Nice looking gun there...ANYONE that calls themselves a true muzzleloader has to have a flintlock, it's mandatory...

Have you worked up a deer hunting load for her yet, somewhere from 70-85 grs of FFF Goex should do well...

She might seem heavy compared to today's rifles but those older gunsmiths knew what they were doing...She should weigh between 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 pounds which isn't too much...Weight helps steady the weapon and reduces the felt recoil...All good riflemen take a rest when shooting so the weight shouldn't be a problem...

I notice you are in SW Va...There is a great history of gunmakers in that area...I live below Greensboro...I don't know if you ever get down to Old Salem but it might be worth a day trip...A few years back they opened the Vogler Gunshop down there...You can go watch them make flintlocks in period clothing, it's a great way to spend the day...

And of course in Greensboro we have Guilford Battlefield, also a good place to learn about local history...They have a pretty good museum and display as well as reenacting in March, when the battle was fought...

Enjoy...

I do all of my muzzleloader shooting offhand and I agree the weight is a huge benefit, but I just haven't gotten my muscles worked up to the flint yet. My target load is 60 gr of FFG with FFFFG in the pan and it will print where you aim. Hunting load 80 GR FFG and same FFFFG in the pan and it hits where u aim and hits same spot on paper as the 60 gr charges. I think a little higher if my memory serves me correctly but not enough to make a difference deer hunting. But I believe my Jonathan Browning rifle and my T/C Seneca will get most of the action this year.....Oh yea want to try my Renegade with my new .58 cal 1:70 twist to........oh and I have never taken a deer with a flintlock! Decisions....decisions.........Well I also forgot about, well I better stop before I sit at home all deer season this year because I can't figure out which smoke pole to take