What was your first and how did ya get started????

[Red]

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 .  Didn't matter cause I had a great time.  That Renegade is a great gun and shoots center if I do my part.

[Hanshi]

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. 

[bull frog]

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.

[Hanshi]

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.

[bull frog]

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.

[voyageur1688]

 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

[bull frog]

Dryball has wanted one for years.

[Micanopy]

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.

[ThunderHeart]

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...

 

[William]

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.

[Micanopy]

"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.

[Hammer]

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

[DEADDAWG]

Micanopy,
Would that be the same Gunney Green that taught at Quantico in '76?

DD

[williedee]

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.

[Micanopy]

Micanopy,
Would that be the same Gunney Green that taught at Quantico in '76?

DD

If memory serves me correctly, yeppers! Semper Fi!