Try muzzleloader?

[tightgroup tiger]

To me, the appeal of an inline, modern, scoped, 209 or electronic primed rifle isn't there.
I am, however, drawn to the traditional rifles for their beauty, history, simplicity, and independence from some federal regulations.
The flintlock is the essence of shooting sports in my opinion.
The BP club that I belong to has been a huge source of enjoyment for me for decades.
The traditional styled bp rifle is a different discipline than modern rifles (or inlines).

I couldn't agree more. We were only allowed to use flintlocks with primitive iron sights and round balls in Pa when I still lived there. That was a challange. Inlines are not much of a challange at all. No different than a modern rifle except more smoke.

I use cling wrap around my caplock lock.

I have a small leather boot I put over my lock on my Lyman to keep the water off of it. Had elastic that wrapped around the stock to hold it there. It worked pretty good for keeping my flintlock dry. I'd just spin it around out of the way when I wanted to shoot.
I used to stick a cork in my barrel, when I needed to keep it dry, it did it's job. I didn't have to use it very often because it was generally between 15 to -10 degrees in muzzle loader season in January in Pa.
Snow and wind was all we delt with.

 

[.38 Special]

Are Armi Sport .50 caliber Kentucky rifles any good ? Would you pay $400 dollars for one unfired ?

It's a fairly basic gun, and fairly typical of the sort of stuff offered by Cabela's and other "big box" outdoor stores. $400 is a fine price.

The trigger isn't going to be great; a little (sometimes a lot) heavy and a little creepy. Lots of folks expect that on this kind of gun and don't mind it. Others are bugged by it, but a trigger job isn't a big deal.

If it's a flintlock, the frizzen might be too soft for good sparking and may need to be hardened. This isn't much of a trick for the home hobbyist. If it's a caplock it should be reliable out of the box.

Most of these guns have very fast twist, which isn't ideal for roundballs. The guns were apparently designed for conicals. Roundballs will still work, of course, but you may need to keep powder charges a bit on the low side.

Tl;dr: As a range toy or once-a-year hunting gun it probably fills the need. As something to really treasure and enjoy in the field, you'll have to spend a little more money.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I use cling wrap around my caplock lock.

I just carry it up under my arm-pit, and head back to camp. I do have a cow's knee, don't think I've ever used it. Been known to find a spot off a game trail, and put up a tarp, sit there and read a book. But what's worse than rain, is after a heavy rain, and all the trees and bushes are drip-drip-dripping.

 

[Armored farmer]

I only use my cling-wrap trick on wet conditions.
I cut a roll of cling wrap in half with my power miter saw.....that makes two rolls about ...what 4"-5" long?
Cap your piece and put your hammer at full cocktail. Wrap your cap and nipple and drum 3-4x with cling wrap and lower the hammer to half-cock.
You should be dry for the day.
The hammer will set off the cap through the wrap with ease.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Now that...never would have thunk of that! That's good. I like it. Have spent many days of my life hunting in the rain, but these days it's back to the camper when the rain drops begin to fall.

 

[FL-NC]

I never bothered with muzzle loaders until a couple of years ago, then I got a inline with scope from wal mart. I read the book that came with it, bought the required additional supplies and knick knacks I needed, and watched a couple youtube videos to learn about loading, cleaning it, and so on. Then I took it to the range and zeroed it, same as any other rifle. As someone experienced with modern rifles, here are my observations:
1- When you are zeroing, you are required to completely break position between each shot in the group due to needing to reload- this is conducive to shooting good groups. Also, it can be a tedious process- and I swab the bore between every shot.
2- When you shoot a deer, you will have no idea where it went because it will run away under the cover of the smoke screen you just provided. Hopefully it bleeds really good and drops soon, if it didn't do the DRT thing. At least, that is my experience.
3- You only get 1 shot, so make it a good one.
Otherwise, it seems to me that everything else from hunting with a modern rifle is pretty much the same, at least as it applies to me with my scoped inline rifle. 100 yards is as far as I have shot it at a target or a deer, but that is the typical max range of most deer taken everywhere. I'm glad I got into it, because it opened up some new opportunities for me, meaning more days to hunt, and the chance to hunt areas restricted for modern gun use. In fact, I would rather hunt with my inline than shotgun slugs, if I was forced to pick between the 2 (assuming a modern rifle wasn't an option).

 

[jmorris]

1- When you are zeroing, you are required to completely break position between each shot in the group due to needing to reload- this is conducive to shooting good groups.

Seems more like counter productive. Most people I know understand BP as being inferior to smokeless and more difficult to obtain desired results.

I always figured that was the allure to some, "its more difficult to get what you want, it must be worth it..."

I have only found one instance where that was the case and her name is Mrs. Morris.

 

[tdbmd]

Always hunted deer with centerfire rifle. Never took to bowhunting. But, our state permits a couple of weeks of muzzleloader hunting at the beginning of archery season, and getting to hunt in September during the rut is appealing. I'd appreciate the thoughts/comments of anyone who has taken to muzzleloaders after years of centerfire hunting.

I have done some MZ hunting in the past. Mostly to take advantage of the extra seasons. That said, I don't love the hassle of MZ. They take a bit of work with all the loading and then cleaning. Some of the new ones are easier to clean than the older versions but still a hassle in my mind. Some folks love the whole MZ process and that is great too.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I never bothered with muzzle loaders until a couple of years ago, then I got a inline with scope from wal mart. I read the book that came with it, bought the required additional supplies and knick knacks I needed, and watched a couple youtube videos to learn about loading, cleaning it, and so on. Then I took it to the range and zeroed it, same as any other rifle. As someone experienced with modern rifles, here are my observations:
1- When you are zeroing, you are required to completely break position between each shot in the group due to needing to reload- this is conducive to shooting good groups. Also, it can be a tedious process- and I swab the bore between every shot.
2- When you shoot a deer, you will have no idea where it went because it will run away under the cover of the smoke screen you just provided. Hopefully it bleeds really good and drops soon, if it didn't do the DRT thing. At least, that is my experience.
3- You only get 1 shot, so make it a good one.
Otherwise, it seems to me that everything else from hunting with a modern rifle is pretty much the same, at least as it applies to me with my scoped inline rifle. 100 yards is as far as I have shot it at a target or a deer, but that is the typical max range of most deer taken everywhere. I'm glad I got into it, because it opened up some new opportunities for me, meaning more days to hunt, and the chance to hunt areas restricted for modern gun use. In fact, I would rather hunt with my inline than shotgun slugs, if I was forced to pick between the 2 (assuming a modern rifle wasn't an option).

Good observations. (especially from a "non-traditionalist") !!!

On numero one, I believe in cleaning between shots when zeroing, because I don't hunt (or trek, hike, or explore) with a fouled bore. So I really want to replicate where the ball goes from a cold clean barrel. Therefore I do more than just wiping between shots. But, rather than tedious, it's more of an attention to detail thing for me, and I pick a nice day to do that, alone in my backyard. So really that part is enjoyable for me. An attention to detail thing.

#2: This is true much of the time, but not all the time. If there is any wind or strong breeze it will blow it right away. I shot a deer at 20 feet. There were two coming down the trail towards me, in single file and I had to wait until they separated a bit, which wasn't until they were right on me. (with a .62 and loaded with a boatload of pixie dust, "over penetration" is a real thing) Anyhow, through the fog, which I could see through, I see the deer I shot jump straight up, kick it's rear legs, and drop like a sack of spuds. Never even twitched again. Then, standing there in amazement, the other deer comes sailing in front of me, at eye-level, right to left five foot away, in that perfect leaping through the air pose, rear legs tucked in, front legs straight out. In slow motion. Very surreal. Don't get a show like that with a modern rifle. !!!!

#3: I think the only one shot is an advantage. If one has the mental discipline to shoot a repeater that way, that's a winner, but it's hard not to rush a first shot when you know there's more to come. But, a muzzle loader will train one to develop that mentality. When one knows they only have one shot, I believe they will make a better shot. All things considered, and I hunted with an auto loader for many years, the faster the gun will shoot, the faster you will shoot it. And the faster you shoot it, the less accurately you will shoot. One shot, one kill, is a real thing.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Some folks love the whole MZ process and that is great too.

Yes. I do, but for sure it's a "different strokes for different folks" kind of thing.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have only found one instance where that was the case and her name is Mrs. Morris.

I don't know about that. I kind of like getting desired results easily from Mrs. Sauce. Which of course, is not always the case.

 

[FL-NC]

Seems more like counter productive. Most people I know understand BP as being inferior to smokeless and more difficult to obtain desired results.

I always figured that was the allure to some, "its more difficult to get what you want, it must be worth it..."

I have only found one instance where that was the case and her name is Mrs. Morris.

Good observations. (especially from a "non-traditionalist") !!!

On numero one, I believe in cleaning between shots when zeroing, because I don't hunt (or trek, hike, or explore) with a fouled bore. So I really want to replicate where the ball goes from a cold clean barrel. Therefore I do more than just wiping between shots. But, rather than tedious, it's more of an attention to detail thing for me, and I pick a nice day to do that, alone in my backyard. So really that part is enjoyable for me. An attention to detail thing.

#2: This is true much of the time, but not all the time. If there is any wind or strong breeze it will blow it right away. I shot a deer at 20 feet. There were two coming down the trail towards me, in single file and I had to wait until they separated a bit, which wasn't until they were right on me. (with a .62 and loaded with a boatload of pixie dust, "over penetration" is a real thing) Anyhow, through the fog, which I could see through, I see the deer I shot jump straight up, kick it's rear legs, and drop like a sack of spuds. Never even twitched again. Then, standing there in amazement, the other deer comes sailing in front of me, at eye-level, right to left five foot away, in that perfect leaping through the air pose, rear legs tucked in, front legs straight out. In slow motion. Very surreal. Don't get a show like that with a modern rifle. !!!!

#3: I think the only one shot is an advantage. If one has the mental discipline to shoot a repeater that way, that's a winner, but it's hard not to rush a first shot when you know there's more to come. But, a muzzle loader will train one to develop that mentality. When one knows they only have one shot, I believe they will make a better shot. All things considered, and I hunted with an auto loader for many years, the faster the gun will shoot, the faster you will shoot it. And the faster you shoot it, the less accurately you will shoot. One shot, one kill, is a real thing.

I agree- 1 shot should always be the goal hunting, unless maybe you are hunting something that might eat you- then maybe shoot some more. I try to think of the ammo in the magazine as a convenient alternative to just having some extra rounds in my pocket.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Nike......."Just do it"

 

[PapaG]

I hunted with a traditional muzzle loader from about 1968 through the late 80s. Not just deer. Used an original Belgian double until I bore scoped it and found badly eroded area around the breech plugs. (And after hundreds of shots fired). Picked up a Navy arms double 12, made an expansion reamer, choked it and hunted dove, pheasant, qusil, rabbit and woodcock. Used an original Colt musket to get my first ml deer. Built a flint lock replica of John Rupp's in the PA rifle book. Hunted with a Jonathan Browning mountain rifle for a while. Picked up a few in lines along the way but they didn't satisfy me and I gave them away.
Unfortunately, muzzle loading competition has died away around here and my old bones don't camp well so Friendship is no longer in my schedule (shot from '68-85).
I still have a half dozen of the trad guns I made and do hunt one weekend with one. Round ball, black powder and those slowly fading tiny sights.