One of these days when I get time (a lot of fantasies start that way ;-) ), I am going to write down my "adventures" with Muzzle loaders. Naturally I define adventure the same way Mark Twain did; the result of poor preparation.
I guess it was about 15 years ago I was hunting in TN with a Hawken and had the same thing happen. Entirely my fault, I had left the rifle loaded the night before.
Fortunately I had with me a Ruger Old Army revolver and when the deer, who heard the snap but did not run off, turned and walked away I was able to retrieve my Ruger and take a chancy shot on the move a lot further than I should have. It must not have been the deer's lucky day as the bullet somehow connected with its heart though I could not see for all the smoke.
Good thing that first one worked as in the extreme cold my experimental bullets were a lot looser in the chambers and the one to the left of the barrel eased forward a few thousandts of an inch and jammed the cylinder...more adventure with muzzle loaders :-)
Riposte
PS that Hawken now uses a primer conversion. Forgot what it is called, "Spitfire" maybe? Several of my other muzzle loader have been converted to musket caps.
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The will to win is nothing, without the will to prepare.
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