Why I Love The Traditional Muzzeloader
Ten years ago when I started hunting, I took the mandatory hunter safety course. During this course they gave us an introduction to muzzleloaders and I had no clue what kind of impact this would make on my hunting life.
I had shot a percussion cap muzzeloader a few times as a teenager but that was the extent of my knowledge with them and I was not really interested in hunting with them and if I did hunt with one, I thought about getting an in-line. However, the instructor was really awesome and he was extremely passionate about shooting muzzleloaders. This is very common among niche interests, people who enjoy them tend to be extremely passionate. By the end of the night, I had completely changed my mind and started recalling the memories as a teenager and how much fun I had shooting a percussion cap muzzleloader. I knew I just had to get me a muzzleloader.
One of the ways I have found it possible to add needed equipment to your hobby is to put the items on your Christmas List. At this time I had no clue about what muzzleloaders to buy and which ones to stay away from, so I did what every self-respecting outdoorsman would do--I started looking through the Cabela's Catalog. I picked out the CVA Bobcat because it was an entry level rifle with an entry level price. I figured if I went to high dollar, then I would not get one for Christmas. Well my parents came through that year and I was given a brand new CVA Bobcat in percussion cap. I was pretty happy, but really had no clue what I had in my hands. Essentially, it was a piece of crap. It was prone to misfires and multiple times I had deer or fox within 10-20 yards of my stand and it misfired and the deer would run away. It was very, very frustrating.
After a two full years with this rifle and multiple misfires, I started looking around the internet and came upon the Muzzleloading Forum. This was the 2nd chance encounter I had with the muzzleloading world. I started researching and learning about what makes a good quality muzzleloader and started seeing the joys of shooting a flintlock and the bug had officially infested me.
I had determined to get a flintlock and enter this amazing world. The pitfall to this is that a custom flintlock will run you $750 up to several thousand. I did not have this kind of money and felt the Traditions Flintlock for $500 was sufficient. However, this flintlock was made in Spain and the locks are not heat treated properly. In order to have a reliable flintlock, you must have a good quality lock on your rifle. So after a year of learning more about flintlocks, I sold the traditions and bought a custom made Brian Turner PA Longrifle Flintlock.
This rifle was really awesome. It was .54 caliber, swamped barrel in 40" length and was extremely well based, curly maple stock and brass hardware. I shot this rifle for several years and was always pleased with it's performance. The lock was extremely reliable and operated flawlessly. I decided that I wanted to hunt even more primitively and sold the PA Longrifle for a Smoothbore. I decided upon a Jackie Brown Poor Boy Smoothie in 20 Gauge that will shoot .600 lead round ball. It has a 44" octagon to round barrel and has a maple stock. I absolutely love shooting this flintlock as well. It has an L&RQueen Anne's Lock and performs flawlessly.
Today, the muzzleloading world has been taken over by single shot scoped rifles that look identical to modern day rifles and bare no resemblance to the muzzleloaders that our ancestors were familiar with. I am a huge history lover and each time I pick up my muzzleloader, I feel as if I am connecting with my ancestors. I love to hunt with my flintlock! Yes I am extremely limited in my range, and the accuracy is not like a modern rifle, but hunting with a flintlock is about carrying on the tradition. Our country was won by the flintlock rifle! I love dressing up like a Longhunter and trekking through the woods and being able to hunt like my ancestors.
Hopefully more and more people will explore the world of traditional muzzleloaders and see how much fun they are to shoot.
I usually wear center seam moccasins but I lost one so I had to hunt with my boots.
I had shot a percussion cap muzzeloader a few times as a teenager but that was the extent of my knowledge with them and I was not really interested in hunting with them and if I did hunt with one, I thought about getting an in-line. However, the instructor was really awesome and he was extremely passionate about shooting muzzleloaders. This is very common among niche interests, people who enjoy them tend to be extremely passionate. By the end of the night, I had completely changed my mind and started recalling the memories as a teenager and how much fun I had shooting a percussion cap muzzleloader. I knew I just had to get me a muzzleloader.
One of the ways I have found it possible to add needed equipment to your hobby is to put the items on your Christmas List. At this time I had no clue about what muzzleloaders to buy and which ones to stay away from, so I did what every self-respecting outdoorsman would do--I started looking through the Cabela's Catalog. I picked out the CVA Bobcat because it was an entry level rifle with an entry level price. I figured if I went to high dollar, then I would not get one for Christmas. Well my parents came through that year and I was given a brand new CVA Bobcat in percussion cap. I was pretty happy, but really had no clue what I had in my hands. Essentially, it was a piece of crap. It was prone to misfires and multiple times I had deer or fox within 10-20 yards of my stand and it misfired and the deer would run away. It was very, very frustrating.
After a two full years with this rifle and multiple misfires, I started looking around the internet and came upon the Muzzleloading Forum. This was the 2nd chance encounter I had with the muzzleloading world. I started researching and learning about what makes a good quality muzzleloader and started seeing the joys of shooting a flintlock and the bug had officially infested me.
I had determined to get a flintlock and enter this amazing world. The pitfall to this is that a custom flintlock will run you $750 up to several thousand. I did not have this kind of money and felt the Traditions Flintlock for $500 was sufficient. However, this flintlock was made in Spain and the locks are not heat treated properly. In order to have a reliable flintlock, you must have a good quality lock on your rifle. So after a year of learning more about flintlocks, I sold the traditions and bought a custom made Brian Turner PA Longrifle Flintlock.
This rifle was really awesome. It was .54 caliber, swamped barrel in 40" length and was extremely well based, curly maple stock and brass hardware. I shot this rifle for several years and was always pleased with it's performance. The lock was extremely reliable and operated flawlessly. I decided that I wanted to hunt even more primitively and sold the PA Longrifle for a Smoothbore. I decided upon a Jackie Brown Poor Boy Smoothie in 20 Gauge that will shoot .600 lead round ball. It has a 44" octagon to round barrel and has a maple stock. I absolutely love shooting this flintlock as well. It has an L&RQueen Anne's Lock and performs flawlessly.
Today, the muzzleloading world has been taken over by single shot scoped rifles that look identical to modern day rifles and bare no resemblance to the muzzleloaders that our ancestors were familiar with. I am a huge history lover and each time I pick up my muzzleloader, I feel as if I am connecting with my ancestors. I love to hunt with my flintlock! Yes I am extremely limited in my range, and the accuracy is not like a modern rifle, but hunting with a flintlock is about carrying on the tradition. Our country was won by the flintlock rifle! I love dressing up like a Longhunter and trekking through the woods and being able to hunt like my ancestors.
Hopefully more and more people will explore the world of traditional muzzleloaders and see how much fun they are to shoot.
Here is my 20 Gauge Smoothbore. Plain and Simple but Reliable
I usually wear center seam moccasins but I lost one so I had to hunt with my boots.
Posted by The Outdoor Podcast at 12/20/2011 5:00 AM 
Categories: Firearms & Knives
Tags: Traditonal Muzzleloaders Jackie Brown Muzzleloaders Hunting with Traditional Muzzleloaders
Categories: Firearms & Knives
Tags: Traditonal Muzzleloaders Jackie Brown Muzzleloaders Hunting with Traditional Muzzleloaders
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