newbie question

[Milkmaster]

Although I am not new to modern firearms, I am however new to front stuffing weaponry. Within the next week I should have a T/C Hawken rifle and a Traditions Trapper pistol show up at my front door. So now what do I do with them? The many threads I have read here and other forums have suggested some trial and error will take place to find the best diameter bullet and thickness patch for each weapon. Both are .50 caliber, so I am hoping to find some commonality with the different cleaning supplies, ball pullers, and other parts of the bag of tricks to make these things work well. I do not hunt. I shoot for pleasure and try to hit a target or two. I more enjoy the mechanics and workings of the differing designs. I have talked to several BP shooters, and each seems to have their own best practices for one reason or another. It is hard to know who to listen to on this subject.

So here is my question....

What is the best book to buy that will give me an overall view on what to do first, second, etc on loading and shooting the new black powder arms I have bought? I do like pictures and FAQ type books. I am looking for "THE" golden rule book on having fun, remaining safe, while shooting my new black powder arms. I also would not mind subscribing to a good magazine for the same reasons.

Yes I know the first rule is to stand behind the gun when you shoot it! har har

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Before you shoot them, go with a BP knowledgly friend and get cleaning supplies and ammo or what have you.

REMEMBER: BP(black power) is extremely corrosive so make sure you know how to clean, have cleaning supplies and make sure you do it ASAP! The blued came off around the nipple on my barrel because i didnt clean all of the residue off.

btw, did i mention, you need to clean it very well and thoroughly with a non petrolium cleaner(idk why). Some people reccoment using soapy water but I dought that works too well.

 

[arcticap]

http://thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2308060&postcount=7

http://thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=1857563&postcount=5

http://thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=1466948&postcount=2

http://thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=380070&postcount=16

You can't go wrong with any edition of Sam Fadala's "Black Powder Handbook" (or even his "Black Powder Hunting" book). He's like the Dr. Spock of black powder shooting. You can find them used for a very reasonable price at a number of the new & used online bookstores, just google "Fadala". The older editions are the cheapest...

 

[Howdy Doody]

When I got started I got some books by Sam Fadala. I found them very good for starting out and loading and shooting BP was a breeze after reading them. You can probably find them on Amazon, if not in a gun shop.

 

[mec]

His latest Black powder loading manual is doing well on amazon.com.

Since both gun are 50s, you will avoid a lot of confusion about ball size. The commercial balls will be .490 or .495 and commercial patches range from. .010 - .015" My 50 caliber lyman great plains rifle and plains pistols will shot any combination of these very accurately.

 

[Doc Rizzi]

The Fadala books are great

You will refer to them often. I would agree with the advice to go to the range with someone who is experienced with blackpowder shooting. there are many things to consider with regard to brands of powder or powder substitutes.There are scores of tricks and time saving tips you will pick up along the way as well.
Check out Fadala's chapter on lock tuning and polishing. If you are handy at the workbench you will have a lot of fun working with the locks. I purchased all my frontier style black powder guns as kits and got a lot of enjoyment ( some blood, but it's all good) out of working with them.
Since you are already familiar with this forum you will no doubt gleen tons of first hand do's and don'ts with your new guns. Have fun!

 

[Milkmaster]

Thank You!

Thanks folks for the book suggestions. Seems like everyone has the same name to recommend (Fadal) I will go to the local library this afternoon. If I don't find it there Amazon will be hot tonight!

 

[Phillip Allen]

I used to sell these things for a living...we sold the prepared cleaning stuff to most people because they wanted something "magic" but I have done quite well since 1964 using soap and water...dishwashing liquid is what I use. A classic (for my experience) blunder is when a guy wanted to hunt with his new muzzleloader. He would fire a few caps to "clean" the oil outa the nipple and galleys then load it up. After carrying it around during a damp season and getting no shots he put it in the closet loaded to be brought out next season and "tested" before going out again...low and behold it won't go off and is all rusty around the breach! If you snap caps, clean it. Don’t leave it loaded. The cure for this is to draw the load and clean it just like it had been shot (one can shoot it into the dirt at camp but most don't want the noise at that time).

A new rifle needs: ammo, cleaning stuff, loading stuff like a short starter and something to carry the ammo and sandwiches in...Pockets will do but a bag is better.

Ammo:
Balls (or bullets for those who are confused about the old and new and have missed the point).
Powder...the real stuff just works better and is more accurate...I could explain but won't do it at this time.
Caps or in the case of flint, flints and perhaps priming powder and its dispenser.
Patches and lube for same (you won't need patches for the Nancy stuff made of plastic...yes I AM biased...so?)

Loading stuff:
Short starter (it can be gotten around but I don't recommend trying)
One would do well to have a spare, extra long, ramrod.
Loading block for the purist to carry extra shots in…(that’d be me)

Cleaning stuff:
Cleaning fluid for camp (soap and water for home)
Patch worm.
Bullet puller.
Nipple wrench (when applicable).
The short starter can be used as a mallet to drive out wedges or pins...have something to use for a punch with you.
Oil to apply after cleaning and patches (big cleaning patches and not shooting patches)

Thompson Center stuff (.50 cal) likes .490-.495 balls and .15-.17 tick-tight patches...I use Ox-Yoke or pillow ticking (washed)

 

[Plink]

I'd start with .490 balls and .015 patches for both. This is a middle of the road suggestion that works with most factory guns. You may find the need to go with a slightly thicker patch for a tighter fit. If you do, .018 patches are easy to find. If .018's still aren't tight enough, then it's time to go up to a .495 ball. Worry about this later. Go shoot and have fun!

My Trapper was very hard to load with .490 balls and .015 patches when it was new. If yours is like that too, hang in there. After a couple hundred rounds, the barrel broke in perfectly and they were a perfect fit. The Thompson probably won't need as much break in, but it'll improve with shooting also.

As for cleaning, don't sell soapy water short. It works better than any solvent I've tried in 30 years of black powder shooting. The reason is simple, it rinses the corrosive residue out of the corners and hidden recesses, where as solvents mostly just push it into them. Ballistol and water works extremely well also, and is what I use most of the time. Ballistol is handy stuff. It makes a great patch lube, gun oil, wood oil and is a fair rust preventer.

The other patch lube I recommend is Hoppe's #9 black powder solvent and lube. Like most solvents, it won't get the salts out very well, but it's a great patch lube. What I like most about it is that you don't need to swab the bore between shots. It keeps the fouling cleaned out as you shoot. It's also not a greasy mess like Borebutter and some of the others.