This is a good discussion site.

[sjohns]

I really appreciate this place. You folks all seem nice, eager to share what you know, and are very informed people. Thanks for being here.

I had been looking and messaging at gunbroker for awhile, and there are some nasty folk that make things negative for a lot of people. This place is a breath of fresh air...

I convinced gunbroker to start a black powder forum, but the responses are limited there. Either there aren't any people with a lot ok knowledge there or there is some sort of weird semi silent attitude. I just can't quite put my finger on it.

Any way, thanks again for having this great site.
Scott

 

[sundance44s]

sundance44s

There`s a lot of guys here that would rather play with black powder than eat when they are hungary .. i never miss a weekend shooting , unless i`m too sick to get out of bed .alot of us have tried just about every combination we can think of and are still learning too .. it never ends .. enjoy .

 

[MCgunner]

I've noticed this too, compared to other gun discussion sites. There are the caliber wars in the handgun forum like anything else, but things seem tamer even in that forum than a lot of other sites I gave up on.

 

[Low Key]

I got addicted to bp shooting about 8 months ago and it shows no sign of ever getting any better, in fact I love it more than ever since I've learned so much on this forum and The firing line. There are a lot of great people on both forums that are willing to help and are really knowledgable about bp firearms.

One of the best things I've noticed is that you don't get cut to pieces and flamed for your personal preferences and opinions, unsafe behaviors are quickly pointed out but there are no personal attacks because "User A" likes the Dragoon better than "User B" who likes the inline rifle best.

I've lurked around A couple of sites where there is all manner of fighting going on over insignificant things. It gets old quick, so I don't go back to those sites anymore.

 

[Manyirons]

Man if i wanta fight gotta WORLD of folk out there with bad attitudes, ya come to yer site for a little peace&quiet and chit-chat without tha drama.

Course, SOME people just gotta be right ALA-time......

 

[Steve499]

Yep, that's right, Manyirons. Always being right is attributable to my geezerhood. It's getting easier to forget the other times and easier to spin history to my advantage as I attain more practice in the tactic.

Steve

 

[mec]

There are a lot of different approaches to loading, shooting and cleaning and they all seem to work equally well. Doens't leave a lot of room for picking fights.

 

[Manyirons]

Steve i'll remember that when i'm a geezer! Right now just bein a mid ohio hick!

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I'm getting to be a geezer, but I'm still learning about all my passions. I don't know it all in any given subject and never will. I find chatting on this board, primarily, better than reading the Zines. I also like that "Gunblast" E zine site. Don't have time for print mags anymore, except in my "library" when I'm sitting on the pot.

There are still some attitudes around, mostly the handgun forums, but it seems calmer here. Over at the handgun forum, you have the 1911 vs everything else thing going on and the big and slow vs small and fast thing, which of course is an off shoot of the 1911 vs anything else fights. There's the glock haters or the "plastic sux" crowd. The "cheap guns sux" crowd (mention "Hi Point" over there. ) etc, etc, but it's STILL more civil than other boards, very little actual flaming. That's kept me here. I state my opinions and that's that.

Thing about black powder is, everyone loves it for what it is, fun! I don't see any "SHTF" discussions here for one thing. That comes up a lot in other forums and is sort of hilarious since everyone's idea of a SHTF is different. It ranges from total nuclear holocaust to hurricanes. It's fun to come in here and just talk about stuff that's fun. Yeah, I got a CCW and I carry a modern firearm, but I'm no commando, don't need no tacticool, ain't worried about a few tenths of a second a cocked and locked 1911 can give me over a revolver. Heck, I'd carry a cap and ball if that was my only choice and I'd be pretty danged well armed! I love single actions and can shoot 'em pretty fast and accurate when I need to.

I look at BP as getting back to the basics, no BS. And, for hunting, it puts the hunt back in hunting. You don't need to tape your drop tables to the scope. If you're over a hundred yards away, you need to do some crawlin' from down wind. I can't shoot a friggin' bow, so BP has become a passion as well as handgun hunting. One thing's for sure, there less to argue about with black powder and more to enjoy.

 

[Manyirons]

Exactly right on the tacticool lack and thanks for it! I just wanna chat guns without the baggage, and ya DONT need a M1911 super pistol for defense! The deadliest man i know is the 'smith and he carries two .50 revolvers at minimum, and expects to be in a gunfight with ten people about never! He said 'I knowing not second gun why, after five men i kill, i use!' Its tough listening to him talk, but you figure it out after a while.

Its just fun to relax with out tha 'what kinda 500 round assault gun is best when hillery comes knocking' threads!

 

[Low Key]

Thing about black powder is, everyone loves it for what it is, fun! I don't see any "SHTF" discussions here for one thing. That comes up a lot in other forums and is sort of hilarious since everyone's idea of a SHTF is different. It ranges from total nuclear holocaust to hurricanes.

Some peoples idea of SHTF situation is the mother in law coming over to stay a couple of days! That's a whole nother forum I guess...

Heck, I'd carry a cap and ball if that was my only choice and I'd be pretty danged well armed! I love single actions and can shoot 'em pretty fast and accurate when I need to.

I have several modern handguns including the 45auto, 38 spec, etc. but in fact I do carry a cap and ball concealed most of the time. 5.5in barrel rem 58 and an extra cylinder in a belt pouch on the other hip. I can swap cylinders pretty quick if I need to, and I honestly don't expect to have to go up against a crowd of 10 people with AK's, if I did expect that I would carry the mac 11 in a shoulder sling! Carry what the situation warrants, I say.

 

[Steve499]

SHTF? I'm ready! I've got spare hands and springs. Bring it on!

Steve

 

[Low Key]

My bug out kit is all attached to my gunbelt! 2 holsters, 2 guns and 2 spare cylinders and everything I need to restuff em if I need to!

 

[Duncaninfrance]

sjohns

Just remember:- 'Pobodys Nerfect' but in the BP world you will find, as I have, that people are HAPPY to help and are genuinly please when you succeeed. One thing about BP in general for me is that you are dealing with a piece of engineering that is also a work of art. I can really appreciate the workmanship that goes into a good gun, be it a Purdy, a Baker, a Winchester or a Remington.
It's like owning an everlasting bottle of beer!!
Duncan

 

[gmatov]

Take that one to the bank,

The man's a wine merchant. Or maker or picture taker, but still, wine's his life.

An everlasting bottle of BEER?

Cheers,

George

 

[Duncaninfrance]

AA

"Join Alchoholics Anonymous and drink under an assumed name!"
Sydney

 

[MCgunner]

I'm sorry, but my German heritage makes me a beer guy.

 

[MCgunner]

I thought of something else the tacticool guys all yap about, pistol grips on rifles and shotguns. Now, afield, I have tried to carry an SKS with a folder and pistol grip. It's a PITA to get shouldered in a hurry from any comfortable carry method. There are lots of kids, probably kids, in the rifle and shotgun forums that think it's GOT to have a friggin' pistol grip on it or they can't shoot it! I don't think they'll be in this forum anytime soon since I've never seen a hawkin or a Kentucky rifle with a pistol grip. ROFLMAO! Gimme a straight, traditionally shaped stock and I'm quite happy afield, thanks! Can you imagine swinging on a duck with a friggin' pistol gripped shotgun!?

Now, last vent, thanks for letting me vent.

 

[Manyirons]

HANNNNG on!!! A pistol grip hawkin?!?!?! Think you're on ta somethin!!!!!

 

[sundance44s]

sundance44s

The ducks would ......

 

[Cap n Ball]

Shooting BP guns gives us all a little wiff of the past with each shot. You can do it very basic or you can study ballistics and get deep into the practical science of these guns. No one knows all there is to it so its important to keep an open mind. I've been shooting since I was just a kid and I'd be the last person to say I know all there is. I shoot mostly BP guns by preference and on occassion I do shoot the modern 'tupperware' stuff but for sheer enjoyment give me my 1858 and a nice day with curious friends at the range. The one who shoots the best gets to buy the beer.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I'm going to the range today to cap some charcoal. I gotta shoot this Hawkin some more. I'm a little low on Pyrodex, so a trip to town (Victoria, Tx) will be coming soon.

Yeah, I mix the modern with the antique. I like conicals, need to try some of that 777 or Clean Shot or something to try to keep the fouling down. It's impossible to find real BP around here, can go to Houston, but fudge it, Pyrodex is close enough. I also have special nipple conversion on the Hawkin that accepts small rifle magnum primers. It is MUCH more sure fire than caps and even somewhat rain resistant. I mean, I like the look of the side hammer, but hey, gimme a sure ignition system if I'm going to actually HUNT with the thing.

I think BP, like anything else, is a personal thing. I have known guys that dress in buckskins and carry possibles bags when hunting with flintlocks during the New Mexico BP season. They really get into it. Anything, but patched ball is blasphemy. I like to be a little closer to my .308 than that, fewer compromises for the sake of authenticity. But, there's something about a scoped M700 Remington that has a ram rod under the barrel that just seems like cheating. Some folks go all the way, though. They're out there to extend their hunting season, not play "Jim Bridger". It's all about your personal enjoyment of the sport and I think there's more tolerance and fewer attitudes in the BP world than there seems to be elsewhere. Perhaps that's because there's basically only one way to increase the effectiveness of BP guns beyond the projectile type, bigger bore. You don't have the belted mags, the short mags, 900 calibers just for whitetail deer and everyone owns the best and is willing to tell you about it. And, gun magazines don't come out with articles every month on BP like they do with cartridge rifles, you know, the "new H & R .230 short magnum, best deer rifle in 500 years" articles and four pages of how the compromise between six millimeter and 5.56 is the best ever and you have to sell your .30-06 and buy this or you'll be TERRIBLY under gunned for the elusive whitetail...

Oh, heck, I told you guys I was through ranting. I'd better shaddup now.

 

[Manyirons]

Me. i GOTTA draw tha line at buckskins! Bein a typically middleage spread kinda guy i think id look like a sausage in a casing! And bein a sausage around tha krautsmith is DANGEROUS! A man could get EATEN!