Getting started.

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Wild Bill Bucks

New member
One of the guys here at work wanted to start ML hunting this year, and asked me what he needed to get started. After I told him, he went home last night and ordered the stuff he needed. He just brought the list in this morning, and what a surprise I got.

Rifle $479.99

Bullets & Sabots $21.99 per 30

Blackhorn 209 $31.99 per 10 oz.

Caps #54.99 per 1,000

Scope $149.99

Scope Mount $34.99

Sling $30.99

Flask with measure $69.99

Nipple wrench $12.99

Patches $14.99 per 200

Ramrod cleaning kit $14.99

Canvas carry case $56.99

This all came to $974.88 total, and he still doesn't have a possibles bag, quick-loaders, and some bits and pieces of other stuff that he will want as he goes along. I'm sure he could have made some cheaper choices, but all in all, he came up with what he needed.

I have been accumulating stuff for 40 or so years, and had forgotten just how much money you can spend just getting started. I had been wondering why there seems to be less hunters in the sport in the last several years, and had chalked it up to the economy, but now I can see that it may just be the enormous cost of just getting started in todays market.

When I put a pencil to all the stuff I have, I came up with an embarrassing amount that I have spent over the years. I figure my meat is costing somewhere around $40.00 a pound.

How much do you guys have invested?
 
Hard to measure this Great Adventure

Wild Bill
I really haven't measured it this way. Since starting out back in the early 80's, I'd say that I have spent thousands but all well spent and have gotten more back in enjoyment and money. I really feel that I am ahead of the game and again, can't measure it in dollars. .... :)

Be Safe !!!
 
Hello, money; probaly in the thousands, enjoyment and memories, priceless, even to this day i spend, spend, spend, but i cant stop, rich
 
i hope they used some lube on that friend of yours.

just about everything except the powder and sabot bullets he got, is well 50% overpriced.
 
When I got my first muzzleloader, I managed to get along without most of the things on that list.

The essentials, you need powder, bullets, and caps.
The rifle's ramrod can double as a cleaning rod.
You can buy patching material at cloth stores, just avoid polyester or other synthetics.
You can measure powder with empty rifle casings, there is a whole thread in this forum about what each rifle case will hold when used as a powder measure.

Here's the link to that thread
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=432112
 
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When he asked me what he needed, I didn't think about him ordering everything so fast, or I could have cut the list down considerably. I was thinking more along the lines of accumulating all these things, a few at a time.
He ordered everything from Cabela's, so I'm sure he paid a premo price, that I could have helped him save on, but it's to late now.
One good thing is, since he ordered the best of everything, he has everything he needs to get started in style.:D
 
I am an embarrassing tightwad

I cast my own bullets from wheel weights I get for free.

Revolvers don't need scopes, scope mounts or slings so I saved a bit there.

I cut my own wads.

I made my own nipple wrenches because I am too cheap to buy one and after having spent my allowance on nipple wrenches previously which either didn't fit or didn't last, I gave it up.

I made my own cleaning rods

Made my own range box and I throw the revolvers on the truck seat next to me.

I buy powder and caps and now that I am reloading cartridges I buy the empties, primers and powder for that too.

I am not a hunter and never have been. There are several people I'd love to shoot but I bear no malice against any four legged critters.

I really keep my meat costs down by buying ribeye at the commissary.
 
I believe your friend spent too much. But if he is happy, so what? My first venture into the world of muzzle loading was about 10 years ago. $200 rifle, $30 powder, $4 primers and $20 bullets. Less than $300 total. It got me hooked. I refuse to even think what this hobby has cost me overall.
If your friend doesn't mind dropping $1K on his first gun, that's cool. He is invested in the sport. That's a good thing. Hopefully he loves it and gets others into shooting.
 
There's no way I would buy a 1000 primers or caps without trying out a box of 100 first to see if I like them.
 
B.L.E.

You are right, Pard.

I made that mistake with some Winchester WLPs for .45 Long Colt. I got 1 misfire out of six rounds and I am almost certain the problem is the primers.

I have struggled through 400 of them with 600 left and I can't get Winchester on the phone.

Hrumph!
 
I made that mistake with some Winchester WLPs for .45 Long Colt. I got 1 misfire out of six rounds and I am almost certain the problem is the primers.

I have struggled through 400 of them with 600 left and I can't get Winchester on the phone.
Click to expand...

Wow, I haven't had a single misfire with WLP's, if fact, my experience with Winchester components has been very good.
I'm wondering if counterfeit primers are being sold at gun shows etc.

My workplace got stuck with a bunch of counterfeit ball bearings, they were junk.

You don't have extra light hammer springs on your revolvers, do you? Sometimes when people lighten up the springs too much, the gun can be picky about which primers are soft enough to work.
 
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Wild Bill Bucks said:
How much do you guys have invested?
Click to expand...

I've been shooting and collecting muzzleloaders and C&B revolvers for well over 30 years. The last 20 seriously. The total would be well into 6 figures.
 
robhof

As stated above the cost per shot may be relatively high, but the fun factor outweighs that and if I didn't spend on shooting and toys, I might be foolish enough to spend it on a politician!!:eek::eek::confused::mad::(:D
 
B.L.E.

Technically, the jury is still out on those Winchester Primers.

I bought a bunch of Federals but have not shot them yet, so it is technically not proved that the Winchesters are at fault. (I may have spoken too quickly.)

These Winchesters were not purchased at a gun show, I bought them from a local gun shop. Same place I bought fifty of the factory loads which worked perfectly.
 
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