RE: how long have you been using one
Wow,
We some long time shooters for sure!
My first experience w/a BP was w/a single action army or navy pistol. I was probably 8-10 yrs old in 1965. Don't know if it was a replica or not. A neighbor took me to the dump, sorry, the transfer station and we shot @ old cars and rats. He later broke out a M1 carbine w/a 30 rd banana clip.I got to shoot a few rounds w/ it...
Spin ahead to 1988 whenI started huntin deer in FL @ age 33. Only quail and dove before that. A real talented fellow named Paul Swaney had 2ea 1982 unfired TC 50 cal Hawken's in his attic. I wanted to extend my deer season into the BP season which is quite beautiful in central FL in the late season. I bought that rifle and he let me borrow his baker climber and that seasonI set out a huntin after he took me to the range to work up a load. One of the best men I have ever met. We were both cameramen specialists @ the Cape andI got him back into hunting w/my new found passion. We did many hunting trips together. Some of the most memoriable times in my life arebecause of him. WhenI quit my job to move north to Rochester, NY I liked rifle hunting and didn't like slug guns so the Hawkin saw a lot of woods time. I graduated to a TC ThunderHawk Shadow (still one of my favorite rifles, light slim and very accurate) Being a LH shoooterI didn't like the RH bolt, the difficult clean up or the scope burn. In addition I bought 3 Omega's, a completed LH custom kit gun, and a RH Austin Halleck percussion (for sell).I did pu a old1861Navyreplica by an Italian maker Pilipo? in 45 cal. I cleaned it up and have nver fired it yet. Still have all my BP guns...
I own a few high power rifles and pistols but I hunt w/BP even in the new rifle season.
Love to see that smoke, smell that powder and just enjoy the one shot challenges.
Steve