Powdersmoke? it's spreading here

pabooger

Pa Jr. spent the summer working at the BoyScout camp and it seems he got to shoot the smokepoles quite a bit. Guess he earned a badge in it. Well when he came home he informed me he wanted a blackpowder gun.
We were down to the gunshop and the owner had a brand new, CVA. 50 Caliber percussion, that had been there a while, he told me I could have it for $100. Dustins birthday is next week so and we have already bought hom a nice present, but I told him if he wanted to spend $50 of his work money Id throw in the other $50.
I told him he can't use it in the primitive season as it is, not a flintlock. I also told him the inlines were nicer. He informed me that that gun was exactly what he was shooting at camp and that was what he wanted. So I guess next week Ill go pick it up for him.
I know absolutly nothing about the black powder guns so any advice would be appreciated. Can he shoot Pyrodex in that thing, or should he use that new stuff that has come out. The name of which has slipped my mind I believe it's in a black bottle.
Also would he be able to shoot the power belts in it?



To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!

powdersmoke

There are many powders on the market that can be used in a smokepole. Just read the label, most will tell you if you can, or can't, use them in a muzzleloader. Don't use pellets if its a sidelock (they don't get the direct spark to them as happens in an in-line). Don't use smokeless powder. Don't use what you load your cartridges with. You can use a clean burn (or is that clear burn?) I use 'real' blackpowder and I use "Hodgdon, triple Seven, easy clean muzzleloading Propellant". Pyrodex does make a muzzleloader powder if I am not mistaken. Use #11 percussion caps.

Yes he can shoot "Powerbelts" in it. If he's going to shoot a sabot type bullet I would reccommend the "Powerbelts" as they leave less plastic residue and will make cleanup easier. I have shot them myself in my Hawken 50 cal. they work well. He may find he likes the round ball and patch better after he shoots some. The sabot just takes the place of a lubricated patch, but the patch will be cleaner over all.

The reccommended maximum load is 100 gr. of 'triple seven'. After 'talking' to 'longhunter', 'Oldsingleshot, 'jjmitchell' and others, it would seem that 70 gr. is adequate for hunting and will not foul as much. I have heard some say they safely use 150 gr. of powder. I won't under normal circumstances. 100 gr. will give about 1600-1800 fps muzzle velocity, depending on weight of bullet(Slightly higher with a round ball I believe) . Good for a deer shot up to about 100-150 yd.

Swab out the barrel after every third shot or so. I even run a brass bore brush through it to loosen up any fouling. Make sure he cleans it "throughly" after shooting. You can use soap and water for the clean up as long as you dry thoroughly and oil well. You might look on the web for the formula for "Ed's Red" gun cleaner. This works well and, when made to the formula given, will leave a lubricating/protectant coat on the firearm.

If it's in good condition, $100.00 is an excellant price. I paid $125.00 for mine and got a good deal. New it could run twice that much, depending where you bought it.

Oh yea'...it's heavier than what he's used to. Might want to use the cross sticks to steady the barrel or a bracing pole if he's standing.

Tell him to have fun....and most of all......


Go out and make some smoke and noise.



When you wrestle a 'gator, there ain't no good end!!

"Molon Labe!" Spartan General-King Leonidas

pabooger

Ok: thanks Ill save this for future reference



To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!