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New to black powder. Looking for accessories or necessities

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Joined
Jan 22, 2023
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Location
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New to black powder and picked up a CVA mountain kit from a forum member. I understand most of the items I may need such as a powder flask, measurer, ball bag, starter, etc. If anyone has any of those items they want to part with or sell, I would be interested. Also, point me in the right direction for cleaning attachments and rods.

The few days I've been on this forum have amazed me. This is by far one of the most active and helpful forums I'm a member of. Great community!
 
Yep, Track Of The Wolf and Muzzle-Loader.com carries quite of bit of possibles. I also use The Possibles Shop.

1. Powder flask or horn.
2. Powder measure.
3. Cleaning jag, brush, worm and bullet puller.
4. Nipple wrench.
5. Cleaning patches (I make my own).
6. Shooting patches IF shooting round ball.
7. Lube of some sort.
8. Cleaning solvent (can use soapy water).
9. Gun oil or whatever you decide to protect the ML with, especially the barrel.
10. A fine wire or nipple pick.
11. A possibles bag or at least quick loaders for hunting.
 
I was just looking in Track of the Wolf when you guys posted. Lots of items. The is a shop about an hour 20 minutes from me in Indiana called Flintlock LLC. I might try them. Or possibly wait until the shoot at Friendship.
Not sure where in Indiana you are located, but there is a place just south west of Indy called Deercreek Products that carrys BP and BP supplies. They have a web site; and don't let the "mom and pop" look of things deter you, they are good people.

If you place an order at TOW I recommend getting a tin of their Mink Oil , makes a excellent cold weather hunting patch lube.
 
New to black powder and picked up a CVA mountain kit from a forum member. I understand most of the items I may need such as a powder flask, measurer, ball bag, starter, etc. If anyone has any of those items they want to part with or sell, I would be interested. Also, point me in the right direction for cleaning attachments and rods.

The few days I've been on this forum have amazed me. This is by far one of the most active and helpful forums I'm a member of. Great community!
You’ve received excellent advice above. You didn’t mention the caliber of your new rifle, but if it’s .50 or above I’d choose 10-32 threads for all your jags, range rod, etc.
 
I'm in Orange county. About 2 hours south of Indy. I know of Deer Creek and Flintlock LLC, but have never been to either place. I plan on going to the shoot this spring in Friendship and see what I can find.
 
New to black powder and picked up a CVA mountain kit from a forum member. I understand most of the items I may need such as a powder flask, measurer, ball bag, starter, etc. If anyone has any of those items they want to part with or sell, I would be interested. Also, point me in the right direction for cleaning attachments and rods.

The few days I've been on this forum have amazed me. This is by far one of the most active and helpful forums I'm a member of. Great community!
I would suggest you avoid the shopping list of things you could use or may need, and concentrate on the few must haves. From your own experience and what you see others use, you will figure out what to purchase.

For a quick start, what do you need?
  1. Your gun will work with round balls and as this is the percussion sub forum, likely a cap lock. So you will need powder, 2F or 3F and a way to dispense it.
  2. Make or purchase a nozzle for your powder container. Get your horn or flask later when you figure out what you like.
  3. You will need a powder measure. Do you have any empty centerfire cartridges? Can work until you figure out what you like or want. Black Powder Measures from Cartridges.
  4. Patch material. Just make sure to use 100% cotton. WallyWorld or local fabric store will have it.
  5. Patch lube, spit or homemade moose milk.
  6. Percussion caps, likely #11 will be needed. Might e most difficult item to locate.
  7. Roundballs, about .010” under your gun’s bore diameter.
  8. A cleaning jag that fits your ramrod (make sure your ramrod ends are pinned), or better yet, a steel range rod with a muzzle protector. Suggest you supplement with a ball puller and a rag puller. Not needed until something goes sideways, but it will happen. Also recommend a nipple wrench, can be made or purchased.
  9. Cleaning supplies. Dish soap and water. Patches made from old t-shirts or similar.
  10. Gun oil, what do you already have?
  11. Where or how to carry this stuff? An old tackle or small tool box can work. It’s not going to fit in any hunting pouch, at least until you figure out what you are actually going to need.
In theory, if you have powder, roundballs, percussion caps and some sort of patch material, you are good to go. Everything else just makes life simpler, or at least should.
 
Be conservative in your buying. All the ml places mentioned give great service and great products. However they are in business to sell stuff. I am happy to do business with any one of them and glad they got it to sell.
But newbies want it all. So do greybeards. Not need it all want it all. Keeps me on traders row at an event, keeps me from being weighted down with a full wallet. However, Go minimalist, see how it feels to use, check out what others have and how it works.
Ml is not a ‘just add water’ sport. Well it can be, you can end up needing a mule just to carry around all the neat toys you have for your gun
 
I get anything I buy from either Dixie gun works or track of the wolf. But almost all of my "items "are self made I buy only powder and caps. When I first started I bought all kinds of "junk" . What I actually use is Balls (ten thousands under bore size", patches (.O15 thick, or .010 depending on gun) , powder real black either FF or FFF. , Ramrod, short starter, patch retriver/ball puller. (yes you will sometimes have to pull out a ball) , "T "handle , for end of ramrod to help pull "stuck patches or balls" and a patch lube (I prefer a mixture of lard and beeswax)
 
It is so convenient to shop from one supplier, but I have found that sometimes it does pay to shop several vendors. Sometimes you can bundle orders to ger free shipping.

One of the nicest powder measure/flask combinations I have come across is either the Traditions flask and spout or the Knight Flask and spout. Must be popular as many places (Midway USA) are out of stock and others such as RMC-OX Yoke have limited supply. The best feature of the flask and measure combination is that any 1/2" diameter measure can be used. I have also seen the valve that can be adapted for use with a powder can. I'm providing a link to the RMC-OX Yoke offering.

https://rmcoxyoke.com/product/knight-powder-measure-w-flask/
I recommend getting two cleaning jags. One is obviously for cleaning and the other is for range loading use. The range jag should be reduced in diameter for the times when you want to wipe excess fouling and the crust ring from the breech. With the range loading jag, the jag and damp patch slide over the fouling and apply some solution to the fouling to soften it up, extinguish embers and then pull the fouling from the barrel. The full sized cleaning hag can push fouling to the breech and clog the chambered breech and flash channel. We don't want to have unreliable ignition of the powder.
 
Look over the list that various members have posted. Take one item at a time and do a do form search for it. Read what people say as far as likes and dislikes. Take screenshots of ones you like. Think about the ones you can make. Take your time.
 
A Ball puller and sturdy rod is a must. Try thinner patches first, thumb starting the balls (Traditionally a short starter was never needed), much easier to pull a ball-load if you don't have to pound it down in the fist place. You mentioned the Flintlock shop was only 20 minutes away, it would be well worth your time to stop in and talk, they will help get you set up. In reality less is more. A adjustable measure to work up your accurate hunting load is also a must. Local shops may be able to put you in touch with local clubs-shoots or people in your area.
 
A Ball puller and sturdy rod is a must. Try thinner patches first, thumb starting the balls (Traditionally a short starter was never needed), much easier to pull a ball-load if you don't have to pound it down in the fist place. You mentioned the Flintlock shop was only 20 minutes away, it would be well worth your time to stop in and talk, they will help get you set up. In reality less is more. A adjustable measure to work up your accurate hunting load is also a must. Local shops may be able to put you in touch with local clubs-shoots or people in your area.
Flintlock is an hour 20 from me. Deer Creek is about the same. I'm in southern Indiana. I plan to visit both stores.
 
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