Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Is there any basic beginners books or anything to learn about the different types of muzzleloaders and basic knowledge/handling of them? We dont have a rifle season in my area, but we have a 1 week muzzleloader season. Im looking to learn about them and possibly get one for next year. I have very little knowledge on them though [&:]

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Willin' to bet you'd get all you needed to know right here.

Seems like a pretty knowledgeable lot.......

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

That should be an off-season project for the members of this forum. We could combine efforts andproduce THE authoritive resource for beginners. I'll write the table of contents when you guys are through. ;)

Bluelk wrote a pretty good guide before his death... lots of good info although some is now quite dated - http://www.realtree.com/bluelk/ . He did change his mind/opinion of Goex Clear Shot before his death - but it is no longer manufactured anyway.

CVA has some stuff here http://www.cva.com/media/bp101.html

More traditional stuff here http://www.muscogeelongrifles.com/muzzleloading101.htm

http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Muzzleloader/Muzzleloader_Hunting_A_Beginners_Guide_03150303.ht ml

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Can't say I agree with all his statements, but it's a decent book to gain a general knowlege of muzzleloading arms. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Blackpowder-Handbook-Sam-Fadala/dp/0896893901/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-5109669-9753529?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193545395&amp ;sr=8-2

BTW - do you hunt with an Excalibur? Just guessing from your handle that you probably do. ;)

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

I could probably add a chapter on what NOT to do. :D
eg. - short start bullet & ram it downbore, then remember powder.......

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

wabi, today I was shooting my Ultra Mag. I had carefully patched the bore following a prior shot, carefully measured my charge in the U-View, used a brass funnel to pour to the bore, then did my usual number of taps to settle the powder. It was then I noticed the piece of cap hung under the plunger. In trying to free that bit of copper, I pointed the bore toward the ground...

So I just fired off what was left of the powder charge and started over. :D

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Any thoughts on the "modern" muzzleloader (Savage 10 MLSS-II) for a beginners gun?

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Exocet - Dummies are always welcome here to ask questions. Heck look how many of us are in here already. Don't forget - the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.
Truthfully, there are alot of people in here that have been around ML a long time and are more than willing to answer any questions or provide guidance or help.
Soooo - fire away.

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

If you shoot the "book loads" in the manual I think it can be a beginner's gun. However I have found most folks have started with other guns. If you tweek for accuracy, and shoot very different bullets and powders than the book load you can get into trouble. Best Wishes on your selection. Chap Gleason

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Read the "General MLing Information" here: http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm


GENERAL MUZZLELOADING INFORMATION:[*]The 2006 "Limber Ramrod Award": Won by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Nation's Worst Muzzleloading Regulations (Press release from Toby Bridges)[*]Black Powder Musings (Article by Schuyler Barnum)[*]Common Muzzleloading Questions (Q&A by Randy D. Smith) Revised 10/2007[*]How Long Can I Leave My Muzzleloader Loaded? (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Flintlocks: How to Shoot Them (Article by Paul H. Vallandigham)[*]How to Clean an Inline Muzzleloader (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Is a Modern Muzzleloader Like a Center-fire? (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Lies, No Sex, but Muzzleloading (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Locktime (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Magnum Muzzleloading Myth (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Most Accurate Inline Muzzleloaders (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Muzzleloader Shotguns (Article by Randy D. Smith)[*]Muzzleloaders and Recoil (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Muzzleloading Basics (Article by Randy D. Smith)[*]Muzzleloading Murphy's Guide to Why Your Inline May Not Shoot as Good this Year (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]What Everyone Needs to Know About Smokeless Muzzleloading (Article by Randy Wakeman)
buy the following book from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0873419510/qid=1114882877/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-8867395-7390420?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

you can buy a used copy for only $1.95. When your ready tobuy a gun,read all the articles of the guns your interested in at Chuck Hawks site then go handlesome for feel. Then ask this forum what they think of the gun. Oh, don't think everything you read on Chuck Hawks is gospel. That should get you started. Best Wishes.
Chap Gleason

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Here's what I showed my step brother last year when he bought his first muzzleloader. Has some good information but not all the information you'll need.

CVA Black Powder 101
Intro to Blackpowder Hunting [*]Types of Muzzleloaders[*]Muzzleloader Calibers[*]Types of Propellants[*]Ignition Systems[*]Accessories[*]Muzzleloader Safety[*]Loading & Shooting a Muzzleloader[*]Cleaning Your Muzzleloader[*]"Blackpowder Guns & Hunting" TV Highlights

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Wow!! This info is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for all the help, I think I got some reading to do now:D

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Exocet77:

The book suggestions that have been made are all very good, so I won't repeat them.

This site will probably be your biggest help. I have learned a great deal from the people here. And no one has ever made me feel like I was asking a dumb question.

Hopefully you will take up muzzleloading, it is a fine club to be a member of.

I would like to add a sidebar or two on how NOT to shoot a flintlock. Some topics would include:

1. Your flintlock will fire upside-down, so don't do this with short sleeves (I still have some 4F under my skin from that little stunt)
2. Firing your flintlock at night:Enjoy the bright pretty light, it will be the last thing you see for a few minutes.
3.Pyrodex 2F in the pan and the origin of the expression "flash in the pan."

~Robert

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Exocet77,Welcome to our group, there are three general groups, the traditional, the inline muzzleloaders and the smokeless, so, call muzzle loader groups. all are represented here and if you chose any one of the in a good brand you will gather a lot of info just reading the operators manual, if you are interested in any particular group and say so there are people here who will respond, to get the best idea of where to start, for hunting always check your state laws first[I recognize your tag from the x-bowgroup but dont kow which state you are from. I use a exocet myself] the laws may limit which groups you are interested in.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/muzzleloaders.php
after you have an idea of whats legal in you state look these pages over to get a rough idea whats available then you can ask some more questions. Lee

RE: Dummies Guide To Muzzleloaders
 

Exocet 77, the savage ML2 is an excellent choice for the beginning muzzleloader. It saves you much of the fuss and bother of black powder. Also:
1. It is a very accurate gun- Myself and many others report load combinations that are MOA or better.
2. It can shoot loads in excess of 2500 fps although the Savage recommended loads range 2000-2300 fps.
3. No cloud of smoke obscuring the game's reaction to the shot.
4. You can leave this gun loaded at the end of the day(primer out of course). Some have left it loaded for months and it still goes bang.
5. There is a website with friendly, knowledgible and helpful guys who have gotten myself and many others on the road to success with this rifle. http://dougva.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=Savage