Muzzleloading for Dummies?
- Thread starter Guyon
- Start date
Like a lot of other hobbies, there are as many gadgets as the hobbyist wants or thinks he needs. The basic requirements are bullets or balls, powder, and caps or flints as appropriate. Patches may be necessary for traditional rifles. The ramrod comes with the rifle. A way of measuring powder for uniform charges is necessary, but can be as elaborate as one cares to buy. If the shooter reloads cartridges, and a powder scale is already available, charges can be pre-measured and there are capsules of various kinds that hold a pre-measured charge and bullet (these do not enter the bore). Powder pellets, which obviate the need for measuring powder, are now available to simplify loading.
Beyond that, there is cleaning equipment (essential with black powder), a bullet puller (in case a charge does not go off or one forgets to put it in), and a nipple wrench.
And on and on. If one wants to use a traditional muzzle loader and get into the full spirit of the thing, there are buckskin shirts, various carrying bags, real or simulated "coonskin" hats, and, again, on and on and on.
Jim
Beyond that, there is cleaning equipment (essential with black powder), a bullet puller (in case a charge does not go off or one forgets to put it in), and a nipple wrench.
And on and on. If one wants to use a traditional muzzle loader and get into the full spirit of the thing, there are buckskin shirts, various carrying bags, real or simulated "coonskin" hats, and, again, on and on and on.
Jim
As usual, Jim's answer is thorough.
It all depends on what type of blackpowder muzzleloader you get into (flintlock or percussion or modern in-line). The needs will vary slightly for each type but there are some commonalities.
First, a powder horn or powder flask. Powder horns are used by enthusiasts of the French Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812. While the powder flask (generally a copper or brass affair with a spring loaded powder spout) was around, it is more common with the 1800s than early frontier days or the Fur Trade era. Military reenactors may not carry powder flasks/horns and may carry their ammunition in paper cartridges which feature not only the lead projectile but also a premeasured load of powder. Some flintlock shooters even have a separate powder horn for the finer grain powder which is used to prime the pan.
A powder measure can be a fancy adjustable brass affair or a carved out piece of horn (cowhorn, deer antler). It depends on what era rifle you want to get into. For the most part, black powder shooters find an accurate load and then having found it, shoot it at varying distances to determine the external ballistics. That's where the Kentucky windage comes from!
As mentioned by Jim, you may need patches. Some folks purchase pre-lubed patches while others prefer unlubed (and lube it themselves). Yet others buy pillow ticking from a fabric store and used a "patch knife" to cut off the excess while loading. If you get into Civil War guns (Waa-oh Between the States or the Waa-oh of Northern Agression), you won't be using patches at all since the Minie ball has a self expanding skirt.
On the subjects of carrying your lead, reenactors carry paper wrapped cartridges in cartridge boxes which are generally slung over the shoulder. Some French-Indian War enthusiasts (both French & British) used a belly box which could be a simple wooden block with a leather flap attached to it and belt straps. However, for militia or Fur-Trade, a bullet bag or loading block is used. A bullet bag is a simple leather bag which is carried on the belt. A loading block can be made of any wood and has holes drilled in it for the patch and the lead ball. When loading, the block is placed over the muzzle (it is sometimes carved out to fit the muzzle) and a ball starter is used to push the ball and patch from the loading block down into the muzzle. Loading blocks are generally made to suit the owner and has a small leather strap which is used to attach to the possibles bag. Heck, you can make a "high capacity" loading block, but it may be awkward to carry or use.
Turning to the Possibles Bag, it can vary in size, shape and color. They are generally used to carry anything gun related which the shooter can possibly use. This includes spare balls, or lead bars and a primative bullet mould, a fire starter kit, spare percussion caps or spare flints, the cleaning equipment for the ramrod (bullet puller which is used to remove stuck bullets from the barrel, worm which is used to remove stuck patches from the barrel, jag used for scrubbing out the barrel, tow puller used to drag tow (hemp fibre) through the barrel for cleaning, the jag & patches can do the same job)), knapper for sharpening flints if you're into flintlocks or nipple wrench if you've got a percussion cap fired rifle, oil, patch lube, etc. A small patch knife is generally carried on the sling of the pouch. Mind you, Civil War soldiers carried the basic ammunition load and a nipple wrench in their cartridge box ("cattige box" as spoken in New England) and the Sergeant would carry a fancier take down tool (with worm, bullet puller, and what not) with them.
BTW, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone didn't wear coonskin caps. That's a legend perpetuated by Disney. They both felt it was a barbaric trait of the indigenous peoples (Red Man/Native American/Tribal Peoples - I dunno - help!) and they both wore felt brim hats. Mind you, the Fur Trade era folks felt differently and took to native wear with a vengance.
Modernly, you may also want to get a CO2 bullet discharger. There are a couple makes out there and adapters for in-lines. I also cheat and have a CVA Pump which I used to pump hot soapy water into my barrel to clean it (call me Sinner!). Hope I haven't confused you and if I have, stick with Jim's excellant advice.
It all depends on what type of blackpowder muzzleloader you get into (flintlock or percussion or modern in-line). The needs will vary slightly for each type but there are some commonalities.
First, a powder horn or powder flask. Powder horns are used by enthusiasts of the French Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812. While the powder flask (generally a copper or brass affair with a spring loaded powder spout) was around, it is more common with the 1800s than early frontier days or the Fur Trade era. Military reenactors may not carry powder flasks/horns and may carry their ammunition in paper cartridges which feature not only the lead projectile but also a premeasured load of powder. Some flintlock shooters even have a separate powder horn for the finer grain powder which is used to prime the pan.
A powder measure can be a fancy adjustable brass affair or a carved out piece of horn (cowhorn, deer antler). It depends on what era rifle you want to get into. For the most part, black powder shooters find an accurate load and then having found it, shoot it at varying distances to determine the external ballistics. That's where the Kentucky windage comes from!
As mentioned by Jim, you may need patches. Some folks purchase pre-lubed patches while others prefer unlubed (and lube it themselves). Yet others buy pillow ticking from a fabric store and used a "patch knife" to cut off the excess while loading. If you get into Civil War guns (Waa-oh Between the States or the Waa-oh of Northern Agression), you won't be using patches at all since the Minie ball has a self expanding skirt.
On the subjects of carrying your lead, reenactors carry paper wrapped cartridges in cartridge boxes which are generally slung over the shoulder. Some French-Indian War enthusiasts (both French & British) used a belly box which could be a simple wooden block with a leather flap attached to it and belt straps. However, for militia or Fur-Trade, a bullet bag or loading block is used. A bullet bag is a simple leather bag which is carried on the belt. A loading block can be made of any wood and has holes drilled in it for the patch and the lead ball. When loading, the block is placed over the muzzle (it is sometimes carved out to fit the muzzle) and a ball starter is used to push the ball and patch from the loading block down into the muzzle. Loading blocks are generally made to suit the owner and has a small leather strap which is used to attach to the possibles bag. Heck, you can make a "high capacity" loading block, but it may be awkward to carry or use.
Turning to the Possibles Bag, it can vary in size, shape and color. They are generally used to carry anything gun related which the shooter can possibly use. This includes spare balls, or lead bars and a primative bullet mould, a fire starter kit, spare percussion caps or spare flints, the cleaning equipment for the ramrod (bullet puller which is used to remove stuck bullets from the barrel, worm which is used to remove stuck patches from the barrel, jag used for scrubbing out the barrel, tow puller used to drag tow (hemp fibre) through the barrel for cleaning, the jag & patches can do the same job)), knapper for sharpening flints if you're into flintlocks or nipple wrench if you've got a percussion cap fired rifle, oil, patch lube, etc. A small patch knife is generally carried on the sling of the pouch. Mind you, Civil War soldiers carried the basic ammunition load and a nipple wrench in their cartridge box ("cattige box" as spoken in New England) and the Sergeant would carry a fancier take down tool (with worm, bullet puller, and what not) with them.
BTW, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone didn't wear coonskin caps. That's a legend perpetuated by Disney. They both felt it was a barbaric trait of the indigenous peoples (Red Man/Native American/Tribal Peoples - I dunno - help!) and they both wore felt brim hats. Mind you, the Fur Trade era folks felt differently and took to native wear with a vengance.
Modernly, you may also want to get a CO2 bullet discharger. There are a couple makes out there and adapters for in-lines. I also cheat and have a CVA Pump which I used to pump hot soapy water into my barrel to clean it (call me Sinner!). Hope I haven't confused you and if I have, stick with Jim's excellant advice.