Got the "smoke stick" Bug!

[WindHawk]

I've decided that I want to try something different.  Any black powder shooters/activities in the Nashville area?   I'm also looking for thoughts, etc. on a good beginner's rifle and gear. I've about settled on a percussion instead of a flint lock for my first one.  There's plenty to learn without throwing sparks!  I like traditional things; no in-line for sure.  I'm thinking either .50 or .54 but I'm flexible.  I'll be mostly "fun" shooting but don't want to eliminate the option to hunt.  Thanks in advance.                                                       

[DaveS]

Traditional black powder is an awesome activity! I started many years ago with a Hawken Rifle and went nuts from there. Now I shoot two flintlock rifles that I custom built, and I love my black powder pistols as well. My advice is (let me have it boys) is to stay away from PYROCRAP (aka PyroDex) and pellets. I prefer .50 over .54 (I have both) and in both I shoot 80 of 2F powder and sometimes 3F black powder. I do at times hunt with a modern inline depending what the weather is doing. They are .50's and I still shoot 80gr of powder out of them.

 

DaveS

[Caster]

There's used to be a large clique of old farts who shoot their "smoke poles" as they called them; here in middle tn. I guess the got too old and started either dying out or just gave up. I imagine theres several groups around though.

I've been tempted so many times. With my love of casting and here lately I have gravitated to single shots, you'd think it'd be a natural thing for me but I just can't get into it. Messy and too many accoutrements needed on the spot.
I imagine one days will take the plunge and be upseti didn't do it sooner but not right now.


Do yourself a favor though, stick with real black powder. Swiss, Goex, etc.
As Dave says, pellets and pyrodex, Triple Seven and all the other 'substitutes' are crap. There's a reason they are called black powder substitutes and not black powder replacements. There is no replacement for the real deal.

Making your own is not that difficult either.

[gregintenn]

I would suggest you keep an eye out for a used Thompson Center Renegade, Hawken, or the like. They are high quality, and can be found for a song.

 

You also may want to buy a kit and build your own. If so, Dixie Gun Works is the Toys R Us of black powder.

 

I like shooting them, but despise the clean up that follows.

 

I find the deer hunting opportunities during muzzleloader season are far better than rifle season.

Edited August 12, 2013 by gregintenn

[bajabuc]

If...and I do mean if...you can find a Santa Fe Hawken by Uberti...buy it.  It's the most authentic Hawken reproduction.  The main difference between it and a St. Louis Hawken is metric threads on the screws.  Uberti stopped making them oh...20 years or more ago...but I did see an unopened kit on Gun Trader.com a couple of years ago.  If you're wanting a Hawken...uberti is the bees knees.  Slant hooked breech, .53 bore, two barrel pins.  I bought a Lyman because I didn't have the extra money.  Don't get me wrong...the Lyman Great Plains is a great gun...it's just not a Uberti.  Even a CVA Mountain Rifle is a more authentic repo than a T/C.

[RED333]

We have 4,

a 58 cal rifle, no idea of the make as it has no marks.

A 44 cal revolving rifle, 6 shoot with a 20" barrel,

a Uberti stainless 6 shoot in 44 with a 8" barrel and a

Brass and steel 44 cal remake 6 shot with a 12" barrel.

All cap fire.

All are great to shoot.

[WindHawk]

All good thoughts and valuable input.  Thanks. 

 

DaveS, if you hear of anything in the Clarksville area I'd appreciate a "heads up".  I'm in Ashland City; been considering a visit to Midsouth Shooters Supply.  Nothing against in-lines; I just want to try the "old ways".  Question is how old - flint or percussion??  

 

Caster, if "smoke poles" and old farts go together I'll fit right in.  I've heard them called a lot of things including some that would upset TGO David severely if I repeated them. BTW, I enjoy your posts.  I read a lot and say very little (helps hide my ignorance). I'm debating a Lyman GPK kit as an option.  I really don't want to spend more on a learning curve/interest that might not last.

 

gregintenn, a used TC definitely looks like a good way to consider too.  I slept on the TC Hawken that sold on TGO recently and missed a good deal.  Maybe another opportunity will come along.  I'd like to do business with a TGO member before a sight unseen purchase from somewhere far away.  

 

bajabuc, a Hawken by Uberti  sure gets high marks from everyone but I think my odds of finding one are just a little better than the chance I'll see Big Foot over in the Harpeth Bottoms!  Sounds like the folks lucky enough to have one don't let it go easily.  Who knows, I've seen stranger things happen.  Thanks for the interesting posts you put on the board.

 

RED333, nice collection!  The revolving rifles/shotguns are interesting.  The first ones I ever saw were in the Frank Phillips Museum near Bartlesville, OK.  There's one room from his son's collection that's always amazing but you never know what you'll find because he changes it out as he choses.  One very interesting display is his collection of 1911's - he only collects prototypes!  There's also an another unique Colt collection that includes several examples that the Colt factory museum doesn't own.  

Edited August 13, 2013 by WindHawk

[DaveS]

All good thoughts and valuable input.  Thanks. 

 

DaveS, if you hear of anything in the Clarksville area I'd appreciate a "heads up".  I'm in Ashland City; been considering a visit to Midsouth Shooters Supply.  Nothing against in-lines; I just want to try the "old ways".  Question is how old - flint or percussion??  

 

Caster, if "smoke poles" and old farts go together I'll fit right in.  I've heard them called a lot of things including some that would upset TGO David severely if I repeated them. BTW, I enjoy your posts.  I read a lot and say very little (helps hide my ignorance). I'm debating a Lyman GPK kit as an option.  I really don't want to spend more on a learning curve/interest that might not last.

 

gregintenn, a used TC definitely looks like a good way to consider too.  I slept on the TC Hawken that sold on TGO recently and missed a good deal.  Maybe another opportunity will come along.  I'd like to do business with a TGO member before a sight unseen purchase from somewhere far away.  

 

bajabuc, a Hawken by Uberti  sure gets high marks from everyone but I think my odds of finding one are just a little better than the chance I'll see Big Foot over in the Harpeth Bottoms!  Sounds like the folks lucky enough to have one don't let it go easily.  Who knows, I've seen stranger things happen.  Thanks for the interesting posts you put on the board.

 

RED333, nice collection!  The revolving rifles/shotguns are interesting.  The first ones I ever saw were in the Frank Phillips Museum near Bartlesville, OK.  There's one room from his son's collection that's always amazing but you never know what you'll find because he changes it out as he choses.  One very interesting display is his collection of 1911's - he only collects prototypes!  There's also an another unique Colt collection that includes several examples that the Colt factory museum doesn't own.  

Start with percussion. Once you try Flintlocks, there is no turning back!

 

Dave

[gregintenn]

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=22_92_186_191

 

Chew on this a while. ;)

[JPS]

I put together a CVA Kentucky Rifle kit I bought at a sporting goods store in Oregon, and used it for a couple of years hunting in the Oregon mountains.  My hunting buddy used a beautiful ($$$!) Italian-made black powder rifle, but he couldn't out-shoot my rifle.

I don't shoot it much anymore, but I keep the Kentucky rifle along with bullets, butter, and powder wrapped up tight and stashed away in case we run out of regular ammo during the zombie apocolypse.

[gregintenn]

 

Even a CVA Mountain Rifle is a more authentic repo than a T/C.

I'm left handed, which limits my availability in traditional styled blackpowder guns. That was a main determining factor in me buying a Thompson. After getting it, I found it to be a very high quality gun for the money. A left handed anything isn't real authentic as far as I know.

[bajabuc]

left hand is authentic.  hawken didn't make very many...but they did make them...in full stock too...and flint.  I googled S. Hawken and J&S Hawken and clicked on images.  Some real beauties.

Edited August 14, 2013 by bajabuc