I read that you were inexperienced with them and just thought I would let you know a little about some of the nuances of shooting (more so cleaning/maintaining) them. </div></div>

I really appreciate all the info 'cus yeah I'm a newb to black powder and don't have any friends who do it so I'm kinda learning on the fly. Thanks again!

 

[pprochnow]

Re: Quick black powder rifle question.

You can pick up an inline muzzie for pretty cheap. it is the way to go until you have had a chance to get used to them. The percussion / flint etc. are pretty cool, but you need to know your stuff to be effective.

I have a dueling pistol that shoots 500gr round balls - I “smile like a skunk eating shit on a frosty morning” when I shoot it.