Professionals firearm

[rio nueces]

I've been around shooting for almost 50 years. Good people (some characters), good fun. Owned all kinds of firearms, like most of y'all I'm sure. Used to read the gun magazines, tried almost everything.
Now that I'm older and been through all that I begin to see black powder firearms as guns of 'professionals' - experienced and most knowledgeable people. Not that I am to that level, but think about it. All the improvements in firearm technology have done is make things simpler and more foolproof. Self contained cartridges, non-corrosive primers, easy cleanup, automatic actions - all good and fine, but the guns themselves are no more powerful or accurate. Longer range maybe...but that could be argued.
IF you know about the firearm and its powder, can do take it down and do the cleanup, maybe cast the balls or even make your powder, there is very little you can do with a modern gun that you can't do with a 'primitive' black powder one. And have just as much if not more fun doing it.
And you can keep it running when the gun store shelves are bare and the WalMart's closed..
If you are a hunter, well...you might just have to get closer to that deer, but a pro knows how, and a pro knows his rifle and it's sights because...well, he has taken the time to learn the skills.
A pro doesn't NEED to shoot 400 rounds per range session.
It takes brains to run a Hawken or a trade musket or a cap and ball revolver.
Any gangbanger can make a Glock shoot.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Very sage observations, Rio. Very sage indeed!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Shooting a flintlock patched round ball rifle well is much more difficult than any Rem 700 or AR-15. That's why I enjoy the sport.

 

[steelbird]

I don't know if you could say that shooting BP makes one a "professional", but because of the skills and effort needed to shoot flint or cap weapons effectively, it can go a long way towards making one's self a more disciplined marksman/hunter/shooter, etc.

 

[Skinny 1950]

I have to drive quite a distance to the range so I make a day of it. I like to take 3 or 4 guns either black powder or smokeless sometimes a combination of both. The black powder guns need a lot more "kit" to keep them running and are slower to shoot so I get better mileage from the targets. With black powder shooting large caliber guns is fairly cheap compared to factory center-fire rounds and with enough supplies I can shoot all day.
Here is a picture of a typical selection of guns that I took to the range a while back:

 

[tpelle]

Skinny, is that a box of paper cartridges I see over there to the left? Can you fill us in?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have been shooting black powder for 40 years. 50 if you include a few range sessions with my buddy's dad and his 1860 Colt repro in 1961.

There is no hunting I can't do here in PA with a muzzleloader. I like taking the flinter to the range and watching the reaction of the smokeless guys when they see my targets.

There is something extra satisfying about being able to master something so crude and yet shoot as well as most folkfs with modern smokeless arms.

 

[Skinny 1950]

The box to the left is a plastic box for .45ACP factory ammo,I use it to store .457 balls for the .44 revolver (the second gun in picture). It is a good way to store balls as they don't rub against each other and it it easy to count how many there are.

 

[Hellgate]

Pretty much what Zimmerstutzen said. I love showing suppository (centerfire) shooters that "it CAN be done" with percussion revolvers, i.e. a "clean"/no miss/no missfire cowboy action match. I like being selfsufficient. I cast my own bullets & balls, reload, make my own lubes & wads. If I could reload percussion caps I would.

 

[Pete D.]

hmm

the guns themselves are no more powerful or accurate.

As much as I love BP firearms and shooting, that is a bit of an overstatement. Caliber for caliber, nitro-based smokeless propellants have made modern firearms considerably more powerful than BP guns.
Some shooters will cite the .44 Walker as an example, It is very powerful but it's power has much more of a limit than a .44 Magnum.
Accuracy....at what distance? (and it does make a difference). My best group with a BP rilfe at 100 yards is just over a quarter in size (.50 cal PRB); my best group with a modern cartridge gun (.223 Rem, 52 grain bullet) is a quarter the size of that quarter.
Pete

PS - I, more and more often as I get older, consider selling all of my "modern" firearms and just keeping the BP guns. I may yet.
P

 

[Armored farmer]

I like being selfsufficient. I cast my own bullets & balls, reload, make my own lubes & wads. If I could reload percussion caps I would.

Me too.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Shooting a flintlock patched round ball rifle well is much more difficult than any Rem 700 or AR-15. That's why I enjoy the sport.

The bragging rights are better too!

I have found similar discipline with folks who shoot single shot breech loading rifles with iron sights.

My best group with a BP rilfe at 100 yards is just over a quarter in size (.50 cal PRB); my best group with a modern cartridge gun (.223 Rem, 52 grain bullet) is a quarter the size of that quarter.

Now Pete, don't "cheat" with optics or match grade barrels or match ammo ..., from the bench my .54 with a plain trigger and open iron sights shoots under 3", and my CZ carbine in .223 with a set trigger, open iron sights, and otc ammo shoots about the same size group. Now..., with higher quality ammo... or out to 300 yards..., the flinlock won't really get there....

LD

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Take a C&B revolver and throw a can out about 20 yards and make it dance. It is actually easier than it sounds. I was at a range and a guy put some cans as targets out at 75 yards. I shot with my Hawken, offhand and had the cans jumping 4 to 6 ft in the air. There were 20 suppository shooters there and they all got quiet and just looked. A teenager asked if his dad could do it and they must have used up a box a ammo trying. I had the kid shoot at one of the closer cans with the hawken and explained the secret. The can jumped a good 3 feet. I don't think that dad heard the end of it for quite a while.

 

[Benmathes]

we are blessed to shoot BP- the history, the art of custom builders, the humility of a misfire at a great buck or hog.. so what- its reality- and the really "great shot"
there are no words- its a connection with the past that cannot be explained. I love "modern guns"- did Iraq (x2) Congo (x20) El Salvador (x4), Haiti, Nicaragua wars (x2)- modern guns have a place- BP has heart- and for that- I'm grateful
Ben
www.row.org

 

[robhof]

I still remember my 1st hunt with a flinter, saw a nice buck, aimed fired; PFFFST..no bang, it actually waited til I reprimed the tray before running, the 2nd prime fired fine into the ground that evening.

 

[ZVP]

Slow down!

I shoot mainly BP Revolvers just because I wanted to slow down! It's nothing to burn a box of shells up in an autoloader and get very little enjoyment out of your dollar. It seems like you fill the gun, unload it and go home, heck you don't even get to handle the gun much!
With BP you are constantly holding the gun, loading and capping it and in reality you Do enjoy the gun more! Sure Loading takes a while but it's quality time.
When you do get to fire your chambers off, you appreciate each shot. The sense of history also comes into play and you understand what the frontiersman and cowpokes had to contend with.
Since I went Black Powder and slowed down I am a lot happier shooter! Heck I even enjoy the clean-up!
ZVP