Anyone Hunt With a Matchlock?

O

oldbillthundercheif

Moderator
I know lots of folks hunt with flintlocks and percussion-cap rifles, but have any of you gone so far as to hunt with a matchlock or a wheel-lock?

If so, do you have a rifled barrel or are you going all the way with a smoothbore musket barrel?

Seems like it would be tough to sneak within smoothbore distance of a critter with a burning match smoking away on your gun... I guess reading the wind would be key.
 
I haven't done it but I know somebody from another forum that built his own matchlock from scratch except for the barrel. He killed a doe with it. I hope he'll forgive me reposting his pic here
matchlockdoe1.jpg
 
No, but I will be. Here's the scoop:

I have a piece of 20mm barrel and after removing the rifling, it will be a period correct .82 caliber. As it is a smooth bore with no choke, I will use it to fire a 15 pellet charge of .36 cal round balls. "000" buck for you shotgunners. This will give about a 35 yard effective range, but will allow running shots to be taken ethically. I will pattern test it first of course.

I have taken several WT deer and 2 mule deer with 12ga buckshot. A few words of caution on that:

1) Pattern test when you change anything, even brands of ammo.
2) 2 3/4" "00" has a 25 yard MAX EFFECTIVE RANGE. Beyond that it is a horrific crippler of deer, leading many states to ban it's use.
3) round balls do not cause 30-06 like wounds. You must put 4 or 5 pellets into the front half of the deer. Remember, 25 yards.
4) follow up every shot, as blood trails with round balls are not as obvious or instant as with a rifle.
5) on the bright side, buckshot wounds leave very little bloodshot.
 
Many years ago Popular Mechanics had an article on building your own match lock. They used galvanized steel pipe for the barrel.
Probably not something you'd want to put too heavy a load into.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top