Well looks like the elitists are out in force tonight.
Anyone have any USEFUL comments?
Many are just being too practical....... worried about how to aim, convert to flint, remove the bell, etc. This isn’t a serious gun purchase that needs to be critiqued. It is not an investment and to think it is one, well, unless you are about 10 years old..... too much fun. Buy it and have both historically and period incorrect entertainment.
I have the ‘budget’ version (picked it up in an estate lot purchase) made by Mendi. 13-1/2” barrel (including the bell), percussion, grade 2 pallet wood, ‘24 Cal’ whatever that means (close to 26 gauge at .56” bore), etc. One thing I noticed in the pictures is the Traditions may be a two piece barrel with a seam near the bell. The only thing I would do to the one I have is shorten the length of pull, and may yet do that.
Ok, the gun is a blast to shoot. The kids, large and small seem to love it. I bring it out on the 4th or anytime there is crowd and need or want an obnoxious noise maker. Put balloons up a few feet in front of the kids, load 30/50 grains or so of whatever is ‘excess inventory’ powder under a cottonball, and enough ‘stuff’ comes out of the muzzle to pop balloons, make smoke and a big boom. The kids think they’re Captain Jack and line up to shoot it. Good chance to teach gun handling safety and introduce young (and old) to ‘traditional’ muzzleloading. Unfortunately, it is as close to it as many will ever get.
Before you try the above load, get clearance from the grounds crew. Brother in-law’s bride had a fit trying to keep up with cottonball fuzz and ballon fragments in her back yard.