Black Powder Guns

[firefightermom]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if some of you could help me out. My husband would like a black powder gun for Christmas. I have no idea what to look for in a gun like this. I don't want to be 'taken" by a sales persons sales pitch and purchase something that is not what he is looking for and something he don't really need.
Could you folks give me a few pointers of what to look for, what a fair price for a new gun is and what kind of hunting/shooting supplys I need to look into for him for his christmas present. This is new to me. Usually he purchases the guns and ammo for our household.
Thanks in advance for your imput.

[MissouriFree]

FFM.

Is he intertested in replica muzzleloaders ( mountain men kinda guns- ala Jerimiah Johnson) or modern black powder?

[offgridbob]

Two of the best black powder rifles of higher quality off the shelf is the T/C Hawkin 54 cal. It has a comprimised barrel 1 in 48 twist which will shoot conical or round ball. you can also get all sorts of add on for it later on including a nice green river barrel. Or you could go with the Lyman which is a great looking plains rifle with a 1 in 66 twist for round ball. Extremaly accurate. I have had them both and prefer the Lyman. But what do I know, I have only been hunting with B/P for 40 years.

[Mad_Professor]

Two of the best black powder rifles of higher quality off the shelf is the T/C Hawkin 54 cal. It has a comprimised barrel 1 in 48 twist which will shoot conical or round ball. you can also get all sorts of add on for it later on including a nice green river barrel. Or you could go with the Lyman which is a great looking plains rifle with a 1 in 66 twist for round ball. Extremaly accurate. I have had them both and prefer the Lyman. But what do I know, I have only been hunting with B/P for 40 years.

Can't go wrong with the TC or the lyman.

The TC costs a little more, but has a lifetime warranty and is made in the USA, new hampshire.

If you want to go mail order check out Track of the Wolf, good people to deal with and you can get everything you need in addition to the gun, including real black powder and loading/cleaning supplies.

You'll want powder, caps/flints, cleaning jag, nipple wrench, ball puller, short starter, powder measure, round balls and patches or bullets, cleaning patches, patch puller, ....... (I'm sure I'm forgeting something)

Check state regs for shipping restrictions.

[firefightermom]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!
I have some very good information of what to purchase (and what NOT to get).
My son told me to go to Walmart "cuz they have everything". Not even going to consider that one.
Thank you for the 2 places that I can contact.
You guys have a Great Merry Christmas

[blackpowderbill]

Two of the best black powder rifles of higher quality off the shelf is the T/C Hawkin 54 cal. It has a comprimised barrel 1 in 48 twist which will shoot conical or round ball. you can also get all sorts of add on for it later on including a nice green river barrel. Or you could go with the Lyman which is a great looking plains rifle with a 1 in 66 twist for round ball. Extremaly accurate. I have had them both and prefer the Lyman. But what do I know, I have only been hunting with B/P for 40 years.

I'll tell ya right off a new T/C will cost you over $700.00. My dealers catalogue has them listed and with a major price increase. As I think on it I don’t even think they offer a 54 cal any longer, only 50’s.
Your Husband probably wants an inline. I just sighted in a Traditions Pursuit for a guy and I'd highly recommend one. Ease of shooting, loading and cleaning was great.
I usually don’t recommend a specific rifle as folks seem to be hung on one or the other depending on what TV show they last viewed.

[SmokepoleShooter]

Stay away from Walmart when buying firearms. If you have any issues with quality or other manufacturer's malfunctions you are on your own. Most of the clerks that work in the sporting goods section don't know there behind from a pistol.

There's a lot to consider in this purchase because not all muzzleloaders are created equal. The T/C and lyman mentioned are good quality guns but the T/C is far overpriced when bought new. Ask your husband what type of rifle he wants. Percussion or flint? Or possibly one of the plastic stocked stainless steel inlines? What is your budget? What does he intend to use the gun for?

You might consider looking for a slightly used Thompson Center hawkin style. Just make sure you are able to look at the bore. Many of these guns were bought to extend deer season and then put aside once the new style in-lines came out. If they've been taken care of you can have a very nice firearm for a 1/3 to half the price of the new one. Be careful though when buying used blackpowder arms. Even the black powder substitutes are highly corrosive and will ruin a barrel if not properly cleaned. Bottom line if the gun looks abused pass it by, and demand to look at the bore.

Anyways I love Black powder rifles, have built 5 (working on 6) custom flintlocks and would be happy to help however I can. If you'd like e-mail me off the board smokepole62@yahoo.com .

[velojym]

My advice would be the same as with bicycles, or anything that could potentially hurt you.

Never buy 'em at Walmart. All they sell is downgraded bulk crap assembled by uneducated labor (rifles would be better than bicycles there, but I'd still steer you to a gun shop) at a per-piece rate.

I'll go there for some groceries, batteries, or other consumable type stuff, but for durable specialized goods, you're much better off going to a good store dedicated to 'em.

[keydl]

I like my TC Hawken .50 but the advice to look at the use is excellent.

I would buy a stainless inline with a plastic stock if I had to get another. But there are many reasons for BP guns so back to the research.

[Major Tom]

I agree with everything the other posters wrote,sorta.In most states you can buy muzzleloaders off of the internet and get better pricing than gun stores.Use muzzleloaders for search instead of black powder.I got my favorite rifle(Lyman G.P.R.) off of the web from Dixie in Tn.I'm an AVID smokepole shooter also.Everyone has thier prefences on caliber but for CHEAP/INEXPENCIVE shooting you cant go wrong with a tradition round ball rifle or pistol.I own and have shot many inlines for years but:the ammo and related stuff is more expencive than to shoot my centerfires.Don't let anyone tell you a round ball isn't accurate or efective at harvesting game.I'll not bore everyone with B.S. stories but..........I love being around the sight-in areas the day B4 general gun season starts.It's simply amazing as to how big know it all centerfire shooters get taken for 5 bucks for a 3 shot group at 50yds,offhand.They line up.........Anyhow I've bought and brought back to life a lot of old flintlocks and caplocks from gun showsCHEAP!!!!!!Well just my 2 cents,I've been known to be wrong once or twice.Oh, find out if there are any black powder clubs in you're area ( NMLRA website,charter clubs ).Rarely will you find more folks who can answer queastions and most will even let you shoot thier rifles and pistols.Some of those local clubs have gunsmiths and rifle builders in their ranks,not to mention those who love to trade.

[hunter63]

As the choice of type, caliber, make, manufacturer is subject to very personnel ideas....I would "ASK" DH what he wants.

Still have hard time convincing DW of this after all these years, so I just nod and smile if I know whats good for me.

Then depending on what he chooses, add the gear to match the firearm, gift card? cash?

A lot of well-meaning gifts go unused because that not what he "wanted", but won't say anything, so as to not hurt feelings.

Lots of good deals on "Gift Muzzle-loaders" after a few years of sitting around.

Back in the late '70 and early '80, "Kits" were very popular, and I'm guessing that 5% were ever finished and fired.
Another 50% were started and never finished, balance being returned, traded, sold but still in the box.
Man I miss that!

[Teg]

Track of the Wolf is nice as others stated though a bit spendy, if your hubby wants a traditional rifle that or Cabellas would be a good place to look. But as H63 pointed out you might ask if he wants traditional or modern as Thompson Center and CVA makes some excellent modern and traditional muzzle-loaders.

[SmokepoleShooter]

Track of the Wolf is nice as others stated though a bit spendy, if your hubby wants a traditional rifle that or Cabellas would be a good place to look. But as H63 pointed out you might ask if he wants traditional or modern as Thompson Center and CVA makes some excellent modern and traditional muzzle-loaders.

Yep track isn't cheap but when you compare apples to apples, Cabela's is downright goofy on their black powder stuff (worked there for 2 winters part-time christmas help in the gun shop). The worst thing I saw was a package of two English flints selling for 12.99, at the time track was selling a dozen for around 15 bucks. T/C Hawken rifles are around 700.00 now. If it were a cap lock I'd be wantin, I'd search for a used T/C or Lyman rifle, making sure the bore was clean and the rifle not abused. However I just don't think these new fangled cap guns are ever going to catch on :D:D:D

I was hoping she'd chime in about what type of rifle the husband wanted. It would be a lot easier to give advice. Well gotta go work on inletting the lock on the kiddo's rifle.

[ShieldWolf]

Great advice one and all. Track is excellent, and of course Dixie Gun works. I agree stay away from wally world.

Hope he goes old school Flint/roundball. I use a .62cal French Fusil and it has made meat on many occaisions.

Good luck and enjoy.

[firefightermom]

Hi everyone,
I have "hinted" around DH and try to pin point what he wants. He wants a 50 cal. and YES it is so we can extend the hunting season. The budget is tight, BUT I would rather pay for quality then get a piece of "you know what". And I am NOT going to Wally world. I asked the salesperson there, that IF the gun I purchase was not what he wanted could I bring it back, the salesperson said NO, they will not be able to take ANY weapons and ammo back at all. I said OK, could you tell me some info. on a particular model and she said everything I needed to know is on the label. I turned around and walked out.
We are fortunate enough to have a Bass Pro about 1 1/2 hours away (*each way), and they have a good selection right now.
I will let you know how it goes.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU
firefightermom

[SmokepoleShooter]

Bass Pro will likely be pretty expensive too but like Cabelas they will probably have a good selection to browse. Another site you might try is Gunbroker.com. Unless you live in one of the states that restricts black powder sales there are no federal laws restricting the purchase of black powder firearms. You can buy on-line and have it shipped to your home address. Unless he choses to go with an in-line, look for a well maintained used lyman or Thompson Center.

[offgridbob]

Good advice Smokepoleshooter