Shoot it or not?

[Country_Mike]

I was offered an old muzzleloader by a family member and am wondering what to do with it. If it checks out and it is ok to use would you folks shoot it or just hang it on a wall? It was converted to percussion so I believe it is around a couple hundred years old. Would like to go buckskinning and use some light loads in it.

I have on my asbestos undies if you folks want to flame. :)

[backlash]

If it is safe to shoot I would shoot it and smile.
Can you post any pictures of it?
AC

[tufhelp]

You might consider anchoring the old beauty down and pull the trigger with a nice long string for the first few rounds... Just sayin'

[Country_Mike]

You might consider anchoring the old beauty down and pull the trigger with a nice long string for the first few rounds... Just sayin'


Isn't that what the gunsmith is for? ;D

I intend to be extremely careful, no question about it.

[Country_Mike]

Hope these are ok.


http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt266/Country_Mike/IMG_0245.jpg?t=1241479133

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt266/Country_Mike/profile.jpg?t=1241479636

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt266/Country_Mike/IMG_0249.jpg?t=1241479950

[Mr.B]

I'd love to shoot it if I owned it but would be afraid that I'd bust it up or something. Would look great on the wall for sure.


-B

[flatwater]

They were made to shoot and it looks like it has been well taken care of. What caliber is it ? If it were me I would want to shoot it at least once then put it in a display case

[High_Desert]

Not only would I shoot it, but I would research its history if possible. It would be great is it was signed by the maker. There is a lot of information in Muzzleloader magazine and their web sights.
What a great family treasure.
Thanks for the pictures,
HD

[backlash]

Thanks for the pictures.
You have a nice gun with family connections.
Like mentioned previously I would do as much research as possible.
Including talking to the everyone in the family that might know anything.
Please let us know how it goes.
AC

[Country_Mike]

They were made to shoot and it looks like it has been well taken care of. What caliber is it ? If it were me I would want to shoot it at least once then put it in a display case

The muzzle is smoothbore and about 56cal. I read on a muzzleloader site that it was common to oversize the muzzle to seat the ball easier. If that is true I suppose it would be a 54cal maybe. Unfortunately it looks better in the pictures than up close. Cant wait to get it.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Here is a thought.

You could shoot blank loads just to make smoke and hear it bang. Carry it in camp and around the trading blankets. I have seen a lot of Civil War hobbyist do this.

Get another gun to shoot bullets with.

But what I know about black powder stuff and $1.oo will get you a cup of coffee........... Somewhere.

Have fun
Wyo