Original Antique Firearms | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the ...The subject got on Uberti vs Pietta. He said that Uberti upgraded the factory to modern C&C machining and other "upgrades" to offset labor costs. Once that was complete they retired or laid off most of the skilled labor. While Uberti was making the upgrades, Pietta watched as they were considering similar factory upgrades.Apr 18, 2008 · 4. Sep 7, 2008. #8. There's almost as many different types of patchbox release mechanisms as their are schools of longrifles. Some builders that try to recreate specific longrifles as exactly as possible try to use the same type of mechanism as the original rifle they are copying, even if the mechanism is hidden. Reaction score. 7,695. Sep 30, 2022. #6. JackGGarner said: I am the owner o Tennessee Valley Manufacturing. Been doing muzzleloading for 59 years. we do mostly everything here. I have r own castings, wood and most supplies for muzzle loaders. If u have any questions let us know.It looks like overall housing trends may be throwing a wrench in the prices of HD....HD Home improvement retailer Home Depot (HD) has struggled to overcome chart resistance in the ...It is way easier than most folks that haven't pulled a load before realize to pull a load with a ball puller, especially on a clean barrel. If you don't already have one, get one with the brass ring that keeps the screw centered in the barrel. Screw it in and pull it. It will come out easy if the barrel was clean when it was loaded.Jun 6, 2008. #11. I received a box of Hornady Great Plains bullets in .58 caliber with a lightly used .58 cal Zouave. When I got to the range I wiped the bore, poured 60 grains of Pyrodex RS down the hole and started the pre lubed bullet. It got about 12 inches down the bore and stopped.Messages. 7,913. Reaction score. 1,950. Apr 21, 2013. #8. According to the Greenhill formula for calculating the spin required for a given bullet length or, conversely, length of bullet which can be stabilized by a given twist, a twist of 1:66 will work for bullets .568" long or shorter in a .50 caliber. Spence.517. Location. Midwest. Apr 30, 2021. #1. Since posting a post back on 04/21 in regards to Track of theWolf kits, I've been reading alot on this forum about flint rifle history and various kits available pros/cons, also reading on the web about alot of the history behind flintlock rifles and flint kits. In reading the home page info on Chambers ...13,610. Location. Owego, NY. Jan 13, 2024. #5. My rule is if they don't take PayPal or credit cards but just Zelle or Venmo I google their name and ask if they are a scam. Generally, the answer is yes. You can also google their address and see if they are really there.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Thanks, Spence. :hatsoff: That is exactly the table that I was looking for. My revolver seems to have no date marks on it anywhere. It has the two proof marks and the letters PN but nothing else other than the serial number. :idunno: I know it of recent manufacture since Pietta began making this particular model only in recent years. :hmm: Thanks for the help.The builder of my rifle made a clean kill at 90 yards with 70 grains 3f in a .54. I looked up the load in the Lyman Black Powder Handbook and Loading Manual; 70 grains 3f Goex, .535 ball. muzzle energy - 963 ft lb. 100 yards - 456 ft lb. 90 grains 3f Goex, .535 ball. muzzle energy - 1111 ft lb. 100 yards - 487 ft lb.Photos | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.Location. Montana. Jan 23, 2024. #1. One thing I do like about winter is that it gives me a little spare time to catch up on some of my projects. I just finished this 1769 Pattern Short Land Brown Bess from the Rifle Shoppe. Now I will finish out the TRS Baker rifle I started a while back.Ok I got a good old cva st.louis hawken in 54. I used to hunt elk with it. The load I used was 90 grains of rs and a cast 380 grain real bullet.do to bad neck and back I can no longer shoot this load. So I was thinking using it on deer with a round ball. Most shots at black tail deer here or...8. Oct 21, 2009. #1. Re: the CVA "USA" marked Mountain rifles only (not the second, non USA marked version)... I'm trying to get an idea how many of these rifles were made. I personally know of serial numbers as low as less than 200 (00001XX), and almost as high as 44,000 (00439XX). That's a lot of rifles (or at least barrels) for a young ...i have a .45 pedersoli kentucky. using 2fg, start with at least 60 grains. once you get the patch thickness sussed out, increase 5 grains at a time and shoot 5 balls for each. with good weather and careful bench shooting, you'll find a charge load yer rifle will like best. make SURE to run a lightly lubed patch down and out ONCE between each ...South Carolina. Mar 30, 2020. #1. Here are my first rounds after adjusting the sights on my Traditions Kentucky Pistol I recently built from their kit. I was shooting at 10 yards single hand, freehand. I was shooting .490 rb over prelubed Ox-Yoke .018 patches. Load was 22 grains of FFFg Goex black powder.This post is trying to show anyone interested in one method to drill and tap for a TH. If you don't have a drill press and try to tap free hand it could get real ugly. The TH needs to be counter sunk flush with the filed on/in barrel flat. Don't think a newbie can make that happen free hand. JMO.Spring Rendezvous Oregon. Please join the Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade for its annual Spring Rendezvous in Mill City, Oregon May 24-27. Events include black powder rifle/pistol/trade gun, hawk and knife, primitive archery, frying pan toss, long gong shoot, children's games and activities, traders, primitive and... gferlitsch.You had every intention of cleaning up, but ran out of time. Having people over is always more work than you think it’s going to be. Even if you go in with the intention of keeping...Sometimes, in the field, the ramrod isn't stuck that bad and you can make a little jig out of metal plate with a 3/8" hole (if that is the diameter of your ramrod). This little plate can be about 3/4" wide, 3" long, 1/8" thick and the hole at one end. You slip this over the ramrod and lift up the long end.Jun 25, 2022. #10. About 6 weeks ago, Midway USA blew out their remaining stock of the Lyman/Pedersoli Signature Series GPR, and they are now discontinued on their site. Sale price on a flint kit was $480 and finished guns were under $600. Left hand in .50 caliber was a little less than $585.I did get a chance to physically hold a Pedersoli Blue Ridge in a 50 caliber, flintlock, this past Saturday. It was a very used one, at a local gun shop and priced within $70 of a new one. My second choice would be a Lyman Great Plains rifle, in a 50 caliber, percussion....but I'd prefer the long rifle.Messages. 7,913. Reaction score. 1,950. Apr 21, 2013. #8. According to the Greenhill formula for calculating the spin required for a given bullet length or, conversely, length of bullet which can be stabilized by a given twist, a twist of 1:66 will work for bullets .568" long or shorter in a .50 caliber. Spence.Much more than a modern firearm that has had 200 rounds through it. Use lubes like olive oil or crisco or whatever you like best while you're shooting to keep the fouling soft enough to re-load. Even the small amount of wax in my paper fiber wads helps a lot to keep the fouling soft.Many would say the Pennsylvania is more correct due to it's length, I got the Kentucky because I always wanted one and for no other reason. If you compare the two the only real difference is the length and the Pennsylvania doesn't have a patchbox other than that everything appears to be the same.Mid-Coast Maine. Jul 31, 2019. #4. The Traditions kit comes with a chunky endcap. Because I glued the 2 stock pieces together, it shortened the overall length just enough that the holes didn't line up. A new cap was made from the brass kickplate sheet, and the end profile lightened up. JT1200R Panama Red.Reaction score. 7,675. Nov 21, 2023. #1. Any other subscribers to Muzzleloader magazine that haven't gotten the Nov/Dec issue yet? I know various things may delay production of a specialty magazine, but just wondered as it's getting to the end of Nov. soon. My local newsstand still has the Sep/Oct issue on display, also.As Rich Pierce, tenngun, Loyalist Dave, and others have pointed out, an "English trade gun" is a generic term while a "Type G" or "Carolina" trade gun are specific patterns of trade gun. T. M. Hamilton …A forum for muzzleloader enthusiasts to ask questions, share tips, and discuss topics related to muzzleloading. Find answers to common queries about inlines, sidelocks, smokeless, sabots, bullets, powders, and more.Jan 8, 2023. #1. Making a Powder Horn, Part 2- Scrimshaw. Today I have the borders all done and ready to do my panels and more. After five hours though, it was time to quit for the day. Decorating a Powder Horn is really an individual's own choice.Jan 2, 2020. #1. Hi Guys, A friend asked me to look at the barrel on his India-made Ketland officer's fusil. The barrel and gun were made by Abdul Hakim Usta in 1979. The bolster on the breech plug is very small and it appears to have a flange around it that caps the end of the barrel. The internal plug also has an end that seems to be …Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:45 pm. Knight Manual Articles. This board contains articles and passages from our owner's manual to better help those who own Knight Rifles, both new …Increased Offer! Hilton No Annual Fee 70K + Free Night Cert Offer! United Airlines has launched a new one-day award sale for travel to Hawaii. Eligible members and cardholders can ...Increased Offer! Hilton No Annual Fee 70K + Free Night Cert Offer! United Airlines has launched a new one-day award sale for travel to Hawaii. Eligible members and cardholders can ...Jan 23, 2022 · For all of your Traditional & Modern Muzzleloader Shooting Accessories! Powder, Ball,ConicalSabot, Patch, Lube, Caps, Flint,Primers, Range rods, Ramrods, Repair parts, Slings, Upgrades, Possibles Bags, Powder horns, Powder Flasks, EVERYTHING that involves accessories or parts for your muzzle loader! Reaction score. 2,919. Nov 5, 2023. #10. 64Springer said: Contact the New York State Police and ask them. Contact New York gun shops in your county and ask them. Contact the company you're buying the muzzleloader from and ask them. That's a good way to get 3 different answers!Looking at their data, there is no doubt that shortening the barrel reduces the muzzle velocity . For instance, looking at the data for the 94 grain powder charge, the largest that was tested thru the entire 40 to 20 length barrel the velocity dropped from 2260 fps to 1976 fps. and.Reaction score. 56. Location. New York. Jul 12, 2023. #1. Picked up a traditions .54 cal blunderbuss kit 6 months ago as my first smokepole and have had a great time developing loads. You'd be surprised how good some of the patterns are. These would likely work in another .54 smoothie or 28 gauge.Jun 6, 2008. #11. I received a box of Hornady Great Plains bullets in .58 caliber with a lightly used .58 cal Zouave. When I got to the range I wiped the bore, poured 60 grains of Pyrodex RS down the hole and started the pre lubed bullet. It got about 12 inches down the bore and stopped.You can find the bench design online or in Chris Schwarz's book "Workbenches". Look up "Roubo" bench online. The metal vises are from Woodcraft I believe. They cost about $90 at the time (10 years ago). The rotating jaws are very useful. The leg vises on the bench are very handy and have tremendous holding power.I got it home and it was a .50 cal.,, CVA frontier in great shape with a ball stuck about 3 inches from the breech. I pulled the nipple and clean out screw and pushed the ball closer to the breech. There was no powder under it so I dribbled in about 20 grains of 3f and replaced the screw and nipple. Of course I was out of #11 caps so I used a ...69 Cal. Most frizzens today are made of 6150 steel which is an oil hardening steel, however it will never get hard enough with an oil quench, so you need to use water. I've never had any issues with a 6150 frizzen cracking in a water quench after tempering. Only springs made of 6150 I've had crack in a water quench.1. You must mention the calibre of the muzzleloading revolver. 2. You must mention the calibre of the muzzleloading revolver - mentioning that it is a nitro conversion - you will NOT be allowed to convert it back to BP. 3. Calibre of muzzleloading pistol - it does not matter how many shots it fires.Smokeless Muzzleloading. Post thread. Loads, tips, and shooting for the Savage muzzleloader, SMI smokeless and other muzzleloaders approved for smokeless ONLY. Warning! Smokeless powder loads are not for use in any other muzzleloaders.Lee Burke chose to interpret both the Type G and NW gun parts as introduced by English traders known to be in the area as early as 1772 and possibly as late as 1785. So Lee Burke sees the Type G trade gun still being made at the time of the Rev War. But there are other possible interpretations.Sometimes, in the field, the ramrod isn't stuck that bad and you can make a little jig out of metal plate with a 3/8" hole (if that is the diameter of your ramrod). This little plate can be about 3/4" wide, 3" long, 1/8" thick and the hole at one end. You slip this over the ramrod and lift up the long end.2 days ago · I tried blasting it out atleast 10 times it hasn’t moved. I tried the grease gun but the grease went around the minie so that didn’t work. I broke two ball pullers of on the ball, JB welded the last puller into my rod and it still stripped the puller. I took it to a gunsmith with air and pullers and he couldn’t budge it. Location. Montana. Jan 23, 2024. #1. One thing I do like about winter is that it gives me a little spare time to catch up on some of my projects. I just finished this 1769 Pattern Short Land Brown Bess from the Rifle Shoppe. Now I will finish out the TRS Baker rifle I started a while back.Mar 10, 2008. #4. When I was a kid, we didn't have fancy pre-made wads. We used pieces of old wasp nest (very good), news paper and even cotton balls. The trick was to pull the cotton balls apart a little bit so that they didn't fly very far. Lubed with a loose beeswax and tallow/olive oil lube they worked well.Jun 17, 2019 · Reaction score. 7,675. Nov 21, 2023. #1. Any other subscribers to Muzzleloader magazine that haven't gotten the Nov/Dec issue yet? I know various things may delay production of a specialty magazine, but just wondered as it's getting to the end of Nov. soon. My local newsstand still has the Sep/Oct issue on display, also. Help Support Muzzleloading Forum: This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.0. Jan 29, 2007. #1. Hi, Most of my muzzleloader experience is with tc hawkens... I just picked up a used Traditions Deer Hunter, percussion, 1:48" twist 24" barrel, Its a little older model with the wood stock and thin fixed rubber butt plate...gun is in really nice shape, but it needs a few things ! The first and most important is the flat ...Aug 14, 2012 · Reaction score. 45. Dec 19, 2012. #15. Your rifle is indeed one of Navy Arm's Hawken "Hunter" in .58 caliber. The guns had a 1:60" twist, with a shallow .003" to .005" depth, and were specifically built to take big powder charges. Shot my Pedersoli Kentucky Kit Rifle today. It's my second trip to a range and my first flintlock. It's .45 cal and I was using 45 gn fffg and a .010 pillow ticking patch shooting from a rest. Lot's of work left but I am happy with the group at 25 yds. Here are pics of the rifle and target...Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Jun 17, 2019 · Reaction score. 7,675. Nov 21, 2023. #1. Any other subscribers to Muzzleloader magazine that haven't gotten the Nov/Dec issue yet? I know various things may delay production of a specialty magazine, but just wondered as it's getting to the end of Nov. soon. My local newsstand still has the Sep/Oct issue on display, also. Reaction score. 9,916. Location. Florence Alabama. Feb 22, 2024. #10. I have ordered a lot of B/P from Powder Inc. in the past, all went smoothly. When the shortage hit, I decided to round out my stock with about 10 more # if I could find any Goex. Everyone was sold out except for Crater Fireworks.Apr 3, 2018. #14. Full buck horn sights are the most useless sight ever invented in my opinion. They are about style alone and don't do anything particularly well for sighting that cannot be done better with a partridge front and wide, shallow, open or aperture rear sight. P.Percussion Rifles | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account ...Oct 14, 2011 · Location. Camino, CA. Yesterday at 4:43 PM. #1. 2001 Pietta Remington 1858 NMA revolver, .44 caliber, in excellent used condition. Stainless frame/cylinder with 8” barrel, walnut grips. $320 shipped. Reaction score. 11,681. Location. St. Louis, MO. Feb 9, 2018. #20. Historically the very short barreled smooth bores would have been thought of as blanket guns to be hidden under a blanket for defense or a surprise assault. The canoe gun is a modern term for a short barreled gun that might have been used in a canoe.32 Cal. When I discovered a 72 cal Pedersoli Double rifle being offered for sale for only $675, I couldn't believe no one jumped on it before me. Well, I jumped because $675 is a super bargain. These rifles usually sell for $1200 - $1600.The photos below show one of the famous mahogany stocked rifles by Haines. The rifle I am using for inspiration is #81 shown in RCA vol 1. It is maple stocked but the patch box and carving are very similar to the mahogany stocked rifles. Isaac Haines was arguably the best carver of all the great long rifle makers.Traditional Muzzleloading on the Cheap - Info Center. 170762 Posts in 21384 Topics by 144 Members. Latest Member: smdoyle. Latest Post: "Re: Powder" ( Today at 01:44:25 PM ) View the most recent posts on the forum. 27 Guests, 0 Users.Schutzen is, for all practical purposes, identical to Goex. It's good powder. For me, I really like how Schutzen supports black powder shooting sports. They have supported our efforts in youth instruction with both powder and caps while Goex brushed us off.Thinking of adding another .44 cal cap & ball to my collection. Cant make up my mind if I should pick up a Walker or Dragoon. Pietta or Uberti So would like your pro,s and con,s of each model and what your preferences are. Thanks in advance for sharing your advice and wisdom. Bill I had a...In this book Ingalls relates that the basic density of properly prepared blackpowder is approx 1.6 to 1.8 grams per centimeter cubed. Some more recent tecnical articles from the Army Ballistic Research Labs placed the maximum theoretical density at about 1.95 gm/cc with many powders being about 1.7 to 1.9.The proposed rule changes could make Roth accounts and Roth conversions even more valuable than ever, since they are not subject to RMDs. The Internal Revenue Service has proposed ...The striped pillow ticking (0.015) or mattress ticking (0.018) is easiest to find. Some like the extra thickness in denim (0.020) patching or canvas (0.022). Some like the finer and denser weave of the drill cloth / utility cloth (0.017) from JoAnn's Fabrics. All those fabrics must be 100% cotton.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Mar 1, 2024. AZ Muzzleloaders posted the thread FOR SALE 54 Caliber Custom Hawken. Built from TOTW Parts Set, Curly Maple in Firearms For Sale/Trade/Wanted . Built about 1986 from a Track of the Wolf parts set. Barrel measures 32 1/4" x 1" (actual 0.985"), 1:66 rate of twist.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.17,538. Reaction score. 80. Nov 12, 2007. #4. Jug choking is putting an expansion chamber inside the barrel. Barrel thickness is important. However, we are talking about .005-.015" in depth, so only those very thin old barrels are likely to be rejected for such a procedure. DB guns can be jug choke, if the barrels are thick enough.I like the fact that they have a hole cross drilled horizontally in the area where the cap sits. These hole direct the blow back gases outward and help split the cap for easy removal. My other choice of nipples would be the Knight "Red Hot". Both nipples come in sizes to fit your rifles. Best of luck.Jan 5, 2015. #6. AZbpBurner said: I mixed up a 5:1 ratio of DA to Castor oil, and saturated a bunch of patches, leaving them to subsequently dry as the DA evaporated and left an essentially dry-feeling patch. Essentially sounds like Dutch's dry-patch system only different lube components.The muzzleloaders of CVA and Traditions are manufactured in Spain in the same region: Vasque Country. CVA is manufactured by Dikar and Traditions by Ardesa. Dikar is in Bergara and Ardesa in Zamudio (Bilbao). They are towns that are less than 70 milles away. The quality of the flint locks it has improved in Ardesa (Traditions) with respect to ...Shiloh Sharps 1863 infantry rifle with .535" ball at 50 yards. Loaded loose 2fg powder after lightly breech seating the ball and CCI musket caps. After more then a dozen shots I adjusted the sight for the last two in the bullseye. 383D6502-C1B1-43A3-8F7B-FFEC3DAC92E5 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr.Central pa. Nov 17, 2021. #4. Jim Chambers kits are the best kits I've put together. They require more fitting skills than the Kibler kits but are more easily customized. I've put a number of them together for customers. Chambers locks are the standard that all the rest of the locks in the hobby are measured. BJH.The Apple Store website is down, and purchases are not available on Monday morning. Here's why. By clicking "TRY IT", I agree to receive newsletters and promotions from Money and i...Here's a target I shot with a "Zouave" with a basic load set up for use with teaching muzzleloading in a Scout camp. Load is a good "mid range" one. Data- RCBS Hogdon, 45g 3f Scheutzen, Scheutzen caps, beeswax/lard lube. Note- this is NOT a group shot from a bench with a load tuned for maximum accuracy, this was 10 shots, rapid fire, offhand ...Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.First off, let me say that I am brand new to flintlock hunting. I have been hunting my entire life and been around guns my entire life. I have hunted with in line muzzle loaders for many years. I bought the Pa. Pellet for the simple reason that it gave me the ability to hunt for a few more weeks in northwest Pa. without breaking the bank.
40 Cal. This is a Numrich Arms Swivel Breech rifle in .45. Build by Hopkins and Allen in early 70s. I bought this rifle for a much grander project. I was planning to make wooden side panels for barrels and reset ramrod pipes. Stock had damage to toe, that I repaired, as well as a cracked buttplate. Had to take a much larger one and refit it.. Pornpen.a
Well, it's been a while since I took delivery on my Pedersoli Kentucky rifle. I finally got to shoot it this last week. Took it to a range about 30 miles from home. This is my first flintlock and I was a bit nervous about how it would go my first time out. I really took care not to dryball my...This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We ...Jan 4, 2022. #10. Hi ACFlowers91, I recommend Chambers over TVM kits. I am familiar with both and dislike the architecture of almost all TWM offerings. The web of wood separating the barrel from the ramrod channel is too thick creating a clunky appearance usually with the ramrod hanging below the muzzle cap.Apr 4, 2024. #13. I've got a flintlock offhand rifle in the planning stages and I'm looking at a 36-38" straight octagon 15/16" in .40. Heavier barrel to help with harmonics, shorter length for a steadier hold and a little less barrel to get that ball on its way.A forum for discussing various types of muzzleloading firearms and black powder shooting. Find threads on topics such as barrels, caps, patches, loads, guns, and more.34. Reaction score. 26. Location. Elko, Nevada. Dec 5, 2023. #1. So I've decided on a 32 cal percussion pedersoli kentucky as my first sidelock, but I'm already thinking of potential mods I want to do in the future, one of those is having it bored out to a .370 smoothbore to have the option to shoot shot while not really hampering performance ... Percussion Rifles | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account ... The Meat Counter. Sep 5, 2023. #3. Take a DIY store 3/4" chamfering tool, hold it your hand and rotate it back and forth to cut a small chamfer. All you need to do is break the edge a bit. Just do it evenly. Sandpaper and bluing optional. Last edited: Sep 5, 2023. W.An invoice found in the AFC records for goods sent to the 1834 rendezvous lists "6 steel mounted rifles, Hawken," at $20 each and "10 steel mounted rifles," at $17.50 each. The latter are probably some of the "steel" mounted American pattern rifles that the AFC ordered from JJ Henry based on the listed price.26. Location. Woodlands of Northern New England. Jan 4, 2006. #4. No disrespect intended to Stumpkiller, I'm very big into target shooting and competitive shoots. While target shooting i've had many people come over to watch me with a muzzleloader,try mine and then get into muzzleloading at our club shoots.As far as stripping, most of the old bluing was badly worn and almost off. I used progressive papers, 400, 600, 1,000 and 1,500 grit. Degreased with Dawn dish soap and water, rinsed, dried and further degreased with acetone. Applied Van's gun bluing (cold bluing) bought direct from their website.The rifled barrel will spin the shot. When the shot leaves the muzzle it will open the pattern at very close range. The shot will most likely be damaged to add to poor shooting. Even in a smooth bore getting a good pattern can be a difficult. Leading the rifled barrel is a problem, and cleaning it out is a real chore..