Blackpowder Pellets

[whughett]

Beginning to wonder if the "moniker" Black Powder is the wrong heading for this particular forum. From what I'm reading and my own experience with the availability of black powder at the LGS, the substitutes seem to be as widely used as the real stuff. Is the forum about the propellant or the guns using the propellant. .

Having said that, in my hunting days I uses subs, and when the pellets and sabot pistol rounds came on the market I jumped into that with both feet. Hunting wasn't about the tool used, it was about hunting.

Today as a paper puncher using revolvers, its Black Powder only, but I'm a modern guy with internet access and don't have to rely on the LGS's to carry the supplies I need, so I bulk order primers and powders.

A little further out on the limb here, inline users and the use of modern subs are most likely more common in the hunting areas then fine quality flints or cap guns.

Hunting New Brunswick with guides for a number of years, one of our party would go primitive for the hunt and dress all in buckskins, including a coon skin cap, and carry a Hatfield. Never harvested a deer but he looked magnificent.

Harvey

 

[CraigC]

For some, the firearm used is just a tool and they want the most efficient, modern tool possible. When they take to the field during muzzleloader season, it is with a thoroughly modern inline using modern propellants, modern bullets and a modern optic. They just want to hunt and kill game, the manner in which they do it is unimportant. Their rifle is off the rack, as is everything else they use, made by some nameless employee at a big factory, many in 3rd world countries. Yes, this is much more common because it is what I'd refer to as "the easy way".

For others, everything is of relevance. From the firearms used, be they cartridge or muzzleloader, rifle, handgun or shotgun; to the manner in which they dress and the accouterments they use. Some of these folks go so far as to make everything they use from their clothing and moccasins, to their shooting/hunting pouches, knives, sheaths, belts, sashes, holsters, powder measures, vent picks, or even the rifle they use. Or they buy their equipment from craftsmen who are fellow enthusiasts. I have no idea who made my canvas pants, leather boots or wool shirt but I do know who made most everything else I use. Phil Hogan of California built my flintlock rifle, Steve Zihn made my flintlock pistol, Matt Lesniewski hand forged my knife, my beaver felt hat was made in Wyoming, a man in Alabama made my powder measures, my scrimshawed powder horn, strap and haversack are handmade items from Dixon's. The belt, holster, knife sheath, hunting pouch, rifle case and various other small items came from my own shop. My powder is Goex and my rifle fires patched round balls. Those referenced above don't care about such things and they can find everything they need at Walmart but for those of us who do, everything is important and we wouldn't do it any other way. This is much less common because it is "the hard way". If I had to hunt with a modern inline, use pellets & sabots and wear camo, I probably wouldn't hunt.

Luckily we all have the opportunity to do what we're driven to do and to whatever extent we feel is necessary.

 

[rodwha]

"If I had to hunt with a modern inline, use pellets & sabots and wear camo, I probably wouldn't hunt."

I get great satisfaction from designing my own pistol bullets for my cap n ball guns, as well as casting my balls and REALs for my rifle. I cut my own patches, punch my own wads, and make my own Gatofeo lube.

I appreciate (now) the mostly historic firearms I have. However my ROA is certainly not a true historical design and my Lyman Deerstalker with its recoil pad and fiber optic sights (I don't care so much for these and want to replace them). I find much more pleasure from these than the modern weapons I've used in the past. But if these more traditional arms weren't available to me but inlines were I certainly wouldn't forgo hunting as I love that as well.

I don't care much at all for these modern muzzleloaders. They just don't have character and, to me, are just not all that different from a modern arm though that's not really true. I prefer what I have as I consider them special in comparison. They aren't as easy or capable. But I would not quit hunting if these weren't available to me.

 

[CraigC]

I wouldn't hunt with blackpowder at all if only modern guns were available. I'd rather hunt with traditional cartridge guns than modern muzzleloaders. For me, the traditional guns are integral to hunting.

 

[rodwha]

Quite frankly I could likely bag all 5 deer in one weekend where I've often hunted. I wouldn't need a "primitive" season. But not everyone is so fortunate. Were I to live in a place where it is much harder and could extend my hunting by use of a modern muzzleloader because the traditional ones weren't available I very well might. But I'd more likely try a recurve bow before that as, again, I find it much more interesting.

Like you I'd prefer to use a modern rifle over an inline. They are just as soulless but are better as far as I'm concerned.

 

[BullSlinger]

I have and do use them all, traditional, inline, and for powder use subs, pellets and real deal black powder. I would use dog poop if it would go bang.

 

[whughett]

CraigC, yea the guy I knew, a retired firefighter was gung-ho in that respect. living the whole experience. So a logical step for you would be making your own gun powder. I researched it and even bough a small ball mill, but then decided it just wasn't worth the effort. I shoot an average of 10 lbs. of powder thru the revolvers a year.