Side locks are what aparantly, what people over 40 shoot during muzzle loader season or all deer season long. Like i do, love me some big bore front stuffers easy to clean easy to shoot. (1) 72cal rifle , (2) 66cal, (1) 63cal double rifle, (2)58cals, several 54s, 52s, 50s, 45s, 40s, 36s and two tack driving 32s, all side lock guns. oh oh wait and (1) optima pro hunter. I shoot alot of powder and lead up every year. target and hunting . I was taught very young. If you shoot it or it get's wet you clean it. So i spend a lot of time cleaning. not much more trouble to clean any of them one from the other. That's is one farmer's with not enough guns veiw. a clean gun looks better and shoots better.