[Lovesbeer99]

I was in a gunshop and bought a rifle of opportunity. It's a used Traditions Spain 50 cal. It doesn't look like it was built from a kit, it's in very good shape with almost no handling marks on it, but the ramrod looks like it's broken on 1 end. I paid 90.00 for it. As far as I can tell Traditions is still selling this rifle but with different sights called the Deerhunter for about 225.00.

Any info would be helpful. I plan to buy the Lyman Blackpowder book and I need everything so I'll start my research. I'm really looking forward to this.

Finally - is there a way to dryfire these things?

[nksmfamjp]

You could put a piece of leather on the nipple and dry fire it as much as you wanted, I would think.

Probably a good rifle. What is the twist rate? First think I would do is get a fiberglass ramrod and cut it to the right length. I would also get this:
http://images.ebsco.com/knightrifles/900100.jpg?w=150 for about $25 - $30

Shoot blackpowder out of it, out of respect for the gun and the people who went before you. FFg should be the ideal powder. Now your fancy inline buddys will raz you about slow loading at the range, but load for hunting with these:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd_images/lgprod/33704.jpg
That is faster than fumbling for pellets and your load will be exactly what you want to shoot, not what some pellet maker wants you to shoot.

Need to know your twist rate before you decide Sabots, balls or conicals. I'm betting 1:48".

[Lovesbeer99]

1:48 is correct. I don't plan to hunt with it yet, just learn and target shoot from 50 - 100 yards I would guess.

[nksmfamjp]

I would try sabots and conicals, but my preference would be towards lead Minie conicals. Depends on what the gun likes.

[frontiergander]

Conicals/round balls. You'd more than likely get excellent accuracy with the 245/295gr Aerotip Powerbelt with 70 to 80gr Pyrodex RS.

To dry fire, Simply buy a new nipple to use for hunting season and use the current nipple for dry firing. The Hollowbase Spitfire Nipple from cabelas is excellent. Uses the 6-1mm thread.

Or simply just remove the nipple.

[arcticap]

Deerhunters are great for target/plinking at 50 yards starting with about 50 grains of powder, .490 ball and a lubricated .015 patch. The moderate powder charge keeps fouling to a minimum so no swabbing is really necessary between shots.
My Deerhunter shoots a saboted 240 grain bullet with 90 grains of powder to the same point of aim at 50 yards as a ball, but then swabbing between shots becomes necessary.
You will also need a nipple wrench, a nipple pick which is a piece of thin wire to keep the nipple open, and a short starter.
And it's most important to clean it thoroughly after every shooting session.
A thick wooden dowel from the hardware store can serve as a range ram rod, and a generic replacement is sold at some Walmarts but may not fit into its ram rod channel. But at least it has the threaded end for attachment accessories like a cleaning jag and a patch worm to fish patches out of the barrel if necessary.
The main drawback with the fixed sight model is that it's more difficult to make adjustments for shooting different loads at longer range. So keep shots within a reasonable distance until you learn where they shoot. But adjustable replacement sights are available.

[Acorn Mush]

It might not be a good idea to remove your nipple to dry fire. Depending upon how the lock is constructed, you could wind up battering the internals to pieces.:cuss:

A real cheap and mechanically safe method of dry firing is to simply find a beveled neoprene faucet washer to fit over the nipple. The washer will cushion the hammer fall very nicely, so you can dry fire to your heart's content.:)

[Voodoochile]

You can also use a cheap Vacuum cap that most auto part stores cary, fit one over the nipple & you can dry fire that rifle till your grand kids get ahold of it & not damage anything & they make a great way to keep moisture out of that area while you are out & about with it but not capped.

[arcticap]

Try a tire valve cover. :)