What was your first rifle and how did ya get started!
Mine is a CVA Idea of what a Hawkins should be! I like it got it dirt cheap and EVERYTHING I have for it came from the Great people on this site! Got started from someone on this site as well, Was on another web site and was snoopin around about INLINES when SIR ROARING BULL gave me a link here and asked if I had ever considered Trad rifles. Now I am hooked and cant wait to get me a deer or hog with it! So how did yall get started?????
Took a black powder shooting course for Royal Rangers given by the NRA in Feb of this year. Bought my flintlock Kentucky .50 and my son's Traditions .50 Hawkens in March. Now I got a bunch of them thangs.
Just got started a couple months ago-
Seen a TC White Mountian Carbine FS 50cal fer $100 shipped 'n all so i figgered i'd give it a try, been shootin C&B pistolas for yrs but never a rifle hdslp
Dun moved up to a Lymans GPR 54 & havin a ball dntn
Hello, I'm Hoss 'n I'm a muzzelloadin addict srndr ROFL
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/hossfly692000/gpr-1.jpg)
My first was a TC Hawken 50 cal kit.
The state had started a primitive weapon season and I wanted to hunt the extra two weekends before Christmas. The kit was assembled in 1986 and still is a decent shooter for having such a rough life.
txcookie your first M/L deer is one you will remember a long time. Mine was a big doe at 25 yards, happened so fast it was a blur
My first was a trade musket being made for the central American Indians at that time. Was in 1969 if I remember correctly....imported and sold by Dixie Gun Works...about a .41 caliber piece of junk. Stock had a head carved on it as the pistol grip. ROFL In spite of this "gun" I kept on shooting black and my next rifle was one I made for myself....reworked Dixie flintlock,hunk of maple, Numrich .36 barrel, half stock, carved behind and under the cheek piece, hunters star on cheekpiece...and a patchbox with a few inlays. Sure miss that little rifle. :'( As of then I was hooked! Went on to hunting and rendezvous as well as making rifles for others.
Ned
An internet friend of mine and I were talking about muzzleloaders back in 2001. One day a package arrived from New Hampshire. Inside was a little CVA Frontier rifle in .50 caliber. Along with the rifle were some Hornady .490 roundballs, a few patches, a cleaning jag, and a short starter. I picked up some Elephant black powder from a pawn shop in Nacogdoches, Texas. Some #11 primers and a powder measure from a shop here in town. From the very first shot I was hooked! Still have the rifle and will have it until they cart me off to the cemetery. I've added some other rifles and lots more gear, but the little Frontier still holds a big place in my heart.
One heck of a good friend Gene.
Ned
Hey ned, was that little.36 the one I'm thinking it is? If so I do remember it well. my first flint! Never should have traded that one off. Couldn't hit anything with it, my falt not the rifles. Hard for a new convert to shoot a flint, hard to get used to that flash in your face (probably at least 10 grains of powder). Didn't do so bad with the cap locks though.
Yup, same one
Ned
In about 1965 my dad retrieved the old musket that hung in a shed on the family homestead. It was a mess to say the least. We completely refinished it, and when it was finished, I got to shoot it. It was an original 1860 Austrian Lorenz from the Civil War. This is the gun in my signature line.
This gun now hangs proudly in my living-room.
She's a beauty Bob!!
Quote from: Sir Roaring Bull on December 08, 2008
She's a beauty Bob!!
Thanks Bull. Yes it is. It's too bad, but by refinishing it, it destroyed a lot of it's value, but back then, it was the thing to do.
I believe that sentimental value is the most important on something like that. I would imagine that there are a lot of memories attached to that shooting iron.
Quote from: R.M. on December 08, 2008
Quote from: Sir Roaring Bull on December 08, 2008
She's a beauty Bob!!
Thanks Bull. Yes it is. It's too bad, but by refinishing it, it destroyed a lot of it's value, but back then, it was the thing to do.
Bob ,in refinishing it for your use and passing on to family members to keep it in the family you only enhanced its value thmbsup
My first was and is a Cabelas "Hawken Hunter" in .54. I bought this about 20 years ago give or take. It still shoots great but I did have to fix and tune a couple of things to make it work right. Now I am in the market for for a '51 navy in .36. And a smooth bore barrel for either the Cabelas or my Renegade. And a smaller bore rifle in .36 or .40. Once you get bitten by the bug there is no cure! I may have to cull the herd of modern stuff in the safe to make room for new ones.
In 1973 with the bicentennial approaching I thought that I would write an article covering "all" the guns of the Revolution. At the time all that I knew about blackpowder guns was one shot with a "51 navy sheriffs model and what I had read, but I knew that I liked them.
One day I was talking to a fellow gun enthusiast (modern) and mentioned this desire to write. He told me of a man who lived in town that might have a muzzleloading rifle I could look at. I called this man, John, and was immediately invited over to his house, only about a block away from where I was so off I went. Upon arriving and introductions he showed me several muzzleloading guns one was a "FLINTLOCK" I was in love. After showing me the guns and answering about a million questions John invited me to go with him his wife and son to a boy scout compere the next day to do a demonstration for the scouts. Needless to say I jumped at the chance and had a great time, shot my first muzzleloading long gun a Zouave musket and did pretty good with it, I kept hitting eggs and balloons at 25 yards. On the way home John invited me to go to a muzzleloading match called a "shoot" the next day. These muzzleloading people seemed to have there own language that I needed to learn.
We went to the shoot and I had a ball again, saw a lot of nice rifles, more than I ever thought existed. On the way home John offered to sell me the flintlock that I had seen the first day for the exorbitant price of $300.00, I turned and looked at my wife, she was with us and she nodded so I bought that rifle and the rest as they say is history.
My first one is the same one in my signature..
I fergit jus' why I got it ...musta Seemed like a good idea at the time..
got it back in the fall of '71
I had some experience with cap & ball revolvers but my first long gun was a 1863 .58 musket. Heavy beast, but fairly accurate. Got it about 1970 or 71. I parted with it about 1978. It was given back to me last year by my sister and brother-in-law, what was the chances of that? Was glad to see it again after all these years. Still in good shape. The person I hocked it to never shot it, my sisters family didn't know how so I can safely say I was the last person to shoot it. My second long gun was the little .36 cal. flint that Ned spoke of, sweet little gun about the size and weight of a TC Seneca.
I in 1984 was in a 3 gun shooting club in Louisiana, and went to the range on an off weekend, and they had a muzzle loader competition going on, and it interested me.
I was going to watch but a guy handed me a t/c hawken 45 and showed me how to load it. I figured what the hell, it can't be that hard. I paid my $5 to shoot, i had a lot of fun, and did not finish last.
Before the next match (same weekend of the next month) I sold my Ruger M77 and bought a Pedersoli Tryon Rifle with back action lock and casehardened furniture. At that time the price was ($305 shipped) I shot that thing so much... It liked 55 gr. of pyrodex P under a patched .490 ball, and was a tack driver.
Over the course of next 10 years i kept track of over 5,000 balls through that rifle, used in both competition and practice, and sunday afternoon fun. I replaced the main spring on the lock but other than that, nothing failed.
I sold it when things got tight, I have had other rifles since, from .32 to .58, but always remember that rifle. (they are over $700 now) so i don't think i will be getting another anytime soon.
Ian
I had some prior experience with percussion revolvers, but my first muzzleloading rifle was a caplock .50 Lyman GPR that I purchased about 17 years ago. It has been and still remains an accurate, reliable shooter.
-JP
My first black powder rifle is a little .36 cal. That my father Bullfrog got off of Ned. It's not a bad rifle. It's kind of a pain to shoot. For one the stocks been cut down and I have really long arms. Two when I shoot it I have to fire twice for the weapon to actually fire. Other then that I do like it. I plan on getting a .50cal from my father here pretty soon.
One day about 1974 there were these two muzzleloaders in a drug store on the east side of Houston. A 45 cap lock Kentucky and a 69 flinter musket. I bought the 45. It shot great. Should have got the other for a meat gun.
You know jeco, I'd bet that with a bit more of an explanation about what's not happening with your rifle, that we can get it working a lot better for you.
To start with, is the cap going off? Could it be that the cap doesn't fit the nipple properly? Is the nipple peened over a bit from dry-firing?
Is the flash channel perfectly clean? Could there be a buildup of crud somewhere stopping the flash from getting to the powder charge?
I'll bet it's a pretty good gun, and all it needs is a bit of TLC and it'll be up and running.
This is my first BP rifle. My wife bought off my dad for my b-day. It's a lil .36 cal Called a Bobcat from Connecticut Valley Arms. It's a neat lil rifle other then it is really short and I have to cock it twice for it to fire it's a great lil fire arm.
Jeco
it sounds to me like you may using the wrong cap as the dia on caps are not
the same or that the nipple maybe mussroomed. The first drop of the hammer
is probly seating the cap. First I would check the nipple they can be dressed up with point file and emery cloth.
I have found that CVA and Traditions seem to like the Remmington caps
Thanks Old Salt. I'm going to take it back to my dad Bull Frog, And let him tinker with it I haven't bought any caps for it I'm still useing the same caps that Ned had given Bull Frog when He traded for that rifle. I thought it might have been the nipple to but wasn't sure. I'll just have him take it out and fire it himself to see.
Jeco
One thing I have learnt over the years is to carry small rolled up piece of emery tape in my shooting bag.
That way if the nipple seems to be getting tight and does not want to fit right, you can clean it up and go on shooting
Well the nipple wasn't bad when he got it. Ned used it without much Trouble as Jeco knows better than to dry fire it I don't think he messed the nipple up any but that leaves the possibility someone else maybe. I can look at it to see. I was kind of thinking it would be passed on to one of his kids, it would be a great gun to teach kids to shoot(stock was shortened) cause of length of pull. It is really way too short for Jeco, he is over 6 foot. He should be getting a bigger gun soon now that he is hooked.
Not hooked yet pop. And No I'm not dragging fresh road kill home for the hides. I don't care what kinda animals they are. The Boss says no dead animals. I mean the wife.
mine was a cabelas hawken in .50. i was the first in my family to own one. now all the cousins and uncles hunt with them. although only my dad , brother, and one uncle shoot traditionals. .. and the 3 of us consistantly outshoot the boys with the inlines.. blah. we all shoot the cabelas hawken. although my dad replaced his 1 in 48 with a 1 in 32 greenriver or is it green mountain barrel. he doesnt shoot round ball at all.. me i love shooting round balls.
shawn
My first rifle was a TC Hawken in 45 cal. An excellent quality rifle and it shoots quite well. For encampments though I usually take my Bess or my 32 cal Dixie Tennessee flint as I mostly do F&I and Colonial.
been a civil war enthusiast for along time. so about 5 years ago I finally bought a 50 cal. T/C Renegade. Been hooked ever since. thmbsup
In the mid-1970s I built a CVA Kentucky Rifle kit that I bought from J.C. Penny's in the mall.
Quote from: Swampman on March 18, 2009
In the mid-1970s I built a CVA Kentucky Rifle kit that I bought from J.C. Penny's in the mall.
That brings back memories! I was always fascinated with those items in the catalog, but too young to order one.
when i was a kid my squirrel gun was a single shot 1913 Stevens 12.Ga that was held closed with a wire coat hanger. my grampa had given it to me and every time i left the house with it my gramma would get mad at him and tell him "one of these days that things going to blow open and take that boys head off" wich was always reasuring to hear, anyway for my 18th birthday my gramma gave me a CVA squirrel rifle and a .36cal cap and ball revolver she got at a garage sale. been shootin' muzzleloaders ever since.
Quote from: Swampman on March 18, 2009
In the mid-1970s I built a CVA Kentucky Rifle kit
That was my first too.
Was in 1975...a guy at work had one and got me started on my own kit...been at it every since. ;)
I've always been interested in Mountain Men, can't begin to tell you how many times I've watch Jerimiah Johnson and Mountain Men, What we always played in the woods growing up. For my 15th birthday my father bought me a TC Hawkens 50, I'm 44 now, that was my only rifle for a long time and growing up on a farm, that gun barked a lot of squirrels, knocked a lot of rabbits, and untold numbers of ficticius Bufflow, It still looks as good as the day I got it, I"m kind of anal about taking care of my guns, Oklahoma has a seperate primitive firearms hunt for deer so ML gives you an extra week to hunt, I usually just hunt that week anyway plus a lot of places that are shotgun only hunting areas also allow ML. I picked up another TC Hawkens .45 for $100 at a gunshow awhile back and I've been redoing it for my son making it a little more traditional looking, I also have a Lyman GPR .54 so we have some fun.
Let us see your rifles if you get a chance, we're all eyes.
An aside note, the film changed the name and left out some details about the characters life and real name, as he was known as "liver eatin'" Johns(t)on for reasons I think are obvious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver-Eating_Johnson
Quote from: William on April 02, 2009
Let us see your rifles if you get a chance, we're all eyes.
An aside note, the film changed the name and left out some details about the characters life and real name, as he was known as "liver eatin'" Johns(t)on for reasons I think are obvious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver-Eating_Johnson
he was also known as the "crow killer" you should read the book by the same title.
anyway wheni first started i got a cva kentucky pistol and a remington revolver back in 79, then left it alone for a long time. a couple of years ago a buddy gave me this traditions kentucky flintlock rifle and i was hooked again! sense then i rebuilt that traditions and gave it to my daughter, started building guns and im off and running! the pic shows some of the rifles in my house.
the top one is an issac haines lancaster im trying to finish up for its new owner, the second one down is an Ithaca hawkens, a true replica of Kit carsons gun. the next down is my GPR flinter that i built! great gun real work horse! and the bottom one is my daughters(my first rifle) traditions .50cal.
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm116/keoni121/Ithaca/ithaca002-1.jpg)
Very cool set of rifles you got there, and now I understand your screen name.
read the book crow killer by thorpe! its a great read!
My wife started the "addiction" about 17yrs ago. She gave me an old and well worn Italian brass framed 51 Colt (still have the original cylinder left). I feel in love with the mechanic's, style and simplicity of the cap and ball era and went out and got a T/C Hawken 54cal and a T/C inline. The inline went bye bye the same year (way too practical and modern), and the Hawken stuck around till I found an older T/C Renegade LH 50cal, which is the best shootin' rifle I've ever owned. Boy, we could really make this a long thread by changing the name to "List How Many Have You Owned Since You Started".
What got me started was my father. He built and collected all types of muzzleloaders and ever since I was a kid they have been a big part of my hunting and shooting. When most boys in school got a new shotgun, my parents got me a new UltraHi 45 caliber flintlock, (and I still got it). I always wanted a Brown Bess and an Underhammer (got the Underhammer a few weeks ago, see my post and range report), and as I got older I studied everything about the French and Indian War to the Mountain Man Era and started collecting and using those weapons of the era,(a few Civil War weapons have sparked my interest, I got the revolvers revolvers). The old ways are hard to change I still find myself looking for all types of muzzleloading and blackpowder weapons. This year I will get my Bess if the funds get better, (Oh and another Underhammer)
Carbinecasey
First rifle? a 30/30 winchester ranger.... (sold about 6 years ago)
First sniper rifle? Mosin Nagant 91/30 sniper (went 5 years ago)
Oh ya meant my first Blackpowder? LOl..
My first Bp was a CVA kentucky rifle that my brother had built from a kit back in the early 80's. I helped him a bit when he would let me. I was only about 12 when he built it.
In 92 when he was killed in a car accident it went to me -as his wife and kids were no where to be found after the funeral. His kids are now back and the gun is going to his oldest son.
Voy
My first BP is my only one (yet), a Hawkins in .54 cal
How I got started - I was teaching Hunter Education in Colorado and when I left I was presented this beauty as a going away present...
My first muzzleloader was a Thompson Center Renegade in .54 cal. My brother told me about a rendezvous camp out. We went tin tipi style. Got lucky and clipped enough turkey feathers to win the feather shoot. :) Didn't even place in any any of the other shoots the rest of that weekend rdfce. Didn't matter cause I had a great time. That Renegade is a great gun and shoots center if I do my part. thmbsup
My first muzzleloader was bought through the mail in the mid 1960s. I chose the H&A Heritage model from Numrich Arms. They came only in .36 and .45 back then and since I planned to hunt deer I got the .45. I still have that rifle to this day. It is an under hammer so was quite unusual to me at the time. The barrel is heavy with a rather flat muzzle and small amount of crown. It also is a tight .45 being smaller bored than most .45s encountered today. NA recommended a .433 ball but all I could find was a Lyman .445 mould. In those days I didn't know what a short starter was so pressed the patched ball into the muzzle as far as I could and finished with the ramrod. I lubed with spit patch and though loading was pretty snug, I don't recall any particular difficulty. I fired that rifle a lot. Not long after I got the gun I went hunting. And although I didn't get a deer (they were not as plentiful in Ga. at that time), I did get two nice bobcats in the first week. I saw deer occasionally but it was "buck only" back then and all I saw were does. I did finally kill a deer with it; a 75 yard through & through shot.
That rifle remains incredibly accurate and easily shoots 5 shots into one hole at 50 yards. I ordered gain twist rifling and that may be the reason. I was hooked from the moment I opened the brown box. It's not much to look at. The bore stays perfect but the forearm had to be glued and patched up. There are rust spots and bluing wear but it still looks pretty good to me. It's one gun I'll never part with.
You got a real gem there Hanshi. Underhammers are hard to come by. One of my first muzzleloaders was a underhammer boot pistole, same with DB. Mine was a .36 and his was a .45. Have missed that old gun and have serched for years to find another. Found a rifle a few years back at a gun show and got it. Will not part with it either(DB has tried to talk me out of it, but no luck, sorry DB), it's a keeper.
Quote from: bull frog on May 22, 2009
You got a real gem there Hanshi. Underhammers are hard to come by. One of my first muzzleloaders was a underhammer boot pistole, same with DB. Mine was a .36 and his was a .45. Have missed that old gun and have serched for years to find another. Found a rifle a few years back at a gun show and got it. Will not part with it either(DB has tried to talk me out of it, but no luck, sorry DB), it's a keeper.
Back then they were easy to get, not so now. I've noticed in Gun Digest someone (can't remember who) makes an under hammer but it's many hundreds of $. Doubt if it's any more accurate than the old H&A.
At the time you mention, I worked for a gun distributor/shooting supply store. All models of the H&A underhammers, swivel breach, minuteman series were available at 10% above cost. Missed some real good deals. Will never see those days again.
COOL!!!
Someone else knows of Numrich and also about swivel Breeches. I have a .45 cal Numrich swivel breech. Still gotta fix the mainspring on it but thats all it needs.
Voy
Dryball has wanted one for years.
Quote from: txcookie on December 07, 2008
What was your first rifle and how did ya get started!
Mine is a CVA Idea of what a Hawkins should be! I like it got it dirt cheap and EVERYTHING I have for it came from the Great people on this site! Got started from someone on this site as well, Was on another web site and was snoopin around about INLINES when SIR ROARING BULL gave me a link here and asked if I had ever considered Trad rifles. Now I am hooked and cant wait to get me a deer or hog with it! So how did yall get started?????
I got my first one at 9 years old. Looked much like this one but in .40, that was a long time ago and killed many deer, hogs, gator, turkey and other animals for the pot with it. It was supposed to have been made in 1832 and started out like this one, a full stock flinter but was changed over time until it was handed down to me. I am now at 52 years and have been shooting flinters and cappers for that time. This one is .45 cal converted to capper, they used the original lock, I think it is from 1837, much to heavy but she shoots good. The nose cap is pourd pewter. Got it from Joe GreyWolf in Canyon Lake, traded 6 bucks for it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/reaper6/005-1.jpg)
My first rifle was a Cva .50 cal mountian rifle just about 3 years ago... i bought at a local gun shop it was used and the fella that owned the shop had marked it as a hawken which i knew it was not I asked to see it And after handling it for a second i knew it was the one for me it was in good shape the bore looked well cleaned with no rust or pitting the stock also was in good condition..it was an older mountian rifle as it was made when CVA still made them here is the USA. he was asking 130 for it so i got it . I was forced into muzzle loading when the local forest service land i hunt went to blackpowder and shotgun only. I had a muzzle loader before i got this one But i wont mention it as it was a modern version which i now dont really care for .The traditional bug hit me when i first met Micanopy and he was hunting with one. Now i wouldnt trade a single one of my traditonal rifles for a modern one of any type.. To me these shoot better and suit me better . I have always been one to cling to the old ways ....Anyone can shoot well with a scoped rifle It takes skill and patients to do it the old way and it makes you a better marksmen. I dont have a pic but i will see about gettin one ...
Here is a pic...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v510/ripsaw34/IMG_2285.jpg)
It takes skill and patients to do it the old way and it makes you a better marksmen.
That is a great way to sum it all up, glad you are a part of the group now.
"Patients is a snipers virtue" Gunny Green told me that many many years ago. Doing things the old way, and the proper way is what black powder shooting is all about. I'd rather do it proper.
I wish I still had my first....I bought it in the early 80's...It was a 50 cal hawken...great little shooter.....I still shoot a hawken, but I wish I woulda kept my first
Micanopy,
Would that be the same Gunney Green that taught at Quantico in '76?
DD
My first was a T/C White Mn. carbine in '92. Didn't know about twist rates at the time; but, I plugged along with it for a while with PRBs and low charges at targets. Finally found out it liked heavy conicals and stout charges. Ended up selling that one and getting a Renegade and eventually, a 1 in 72 twist G.M.barrel. One day while poking around gun shops on a rainy day, a near-mint W.M. carbine wanted to follow me home. Gave the man $200.00 after checking it out real close and got outa there before he changed his mind! Just wanted a good reminder of what I started out with, while one could still be found.
Quote from: DEADDAWG on June 16, 2009
Micanopy,
Would that be the same Gunney Green that taught at Quantico in '76?
DD
If memory serves me correctly, yeppers! Semper Fi!
Quote from: Micanopy on June 17, 2009
Quote from: DEADDAWG on June 16, 2009
Micanopy,
Would that be the same Gunney Green that taught at Quantico in '76?
DD
If memory serves me correctly, yeppers! Semper Fi!
lol,,,,,,,,,,,i went through thats school in '79
Semper Fi
My first was a .50 cal Thompson Center Hawken purchased in the early 1970`s at a Woolworth store in Aurora,
Colorado. Little did I know that these things would multiply like rabbits!Now I have them in all sorts of configurations in calibers from .36 to .62 in rifles and pistols and two 12gauge muzzleloader shotguns. :o
My first was a Junk Jukar.45( dont ask, lol), then went to a CVA .50 Mountain Rifle(gave it to my boy a year ago) this is the one I will keep( or trade it for a Flint), still in the .50 game but this gun shoots so well after I worked on it I just cant believe it.
I got started way back before I had a gun. A fellow I went to college with at North Alabama brought in his buckskins for an outdoor education class we were in together. He also had some pics from a rendezvous from Utah. I got involved a little. Went to the Davy Crockett in Lawerenceburg, TN, a time or two. I didn't have a gun until I move to TX many years later. I built a St. Louis Hawken from a Cabela's kit in 2003. That thing weighed a metric crapton. It got hocked when times got tough along with my two 1851 Navy Colt pistols. I then got the Shenandoah Flint Rifle I now shoot.
My first was a CVA Kentucky kit made in USA, bought at Otasco's on Sept. 21 1982 for $75.99. Was my 15th B-day present. For Xmas the same year got a CVA Kentucky pistol kit. Still have em both and still shoot em.
bo
My first rifle was a Navy Arms Hawken Hunter I got back in 1977. A heavy .58 with an inch and an eighth barrel. It shot well but never fit me very well. That year my wife got me a CVA Mountain Rifle kit for my birthday and a Navy Arms double 12 for Christmas. Since then it has been BP only.
I got bit by the black powder bug back in the 70's after watching Jeremiah Johnson. I bought a FIE 45 cal. Kentucky long rifle. It was a good shooter and the next year they opened up a 3 day bp season. I had a years ahead start on most people around. That first year I killed 2 bucks and was hooked for life. A couple years later I stepped up to a CVA Mountain rifle but stayed with 45 cal. When all the inlines came along I stayed traditional and picked up a used Hawken and another CVA mountain rifle at a good deal. All I hunt with now is Black powder and not that imitation stuff either.
.45s are the .270s of the black powder deer world! hntr
from the looks of Jeco,s pic ( kidna hard to tell for sure) but it looks to me that the hammer needs to be tweaked a little to hit the nipple flat, looks to me that its hitting only on the back side of the hammer.
Just my .02 worth
My first, like several others I see, was a T/C Hawkins 50 cal. That was 20+ years ago. It is still the only rifle I use on a regular basis, just can't seem to put it down.
Mine was a 54 cal C.V.A. Hawken, not a bad shooter just too common at the time everybody was shootin somethin like it or close to it for hunting. Course that was about 18 -20yrs ago Ha Ha !!
Well... she were a blonde and it was on of those you show me... OOOPPPs wrong forum :o hdslp
T/C hawken .50 kit. Buddy at work had put it togather and had tried ta blue it in the honcho's oven
Her foot went down an I got it fer $75.00. Still have it. It's just all in it 's individual peices n parts at the moment.
Last time it was fired was on New Years Eve 2000. Unfortuniatly it has not been cleaned since. Had ta be on the road the next morning and the 'Honey-do list' fncg. Her now n ex.
Think I'm gonna dump some Navel Jelly down .50's gullett and her daughter .32 (Cherokee) as well, same reason >:(.
Got some new screws on order for .50. Thinkin about leavin the pair in the white. Any thoughts on that?
.32 has brought me many Eastern tree rats. Mommy .50 has been a good deer getter.
an that's the rest...
first rifle was a cva kentucky fkinter . ugliest thing you ever laid eyes on . the lock was as reliable as the weatherman , but if it sparked and the danged thing fired it was really accurate !
Quote from: hanshi on May 21, 2009
My first muzzleloader was bought through the mail in the mid 1960s. I chose the H&A Heritage model from Numrich Arms. They came only in .36 and .45 back then and since I planned to hunt deer I got the .45. I still have that rifle to this day. It is an under hammer so was quite unusual to me at the time. The barrel is heavy with a rather flat muzzle and small amount of crown. It also is a tight .45 being smaller bored than most .45s encountered today. NA recommended a .433 ball but all I could find was a Lyman .445 mould. In those days I didn't know what a short starter was so pressed the patched ball into the muzzle as far as I could and finished with the ramrod. I lubed with spit patch and though loading was pretty snug, I don't recall any particular difficulty. I fired that rifle a lot. Not long after I got the gun I went hunting. And although I didn't get a deer (they were not as plentiful in Ga. at that time), I did get two nice bobcats in the first week. I saw deer occasionally but it was "buck only" back then and all I saw were does. I did finally kill a deer with it; a 75 yard through & through shot.
That rifle remains incredibly accurate and easily shoots 5 shots into one hole at 50 yards. I ordered gain twist rifling and that may be the reason. I was hooked from the moment I opened the brown box. It's not much to look at. The bore stays perfect but the forearm had to be glued and patched up. There are rust spots and bluing wear but it still looks pretty good to me. It's one gun I'll never part with.
hanshi............... i thinks ? i have the exact same .45 underhammer rifle you have, im not sure on the twist yet, havent shot it yet, i will soon.
enjoyed your story about your rifle.
this underhammer, is the first actual muzzle loader i've ever bought for myselfe, i did use my dad's old CVA alot, years ago,
and i bought the lyman GPR .50 for my pop 25 ?? years ago, he just gave it back to me.
peabody, mine is the one called the "Heritage model". You will be happy with your, I predict. It still irks me that Numrich Arms stopped building guns. Their underhammers are ACCURATE!
I tried to post a picture of mine but it wouldn't post.
Well, shut my mouth! Shows how much I know! Here it tiz.
Hanshi,
I agree with ya on the Numrichs, While I dont have an underhammer, I do have a .45 swivel breach and love it when its workin again. Had a mainspring break and was havin a hard time gettin the replacement to the right temper. Was bout ready to give up on it then decided to give it one more try. TNow broke the spring retaining tab from the plate and hafta fix that.
Voy
I watched Daniel Boone when i was a kid that got me interested then i started hunting with my uncle in the early in the 70s that was all he hunted with. I got my first for my 14th birthday in 1983 it was a cva kentucky cap lock kit i still have it my uncle was a gun smith i worked with him and know i am a full time gun smith. I have built about 20 any thing from hawken to kentucky long rifles i have sold some give some away and still have alot. I am going to be putting pitcures on soon
Quote from: hanshi on January 22, 2010
peabody, mine is the one called the "Heritage model". You will be happy with your, I predict. It still irks me that Numrich Arms stopped building guns. Their underhammers are ACCURATE!
I tried to post a picture of mine but it wouldn't post.
yes, mine is the ''heritage model'' also. .45 caliber, looking for .433 balls.
if it shoots half as good as my little H&A buggy rifle, i'll bee one happy camper.
Quote from: hanshi on January 22, 2010
peabody, mine is the one called the "Heritage model". You will be happy with your, I predict. It still irks me that Numrich Arms stopped building guns. Their underhammers are ACCURATE!
I tried to post a picture of mine but it wouldn't post.
yes, mine is the ''heritage model'' also, looking forward to trying it out, still looking for .433 balls.
if it bee accurate as my little buggy .36 ... wow.
huummmm ? oh well...i'll make anoth post .... ha. thmbsup