Have you changed your favorite?

[flintboomer]

My favorite hasn't really changed, but what I shoot most often:
1 For paper targets TC Hawken with a .40 GM dropin barrel that I inherited from a friend when he passed.
2 My TC Renegade with the .58 GM dropin barrel when I'm shooting gongs or paper when scoring the edge of the ball instead of the center.
3 The same TC Renegade with the original barrel and a Maxi Ball for deer or elk. It does not like patched round balls with more than 40 gr powder so not a good choice past 50 yds for targets.
4 I have 4 flintlocks that I can also shoot well but don't shoot as often.

[Hanshi]

The rifle I took to the range for the postal shoot was my.36 which has always been super-accurate.  Bad decision since I can no longer handle those tiny .32 and .36 balls.  I kept dropping them but that wasn't the only problem I had.  I've since decided to use my former go-to .45 flintlock.  Surely I'll be able to load without fumbling too much.

QUESTION: I may not get to shoot a decent target for May.  So it's okay to shoot it for June?  If 2023 is going to have regular shoots I have a better chance of getting to shoot in June.  CORRECT?

[Red Badger]

I must report a sacrilegious, and embarrassing development...

I sold the .32 rifle that Dryball sold me for Di... I got a good price for it, over twice what I paid for it. Because that is what the gent who bought it offered when he asked if it was for sale and I replied "for the right price"...

[graybear]

I'm sure Dryball would excuse you since you made a good profit. The important question is, will Di forgive you?

[flintboomer]

The other question is: Was the buyer happy?

My thinking is that sometimes it is time to move something on to someone who will use it and I hope that will be the case this time.
I did that with the 32 that I used to own, but I happily took a loss so the young lady would have something to shoot.

[Hanshi]

I don't want to sell anything because it would break my heart.  My favorite hunting rifle has been my .45 X 13/16'' X 36" Lancaster flintlock.  Most of the deer I've taken over the last 25 years or so were killed with that fine 7 lb rifle.  If I still roamed the deer woods these days I'd likely be using my TVM-Bobby Hoyt .45 x "B" wgt X 38" Lancaster 7 lbs 11 oz.

The "year in, year out" go to flyweight.

[beowulf]

Not much has changed in the rifle department. My favorite rifle is a tie between my Mongrel .36 and my Hatfield .50. But I haven't been hunting with either of them. Come to think about it, I Haven't hunted with any of my muzzleloaders, rifle or pistol. But bird hunting, that is another story. Still haven't been hunting in the last 4 or 5 years due to the clubs closing and my dogs heading out over that rainbow bridge. Until this year. Went pheasant hunting with a friend a few months back (we will be hunting again come October) and left my cartridge shotguns at home. I have two antique (1870 or so) Damascus barreled shotgun's.

So right now my favorite is the 10 gouge side by side. Not exactly a rifle, but it will reach out and touch the birds. Or at least it will when I get the range down.

those hatfields were really nice rifles  I had two  both .50 caliber and flintlock  one of the long rifles and a half stock ! liked both ! the half stock rifles are`nt as common ,I`ve only seen a couple of them !

[powderfirst]

I did more than just change my rifle, I went flint which I've never done and mainly because of the lack of caps. However, I got the basically same rifle just in flintlock. So far so good

[Hanshi]

Shooting flint takes the pressure off constantly searching for caps.  But we're all vulnerable at the powder level.

[flintboomer]

Shooting flint takes the pressure off constantly searching for caps.  But we're all vulnerable at the powder level.

Powder is coming back and so are caps, but it be more expensive than it used to be.

Travelers Antiques and Trading 806 679 9016 travelersantiquesandtrading.com
Toby has both if you are willing to pay the price for shipping and Hazmat.
It hasn't been long since I talked to him about it.

The Travelers branded powder is just repackaged Shuetzen and costs less because it is repackaged from bulk.
I am shooting it and it works great.

[Hanshi]

Years ago for a period of time I burned many cans of Elephant and was quite satisfied, but certainly not overwhelmed.  It wasn't the best but it was good enough to kill deer and hit targets I aimed at.

This has lead me to believe that the powder I was using didn't come from the period that shooters say junk powder was produced.  Just me but I'll use any black powder that's safe and will function in my rifle.  In other words I generally buy the cheapest I can find that will work.  But that only makes me a perfect fit for this forum I guess.

[ChrisHarris]

My favorite is still a .45 caliber TC Hawken that I've dubbed "The Laser".  I pieced it together from parts.  It took almost 4yrs to get everything I wanted.  Not because of funds.  I was searching for a nice stock.

I found a 15/16"  Sharron Barrel for sale back around 2011 or 2012.  It was a drop-in for the Hawken and it was still unfired.  It's a slow twist for round balls.  I think it's 1:66 ratio.  I cleaned all the "cosmoline" substance out of it.  Took forever as the stuff had caked up and dried over the years. 

I still needed a nice stock.  I saved up $500 and kept it in the sock drawer for 3 or 4 years.  I was searching for one with fancy tiger striping.  I think TC may have made limited numbers with the fancy wood stocks and sold them for higher prices, but I'm not sure.  I finally found one and made the purchase.   So I had a barrel and a stock, but no lock.  A few weeks later I found a Davis Deer Slayer for sale.  That was what I wanted.

I took the whole mess to a local guy who was highly rated.  I gave him mostly free reigns.  I asked him to make it look nice and make sure it was bedded straight.  He stripped off the shiny factory finish on the stock and gave it an oil rubbed finish instead.  He also removed and shaped a good bit of material around the grip because I have small hands.


I've never taken it into the woods.  I was embarrassed for a few years.  I'm a very practical guy.  I grew up poor and my dad didn't have anything that he didn't use.  There was no "collection" of anything around our house, except a few coffee tins full of nuts n bolts in the garage. Everything got used or sold for something that could be used.  So to have, what I thought was a very fancy rifle, and not use it for hunting was a mental struggle for a while.

It shoots straight and true.  At first, I thought maybe it was just me.  I rarely brag, but I'm a helluva good shot with most any rifle.  So I let my brother shoot it.  Then my father.  My kids.  My wife.  Nobody misses with it!!! 

It's just so pretty though.  I can't bring myself to risk scratching it in the woods.

[Hanshi]

Chris, you are hereby ordered to post photos of this rifle or your favorite barstool will be sold!  This by order of the Red Badger council on proper posting etiquette.

Yep, I came up the same way as you describe and setting priorities is essential.  And I had the same reservations about taking a very nice rifle into the woods where it might get scratched and nicked.  But I took my pets into the woods countless times for years regardless, and they suffered no worse than they would have being handled around the house or at the range.  I wouldn't want a rifle that I was afraid to shoot and/or hunt with.  True, I no longer hunt but my pets still look spiffy.

Oh, and since you chose a .45 it will serve well for any job; especially putting deer in your freezer.   

[Patocazador]

I second that motion. Post a photo or 10 lashes. 

[Hanshi]

So I let my brother shoot it.  Then my father.  My kids.  My wife.  Nobody misses with it!!! 

I betcha I could miss with it!