What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

Slowzen said:

Placed an order for a Kibler kit.

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painter said:

Which model?

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Daryl Crawford said:

Nothing muzzleloader associated was completed today. I'm sitting at my son's house on post waiting for my daughter-in-law to deliver a new grandson at the post hospital. His arrival may lead to some opportunities for some muzzleloader activity...he's going to need a bag, some measures, etc for the muzzleloader I eventually get him!

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B P Maniac Shooter said:

I was asked to give a demonstration to a group of 5th graders at a local 1787 log cabin in a historical section of my hometown. I really enjoy engaging the students in demonstrations of the harsh lifestyle in KY 240+ years ago.

I talked about the tools of the day..., axes, cooking items, and even an ( unloaded ) flintlock rifle. First thing I did was demonstrate how to tell if the rifle is loaded or not:

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Water was essential during that time...just like today. I let this young girl demonstrate how difficult it was retrieving water and carrying it some distance back to the cabin:

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Told the students they were required to know how to load a flintlock rifle...even at their age. If under attack, those skills would be handy and the girls loaded the extra guns while hunkered down in the cabin...possibly for days. This girl was getting heckled by her classmates ( in good clean fun ) as I was handing her the gun under a simulated attack and telling her reloading is required ASAP. She was slow getting the gun that is as tall as she is loaded in this mock event.

( No actual powder or round balls were used in this demonstration. )
I showed the students how they loaded it quickly without REAL supplies.

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Below is 1/2 of the group that attended this event. Those kids really enjoyed handling the ( unloaded ) guns as you can see on both sides of this group picture. Two of the teachers took the pictures.

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Shawrco said:

Acquired my first flintlock muzzleloader today; what have I done! It was listed as “unknown flintlock” on GB. I had been planning to get a parts set and go for it, but saw this one. I just put in the most I’d be willing to pay and ended up winning the auction . It was built by someone who looked to have skills, has carving, wire inlays, engraving, and such. I had asked a lot of questions about it, maker, lock brand, etc. but seller said it was an estate sale item and they weren’t authorized to disassemble. I did find out it’s a straight barrel, 31.5”, 56 caliber. Has a sling and looks Jaeger-esque, but not as ornate. The rub is I’ve been searching around using “56 cal RB” and not finding much except smoothbore info. I did find a couple of places that had .550 balls, which I believe are what I need. When I started looking into the muzzleloader sport I read that 45, 50 were most popular and suppliers were dropping some of the other calibers. I couldn’t find any Lee or Lyman molds for .550 balls.
I’ll put up some photos if I can figure out how to capture them from GB, and provide more details once it’s in my hands. Anyway, diving into the sparky world! Got to partner up with a fellow flintlock shooter who can show me the ropes.

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aussie pete said:

Another fine morning setting a ten-shot group together with the Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken 54. This time, I set the charge a further 10 grains along the scale - 70gns FFG Wano instead of the usual 60. Should be a fine hunting load for the small deer in the block that I visit from time to time. The lateral spread is showing me that I'm not getting consistency in my aiming mark, centre of the red circle, but damn that circle looks small at 50 metres . Benched, of course. 70gns FFG Wano, .018 spit pillow ticking patch cut square, lubed over powder wad with 530 cast pure lead roundball.

Cheers all, Pete

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