Traditional...Becoming the past?

[quigleysharps4570]

The ole traditional style rifles, be it flinter or caplock, seems to be becoming a thing of the past. Except for a small few it appears. Everywhere you go and about every site you see, in-lines, in-lines, in-lines. If they're not talking which new high powered sabot, it's which scope or which new replica powder or pellet is best. Have also noticed not many appear to like a beautiful wood stock anymore. Everyone's raving about synthetic of every color of the rainbow. Good lord! Don't know what's happened. Things have sure changed since I started into muzzleloading. It was in 1975 when I got started. Some of you all have alot more years in it than I do, so I can only guess how you all feel about it. The only good thing I'm seeing is the help a new person can get by going on the internet. Wish it'd a been around when I was starting. I had to do alot of reading and trial and error on my own. Around here I only knew one person that was shooting them, he got me started, but he was about as green at it as me. He ended up losing interest, but I hung in there and here I am today. Most stores I walk in, sabots, replica powder, pellets, in-lines or plastic accessories to go with the new muzzleloaders. At one time it was different, you could walk in one and see traditional rifles and kits. Had real powder horns or flasks, brass cappers and leather possibles bags. Powder was alot easier to get ahold of too. Now it appears all the regs are scaring the ones that use to sell it off. Don't know what it's gonna come to. I do know what it won't come to for this ole boy though. Thanks for listening to me rant guys.

[Gotcha!]

I agree - but you don't even want me to start ranting too!

[Skinny Shooter]

I'm not so sure about it fading away. Or at least around these parts.
Every year the crowds pack the Gunmaker's Fair up here so there seems to be lots of interest in the original guns.
To me, I'm shooting a part of history when I use my Pennsylvania Longrifle or Brown Bess.
Some guys may want to try something different than smokeless powder and the in-line gives them the opportunity to try burning charcoal in a simpler delivery platform.
I'd just never spend the money for an in-line. That would take the fun ( and nostalgia) out of the entire reason to use a flinter in the first place.
I've sorta slammed in-line users in the past and really shouldn't have. We're all gunowners first and shouldn't divide ourselves into groups that can be attacked by the Anti's. Like all of the semi owners were when the AWB went into effect.
Allen

[Adam Helmer]

quigley,

I hear what you are saying and, yes, many new shooters go right to the inlines. There is a hardcore of traditional folks like us. I am Corporal Brasso in the PA Bucktails and we have some younger lads in Civil War uniform for our parades and re-enactments. Also, a few local teenage lads have come by this farm to get checked out on flintlocks for the PA Traditional deer season.

I have read the Lewis & Clark Journals, saw "Drums Along the Mohawk" movie (1939) and "Last of the Mohicans" movie too many times to ever buy an inline or acquire a synthetic stock for a musket. Ok, so I am a Traditionalist and that is fine by me and my loyal Golden, Webley.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Preachin' to the choir on this one! I don't "hate" inline users, but they have certainly bastardized the muzzleloading season here in MI. What was originally meant to be a primative season was quickly overshadowed by wording..........because it is termed "muzzleloading", anything that loads from the muzzle is considered a "muzzleloader" .........even if it shoots plastic sabots, powerbelts, 5 pyrodex pellets, ect. Wouldn't mind hunting with these boys if they wanted to load loose powder and shoot a lead projectile (no plastic), but they insist on stretching the range farther and farther......heard a claim of 400 yard shots this past fall. .....to me, that ain't what muzzleloading is all about! 'Plastic and pellets' will never touch this child's bore!

Like Adam, I grew up watching Fess Parker as Daniel Boone, watched "drums along the Mohawk", "Unconquered", "The northwest passage", and a serial of James Fennimore Cooper's "last of the mohicans" on CBC television. I used to pretend to be those people in the fields and woodlots around my home as I grew up. Those films/shows inspired me to read real accounts of those people, and I became a history buff (...and the rest is history ) As long as they make movies like "last of the Mohicans (with Daniel Day Lewis) and "The Patriot", I'll be pouring black powder down the muzzle of a musket!

[skeet]

[My favorite movie...Saw it last night. I have a new Savage smokeless inline but still have ad shoot my TC Hawken. In fact I'm looking to buy a TC Hawken in the flinter version. If I can find one anywhere.

[Gil Martin]

I started shooting blackpowder in 1970 with a .45 percussion T/C Hawken. My preference has always been for the flintlock and I started buying them. At last count I believe there were about a dozen tucked away around here. Waugh... This child ain't going to go under easily or quietly when it comes to shooting traditional muzzleloaders. That's the way my stick floats. All the best...
Gil

[popplecop]

The percussion cap is a new fangled idea and it will fade, just as shotshell primers. Flints will be here for ever. Have to admit to owning some traditional cap locks, but flinters is where it is at.

[Hoyt]

I went to the inline first...but the last few yrs. have gone in the opposite direction. I did all my spring gobbler hunting last season with a 12ga. T/C percussion...and am now building a .62cal. Early Virginia smooth bore flintlock to do this yrs gobbler hunting. Soon as I get through with it I'm going to build a flintlock with rifled barrel..probably .54cal. for my deer and hog hunting.

[wrenchman]

I have a side lock and have used it till this year but i am now running into a problim i cant see my front sight at dusk.
This left me with no choice but to go with a in line i will be puting a scope on it for light gathering at dusk.
I wish i could get fiber optick for my side lock
I dont think this is what it started out as i am also the last in my group to go to a inline.
i have been useing black powder and round balls till this year
i will most likely keep useing it when i hunt in areas that i can use my side lock.
I will misss useing my side lock but age is catching up on me
My wife bought it for a christmas presint one year when we were dateing
I have yet to even shoot my new inline i have herd that black powder is easyer to light then the pyrodex

[skeeter@ccia.com]

It seems lots in my area are returning to the flintlock...lots due to the length of hunting season. The after Christmas season ends this Saturday...I do think the rain has kept lots out of the woods though...We are fortunate to have a local resident that sells nothing but blackpower supplies.... we can get the old powderhorns handmade and anything else you can think of to take ya back to the good ole days..Sure glad he is here..I have heard a few talk about selling the inline to return to the round ball



Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do

[quigleysharps4570]

Would sure be nice to have a place like that to walk into.

[eldeguello]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
quigley,

I hear what you are saying and, yes, many new shooters go right to the inlines. There is a hardcore of traditional folks like us. I am Corporal Brasso in the PA Bucktails and we have some younger lads in Civil War uniform for our parades and re-enactments. Also, a few local teenage lads have come by this farm to get checked out on flintlocks for the PA Traditional deer season.

I have read the Lewis & Clark Journals, saw "Drums Along the Mohawk" movie (1939) and "Last of the Mohicans" movie too many times to ever buy an inline or acquire a synthetic stock for a musket. Ok, so I am a Traditionalist and that is fine by me and my loyal Golden, Webley.

Adam

I may be wrong, but my impression is that those of us who were shooting ML rifles etc., all along, are still using the old-time actions mostly, but the people who are the hottest about the inlines, sabots, HV loads, etc., are people who have only joined us muzzleloader types since the advent of these contraptions, and BECAUSE of them. Otherwise, most of these people would still not be shooting ML's.... I still don't see why these people don't shoot their "superior" weapons during the regular seasons, if they are really so much better (NOT!!).

[gd357]

eldeguello,

I began hunting with a caplock muzzleloader simply to extend my time in the field with a gun. I had two misfires with two different caplock guns (both were the result of an oversight on my part, albeit a very miniscule detail). However, I didn't, and still don't have the time necessary to get much shooting in (and I never had any misfire when shooting at inanimate targets). So as a result, I shoot an inline. I'd love to get back into traditional muzzleloading, but until I have the time, I'll take the the reliability and simplicity of an inline. An inline is a wonderful way to go during gun season here (considering that we're limited to shotguns, muzzys and pistols). The only time it wouldn't make sense is during a deer drive, when the animals will be running and a second shot may be necessary. I know quite a few people who use caplocks, and a few who use flinters. There's a local muzzleloading club about a mile and a half from where my parents live, and most of the members use traditional gear, and dress the part of a "mountain man". It's a great organization, and one I'd like to be involved in when time constraints allow. I don't think it's a thing of the past, but it seems that it takes a while for younger shooters to appreciate the aesthetic value of traditional equipment. As they mature, and realize that a hunt doesn't have to end with a dead deer to be a success, they will gravitate to more challenging methods of hunting.

gd357

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I may be wrong, but my impression is that those of us who were shooting ML rifles etc., all along, are still using the old-time actions mostly, but the people who are the hottest about the inlines, sabots, HV loads, etc., are people who have only joined us muzzleloader types since the advent of these contraptions, and BECAUSE of them.

BINGO! El, I think you hit the nail on the head......inlines make it MUCH easier to hunt with a muzzleloader than using a traditional weapon; don't have to worry about matching patch size to ball size, working up a load, weighing out powder, ect,ect......and the game departments are using the special "muzzleloading" seasons now to control out of control deer herds, not so much to provide a positive "hunting" (not 'killing') experience. And for a lot of folks, it's all about the kill and not the hunt. What gripes me the most about some inline shooters is that they say there is NO difference between and inline and a traditional flintlock or caplock because they are single shots and load from the front; that's like saying there is no difference between a Model T and a Ferrari because they both have 4 wheels and a steering wheel! Guess the same thing can be said of modern bowhunters; I wonder how many would be out in thier tree stands if the compound bow handn't been invented, and all the other gadgets and gizmos (carbon arrows, plastic fletching, bowsights, releases, changeable broadheads, ect) weren't available. Those of us who have shot "stick bows" and hunted with them know there IS a difference.

Quigley;
Quite interestingly, reread the title of your post...."Traditional...becoming the past?" Yes, traditional IS becoming the past; it let's you live as your forefathers did, and it takes you back to a better age (some say) where one didn't worry about mismanged game herds, politics in the F &W departments, antihunters, squabbles among hunters, people who only hunt for the biggest set of antlers, ect.

Guess I'm lucky that I have a traditional BP shop within 50 miles of my house....I can get my BP there, as well as lead, traditional supplies, ect. They also have a great gunsmithing dept, carry traditional gear such as candle lanterns, flint & steel, ect. and make period correct clothing.