Be a long while since I posted here...been busy. Here I am shooting my Hawken Rifle , over at a friends place. We had a small get together and shoot last weekend. Lots of fun was had and many challenges of the : "Betcha can't hit that" were made and won...as well as lost... Please note that the smoke that appears to come from my breech is actually from a friends previous shot...if yer percussion rifle smokes at the breech , you got problems.... I do hope that everyone here , gets a chance to go out and enjoy a day with friends and their favorite rifles. Andy
Welcome back and any and all gun porn is always welcome. What load, ball or sabot, all the nice little details please? Love the picture, taken just at the right time to show the fire. Beautiful.
Thank you.... The load is my usual loading of : 80 grains of 2F Goex .15 patch , spit lube....Bear grease or deer tallow when hunting. And a .530 round ball. ( Its a .54 caliber rifle ) I use this loading for all of my shooting and almost all of my hunting as well . The barrel is an Orion with a deep slow twist of 1-72. Thank you , old iron for an "old man" or at an least old fashioned man...LOL I am indeed left handed....but am also right eye dominant. So I shoot long guns right handed...but hand guns left handed...yeah I know , I'm weird... Andy
My dad was left handed, right eye for sights, got the job done but looked a little odd. I have the Hawken kit with 50 and 54 cal barrels, which is your preference and why? Really haven't figured it all out yet, tend to use sabots and 50 grains, just simpler for me. I know it isn't authentic, but it is sure fun to shoot that way. Always wanted to try minne ball but haven't so far.
Very nice post, thanks for sharing! I need to get my BP's out, and this may have given me the prod I needed! DW
Got rid of all my front loaders. I still shoot black in one of my two Springfield trapdoor 45-70 just for the fun of it. A lot of trouble keeping your guns clean and you must clean after each shooting. Still a lot of fun.
While .50 is a excellent caliber for both shooting and hunting , some states won't allow it for bigger game like elk and such. So I prefer the .54 caliber , as chances are , it will be legal , if go hunting out of my state. With that said calibers .47 - .52 were very popular for sporting and plains rifles back when muzzleloaders were the only firearms. I have no doubt that my rifle pictured below has accounted for more than a few deer , elk and other such critters... Here is a antique .50 caliber "Plains Rifle" it was made by F.E. Seiferth , who was a St. Louis rifle maker from the 1840's onward. This rifle still gets shot and hunted with at times. Andy
Thank you for the kind words. Black powder firearms are fun to shoot for sure. I do own and shoot more modern firearms , but muzzleloaders are my first love. Andy
My pleasure! And I understand about the muzzleloaders. I have two 50 caliber Hawkins (not original), a 45 caliber Kentucky rifle made by Jaeger, and a 45 caliber Kentucky pistol (I think it is a CVA). I need to give them some attention. DW
I have always loved shooting the Holy Black, and indeed have become enamored with the firearms, accoutrements, and history that follows them! I love the artistry associated with these early firearms, the mechanical complexities ( especially given the hand made nature, no machine tools) nature, and the creativity that was displayed! I love the history that surrounds them and periods in which they were used, and the people who made that history! I also admit to being kind of a gun/gear junky, and this fits in exactly with that part of mu personality! I love the art of shooting a B.P. Firearm well, I love the slower pace, the more meticulous handling and loading, and care of, and the ever pleasant smoke and fire on a well aimed shot, the way it rocks me back a little and loosens my hat! I love the tasks associated with care and feeding my firearms, it's that mechanical connection, as well as that human connection to history that really hooked me! I think I enjoy my B.P. Arms as much if not more then a few of my treasured centerfire hunting rifles!
Welcome back, Andy! That is one beautiful rifle, and I like the rifleman's coat in the OP.. Makes me want to get out to the range... Reposting Beautiful.....
You should see the rest of his collection, DROOL worthy I tell ya! This one is still amongst my favorites, looks to be super slick and handy, and I love the brass work, pure art!
Finishing up my Hawken 50 caliber kit. 1st Hawken. 1st kit. 1st Blackpowder. That's a lot of 1sts for a 62 year old. lol. Thanks for the post.
I got an 1853 Enfield (repo) rifle in .577 cal. that I used for years reenacting...shot many pounds of powder and many Yankees. I even took it deer hunting a couple of times...didn't get anything. I'm thinking about getting back into reenacting...I miss the smell of powder burning, the crack of rifles and the roar of cannons, marching and close-order drill, sitting around the campfire, and sleeping on the ground! It's in my blood, plus it pisses-off lots of people!
Thanks for the welcome Dunerunner.... The rifleman's coat is from a elk I took with a antique J.Henry Trade Rifle. The rifle ( pictured below ) is a flintlock from around 1800 or so...and in .58 caliber. Andy
