|
|
Post by segsarge on Dec 1, 2023 12:20:45 GMT -6
I was digging through my muzzle loader stuff today and came across what appears to be a full 1 lb can of Elephant brand FFg black powder. The code stamping on the bottom of the can has a date of 1993. Didn't realize I had it and don't remember buying it. What's the odds of this powder still being good? Only way to tell for sure is to load some up and shoot it I guess.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbob on Dec 1, 2023 16:49:41 GMT -6
If in a sealed container, it should be OK.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 1, 2023 17:51:19 GMT -6
Theres Sarge. Yes sir ree, 93 was a bad year and its no good and you should give it to me so it will get properly recycled.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 1, 2023 18:01:02 GMT -6
I live near Hodgeons Powder and talk to them boys. They got their start by buying a train car load of WWII powder back in the 60s. The powder came from disassembling live ammo. It set in town and everybody was worried it would blow up so they moved it out. Dad said you could buy a 35 gallon drum of BALL for $50. Thats smokeless powder that is sensitive to a lot of things. Blackpowder doesnt care. You can soak it in water and dry it out and shoot it. Worst case is granules might stick together and you got Fg until you run it through a flour sifter.
|
|
|
|
Post by segsarge on Dec 1, 2023 21:05:38 GMT -6
Antler-less season starts tomorrow in Madison county which is about a 10 minute up the gravel road from where I've been hunting. But, I'm ready to break out the black powder. Haven't used them in several years. My CVA St Louis Hawken along with an old Sears and Roebuck both .50 caliber. That old Sears gun is as accurate as any I've got. Made by Mirkou in Japan, sold under the Sears brand.
I have a CVA inline and it's a good gun too. But I love the old mountain rifles.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 2, 2023 17:16:28 GMT -6
Just about any BP behaves if it is immaculately clean. Any short comings result in flyers and hangfires and stuck balls and duds.
Went hunting this morning and had 3 little fawns frolicking around me. I figgered I was some kind of bastard to shoot them. Prolly orphans. Saw two does on the neighbor from hells place. There was a buck about 500 yards away that had his eyes glued on me. I didnt do nothing.
|
|
|
|
Post by segsarge on Dec 3, 2023 8:33:43 GMT -6
The November firearms deer season was a bust for me and my old hunting partner. Saw one deer opening morning. Spooked it walking in to my stand, only one I saw all season. The little camper did great and I stayed toasty warm every night. Need to build some shelves in there though, it's crowded in there.
Don't know what's going on with the deer down this way they're just not there like in past years. Talked to the conservation agent one afternoon and she agreed that the number of deer taken was way down. She's a good agent and really helpful (pretty too). She seemed to think that the rut was either really early this year or hadn't started yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 3, 2023 8:44:10 GMT -6
THere aint much deer anywhere. I think the drought has them headed for certain areas. No acorns, no rut.
Yeah those cabinets are handy in campers. I still find stuff I never knew I had in mine. Dont buy a cabinet. People throw them away when they remodel kitchens.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 13, 2023 7:58:58 GMT -6
Went to the folks house in the old neighborhood. Saw a pile of kitchen cabinets by the curb with a free sign on them. Visited with the folks and said that I had to go get some kitchen cabinets to hang in the barn. Drove back by and they were all gone.
Visited my brother and he had just shot two does. Helped him hang them up and skin. Went in the house for a break. I told him I wanted to see his blackpowder guns. One was fine and we made up a bag to carry during season. The other gun was fouled and plugged up. I tried to get it apart and no luck. Took it home and kroiled the parts and they wouldnt budge. I told him I was going to have to use a torch but let it set for a while. Will check Saturday.
Moral of story. Blackpowder has a severe penalty for storing dirty. I have seen fools load them and carry them all season and wonder why they didnt fire.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbob on Dec 13, 2023 18:25:28 GMT -6
Make sure it ain't loaded BEFORE you use that torch! LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 14, 2023 7:22:03 GMT -6
I have seen guns that were 150 years old and loaded. I run a ball puller down the barrel and see if it grabs any lead. I also have a camera on a cord that enables be so scope out the insides.
|
|
|
|
Post by segsarge on Dec 14, 2023 8:25:35 GMT -6
I'm thinking of buying one of those kit guns in .54 caliber. I'd like to have the Hawken style with a 1-66 twist. So far, I'm not finding a lot to choose from.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 14, 2023 11:23:04 GMT -6
Gun stores are full of BP rifles that arent selling. Not much on traditions or cva or investoarms cheap stuff. Pay a little more for quality. Lyman or T/C makes the best Hawkin. I bought a $1200 pederosoli at the gun show for $400.
Just to blow your mind, I have been turning my nose up at percussion and looking for flintlocks. The really advanced shooters at the club are using flintlocks and are nothing to laugh at.
|
|
|
|
Post by tickranch on Dec 14, 2023 11:41:52 GMT -6
Gun stores are full of BP rifles that arent selling. Not much on traditions or cva or investoarms cheap stuff. Pay a little more for quality. Lyman or T/C makes the best Hawkin. I bought a $1200 pederosoli at the gun show for $400. Just to blow your mind, I have been turning my nose up at percussion and looking for flintlocks. The really advanced shooters at the club are using flintlocks and are nothing to laugh at. Several years a friend of mine bought an inline & thought I should get one. I had a percussion. I told him if & when I bought another smoke pole, I'd be going backwards, and get a flintlock. I got that deer in the headlights look! |
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 14, 2023 12:53:04 GMT -6
My first was a flintlock pistol I built in high school in shop class (how about that) Then I got a .45 percussion rifle(still have it) then I had several more percussions. I got a Knight in line when they first come out. Then I took my kentucky percussion and converted it to flint and now I am shooting a flint Jaeger. I have been complimented at my shooting club for taking off my training wheels and getting a real gun. Only percussion I am using are 1851 & 60 Colts.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 18, 2023 5:35:06 GMT -6
I am ready for alternative season. I can hit a sparrow at 50 yards and anything past 125 would be a Hail Mary.
|
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 22, 2023 10:28:47 GMT -6
Smokepole season tomorrow....
|
|
|
|
Post by Walleye Joe on Dec 23, 2023 6:55:11 GMT -6
Smokepole season tomorrow.... Big whoopie! (insert roll-eyes emoticon here) Since I've already taken a firearms buck I can only shoot a doe. Can't get too excited about that. Doesn't seem right when I still have an archery buck (Any deer) tag and I see groups of up to six or seven bucks on my trail cams. Oh well, I may take a doe after Christmas. Plan to have one or two processed and give some to those that can't hunt or are just needy.  |
|
|
|
Post by krank on Dec 23, 2023 7:37:25 GMT -6
Aint like it used to be. Back in the day, I was out there with my .45 Kentucky. Some states till stick to traditional only. With alternative season just about anything goes. I heard a guy in the gunstore unashamedly say he was going to use his 7mm blackpowder. I have a Contender pistol that is scoped with a .223 14 inch barrel. Pretty accurate at 200 yards. I also have a 30-30 pistol. None the less, I get satisfaction from making the .45 Jaeger flintlock bark and it is nothing to sneeze at.
|
|
Goodbye 2020