Buying used muzzleloaders...

[Adam Helmer]

Today a nearby town had its annual "Mile-long Yard Sale." My significant other drove along in her car while I walked along the mile. I saw lots of kids clothes, toys, puzzles, books and knick-knacks until at last I came to a yard full of shooting and hunting gear. There was a lot of hunting clothes, knives and finally I saw a picnic table loaded with muzzleloaders lying side-by-each. I saw a dozen rifles, about half were flint and the other half caplock, Hawkins and Great Plains arms in .50 and .54 caliber. All were identical with a generous rusty exterior and bores full of rust and corrosion. The prices were in the range of $200 to $300. I asked the seller about the rust and he told me, "Them is huntin' guns." He also acknowledged they got rained on a time or two. He asked me to make an offer and I told him that I did not need any of the arms present.

It is unfortunate that many muzzleloader shooters fail to properly clean fine arms.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

Adam,
I see abused and neglected firearms every hunting season, on various used gun racks and at the range. Muzzleloaders are not very forgiving and if not properly cleaned and maintained they go downhill in a hurry. You should have shown them a few of your muzzleloaders which some chaps might say, "could not be told from new." All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

I noticed several muzzleloaders on the local shop's used gun rack show signs of neglect. I do not think there was a penny's worth of oil on the whole lot. Yes, our muzzleloaders "would pass for new." Be well.

Adam

[quigleysharps4570]

Sounds like my brother-in-laws rifles. Lordy...the last time I saw his muzzleloader...it was sickening. He was keeping an old Rem. 1100 light weight 12 ga. with the English stock out in the barn. Last I saw it...was sitting by the door covered with rust and the finish coming off the stock. Tried to buy it long before it got to that point...no luck. Just never could see how anyone could do that to their firearms.