Smoke poles

[trooper]

Watching videos on Black Powder hunting and shooting this morning.

I've decided to get back into Black powder muzzle loading and hunting. A few years ago, I gave my investarms .50 cal Hawken to my son in law and I found that I missed the rifle. I obtained a TC .54 caliber Hawken and at the same time, located and purchased a TC .50 cal Hawken for my wife. She is completely new at BP shooting, so some time yesterday afternoon was cleaning both rifles and generally showing the Mrs. the how to and the why for of the
"smoke poles" down in my reloading mancave.
Both rifles were previously owned and the bores were filthy by anyone's standards. Boiling hot soapy water and a many patches on a cleaning jag sorted that problem out. The barrels were left muzzle down to drain and to allow the hot metal to evaporate any moisture remaining in the bore. the nipples were removed prior to the bath and left to soak in the hot soapy water.
Bore butter on a patch with a few swipes down the bore was all that was needed to protect the metal. I'm waiting for some bullet molds to arrive so I will be able to cast both round ball and minie balls for both calibers.

[calgarychef]

It’s a ton of fun! I really like that I can shoot all day for 20 bucks and I have way more fun than filling my rifles with expensive cartridges. I know that everyone has their pet cleaning solution, I like lots of hot water and soap followed by wipe out. If your bore was mistreated in the past it might not be too accurate, my buddy bought one like that. I’m thinking about casting too... I made black powder when I was a kid. Don’t think I’ll do that again .

I’ve only killed one whitetail buck, but it was a big one, a .50cal ball does so much damage in an animals chest cavity it’s quite remarkable actually.

[huntinstuff]

You will have a ton of fun with it

I have a Hawken .50

First two shots are dynamite. Third shot is somewhere within 3" lol

It has a 1-66 twist barrel. Many are 1-48.

[Fitscottn]

I am actually working on getting my poop in a group to have my 50 cal hawken for sitting in a blind or maybe a trail walk.

Anyone have a recommended vendor for 50 cal felt wads for behind the conical?

I cast my own (set of moulds are kicking around the family) so the 250gr mini is what I will likely use. A 320 and 4-somethingorother is around too.

As for cleaning, always been a fan of butch’s bore shine for BP.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[trooper]

Just waiting to get out shooting with my better half. I had shoulder surgery for a left torn rotator cuff early January, My left arm is still pretty much useless. By mid April, I should be back on my feet and muzzle loading.
I had searched all over for molds for 9er's .50 and my .54 and located a number of Lee molds. I was able to acquire 2 x Round balls molds, a .50 and a .54, A minie ball for my .54, REAL bullet mould for 9er domestics .50, a 300 gn maxi ball mold for her .50.. I'm set up. Now to hunt down a lead source..

[58thecat]

good luck, keep us posted...miss my Hawkins 50...90gr of pyrodex and a Hornady 325gr Great Plains took a lot of deer back in Saskatchewan....never needed a second shot

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by trooper

Just waiting to get out shooting with my better half. I had shoulder surgery for a left torn rotator cuff early January, My left arm is still pretty much useless. By mid April, I should be back on my feet and muzzle loading.
I had searched all over for molds for 9er's .50 and my .54 and located a number of Lee molds. I was able to acquire 2 x Round balls molds, a .50 and a .54, A minie ball for my .54, REAL bullet mould for 9er domestics .50, a 300 gn maxi ball mold for her .50.. I'm set up. Now to hunt down a lead source..

On GGN in the last week, I saw someone selling 100 pounds of pure, cleaned, lead for 1.50 a pound. That is a heck of a deal and he is located in Edmonton.


https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...highlight=lead