Learning All About Muzzleloading & BlackPowder

It never fails that when I write on Black Powder shooting or hunting I get emails with questions about where do you buy this or that and where do you go for information. If you can send me an email then you have the tools at hand for unlimited information at your fingertips if you will only look. One can go to YouTube and type in for instance flintlock, blackpowder, or muzzleloading and get more than you can watch in a day. Just remember not everyone that puts something on YouTube knows what they are doing. There are all sorts of reference pages on the internet if you just plug in the words for a search engine to bring up page after page of information. There is no end to the companies that would like to sell you something or provide something at a cost. There are a ton of videos available from the major suppliers so that you can learn what ever you wish to do related to blackpowder or traditional muzzleloading. Some people like to shop at the big box sporting goods stores such as Cabelas or Bass Pro and that is fine they just won’t really have much traditional stuff, but I buy percussion caps from them just to avoid the hazmat fees sometimes. The following links are places I go to find information or to discuss issues with others involved in the sport. Some are reference pages I found helpful, others are the places that I shop for the supplies, books and equipment I need to keep me shooting. Several are just wish list places that if I ever win the lottery I will order one of their custom guns.

This is my favorite place to shop for Traditional supplies and equipment. The catalog is worth the price for the pictures and reference use alone.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/

These is my favorite two must take magazines that cover muzzleloading and other topics.

http://www.backwoodsmanmag.com/

http://www.muzzleloadermag.com/

The following are gun builders, suppliers or lists that have everything you ever wanted to know about muzzleloading but were afraid to ask links.


http://mikelange.homestead.com/

http://www.beckumoutdoors.com/home.cfm/page/Tips_For_Using_A_Flintlock.html

http://www.cherrytreefamily.com/muzzleloading.htm

http://www.americanlongrifles.com/WorkShop_frame.htm

http://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com/

http://www.longrifles-pr.com/

http://muzzleloader.com/

http://www.americanpioneervideo.com/index.html

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/MLF_Links.php#Magazines

http://www.chuckhawks.com/flintlocks.htm

http://www.muzzleloadermag.com/Links%20page.htm

http://www.flintlocks.com/

http://www.stonewallcreekoutfitters.com/

http://www.avsia.com/tvm/

http://www.logcabinshop.com/

http://blackpowdermag.com/

The above list is in no way complete as there are tons of other places to find out about muzzleloading and supplies. If you click on the links at each place they will lead you to more and more information, this list is much more than I had to start with in the sport and will provide you with enough information to keep you reading for many informative hours.

The next few links are website forums where you can converse with the people that shoot black powder firearms on a regular basis. Many have been in the sport for decades and some are brand new but all share in the conversations. Feel free to jump in and ask questions for there is someone out there that would be proud to share their knowledge with someone just like you. Many belong to clubs and there could be a club in your area. Get out and make some white smoke of your own. Shoot straight and keep your powder dry, Wild Ed

http://traditionalmuzzleloadingcheap.com/forum/index.php

http://thebordercamp.com/phpbb/index.php?sid=cfc79863a75a88fc480345a8fb4efd28

http://kabooom.proboards.com/index.cgi?

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=bbd533181424df23a7c6776f14849ee2

Proper Gunstock Fit

Proper gun fit is one of the most critical segments of good shooting. It is so important it often means the difference between decent shooting and great shooting. No matter what level of shooter you are you will do much better with a gun that fits. If you shoulder a rifle and you automatically have the sights lined up you need only look at the target and squeeze the trigger. If you have to shift your head or line up the sights you waste time and can never shoot instinctively in an effective manner. This becomes even more critical with a shotgun as your eye is the rear sight of the system. If your dominant eye is not lined up properly when you mount the gun you will have a hard time hitting the target. At the very least you will have to fit your body to the gun while the target gets farther away and while you lose focus on the target. There are all sorts of people that claim to know how to fit a gun and I talked with many while I was shooting on the NSCA Sporting clays circuit. Some know what they are doing and some don’t. Recently while reading on one of the Black Powder Muzzleloading forums of which I am a member, I ran across as good an article as I have seen anywhere by Colin Stolzer the Administrator of “Black Powder Firearms Forum” http://blackpowderfa.proboards.com/index.cgi  Colin is also the owner of Stolzer & Son's Gunsmithing where custom muzzleloaders are designed and built.  Stop by the website and take a look at some beautiful works of art built with unbelievable craftsmanship.  Read Colin's article and then file it somewhere that you can refer back when you  need to fit that next firearm.  Take a kid out shooting and stay safe, Wild Ed

Measuring for Stock Fit 

by Colin Stolzer
 

The question comes up every so often on various forums about how to measure for stock fit. So I figured it would be a benefit to post a short tutorial on how I get the measurements to custom build a rifle for my customers.

I learned this method from Steve Zihn when I was an apprentice under him. It's based on an old British Method, there are variations of this formula described in W.W. Greener's "The Gun and It's Development", Howe's "Advanced Gunsmithing" and several other books I've read or own. So it's not anything new, and it's certainly not the only way to get these measurements, it's just the method I was taught and use.


I rarely get to meet my customers in person, so I use these worksheets and formulas, along with several questionnaires to fit their rifles. These measurements along with some fine tuning based on the other information have allowed me to build very well fitted rifles for my customers without actually having to measure them in person. Ideally it would be nice if I could actually meet and measure every one in person, using a "try" stock, unfortunately that is cost prohibitive.

(Left click on the following sketches for a little better view)

"A" is drop at comb. It is measured about 2" back from the nose of the comb.

Take "B" and subtract "A" from it. That's going to be the drop at heel. You will find that most men have the heel above the top of the shoulder, so you can even subtract 3/4" to 1" from this if you like. You'll see how it works out when you transfer these things to paper.

Take "C" and Subtract "B", whatever the difference is divided by 4. That's you cast off.

Take "D" and subtract 1/4" to 1/2" for a warm weather gun and subtract 1/2" to 1" for a cold weather gun. That's your length of pull.


These measurement are not universal to everyone or every style of shooting, they have to be adjusted for the primary type of shooting the rifle will be used for. They also have to be adjusted for the physique of the individual. And they will need to be adjusted for the style, type and period of the rifle being built.

For instance a rifle that is designed for prone shooting will have little to no cast off since the position of the rifle in relation to the shoulder and head are nearly straight up and inline with the sights. As compared to a normal off-hand hunting stance were the rifle is mounted to the front of the shoulder and the head is canted to the cheek/comb. These variations between shooting positions change the measurements some, and the best way to understand the relationship is to actually take a rifle and get in the various positions and see how different the rifle feels as you mount it to your shoulder. Pay attention to hand placement. Relationship of your face and neck to the cheek/comb in each position. Shouldering lots of different guns in lots of different shooting positions will teach you faster than any description I could ever write about what measurements will need to be modified.

The next thing to take into consideration when modifying the initial measurements is the physique of the shooter. One of the questionnaires I send out with the measurement sheets ask questions like:


Muscle tone in the shoulders?


Muscle tone in the Back?


Muscle tone in the chest?


Muscle tone in the abdomen?


It also asks about any physical disabilities that I should be aware of. For instance Neck/spine injuries, back injuries, shoulder injuries, elbow injuries, etc...basically anything that limits the range of movement.


For example if a customer can't tip his head fully to the stock due to a neck or spine injury, the drop of comb, drop of heel and the cast off can be changed as well as the shape and size of the cheek piece can be adjusted to compensate for the limitation. Or if a customer has had the tip of his finger cut off (like my brother-in-law did with his cross-cut saw), the length of trigger pull might have to be changes to compensate.

Muscle tone can have an effect on the measurements as well. For instance large well defined upper body muscles will change the amount of cast off as well as drop at comb and heel and pitch at toe because the muscles protruding will make the rifle mount differently than a less tones individual would shoulder the rifle.

The other thing that will alter these measurements is the type of rifle, the school, and time period that is being built. For instance Pennsylvania, Kentucky, German Jaegers, English stalking rifles, Single shots, Double Rifles, Scoped modern rifle, etc... all have unique design features that are distinct to the school and time frame of the rifle you are building, so these measurements will sometimes have to be modified to accurately represent the type of rifle you are building if historical accuracy or period correct design is part of the build requirements.

This is in no way a comprehensive lesson in stock fitment but it will give you the basics on measurements and the theories behind using those measurements. Most of the changes to the general measurements can't really be described in writing, the best way to learn how a stock needs to be modified for individual fit is hands on, both in mounting many different styles of rifles to your own body, and looking at the way other hold and shoulder rifles in different styles and positions of shooting.

The last thing I should mention is that these measurements for Drop at Comb, Drop at Heel, are all taken from line of sights. So when you start putting these to paper you need to draw your reference line at the height the sights will be at, NOT the top of the barrel, or the Bore line.

I hope this information is helpful.
Colin Stolzer

Black Powder, Fox Squirrels and White Smoke

I pulled the back trigger of the double set until it audibly clicked in the still morning air setting the front to a hair trigger. Taking aim with the iron sights down the long browned barrel, I did not even realize that I had quit breathing as I moved my finger to the front trigger of the rifle. The iron sights settled on the reddish colored head of the fox squirrel hiding on limb of a scraggly old live oak forty feet up in the tree. I barely squeezed the front trigger and heard the crack of the longrifle. A cloud of white smoke shot out the barrel hiding the squirrel from view and then drifted downwind as the squirrel made a few last kicks in the leaves where he had dropped down from the limb. I took a breath, reached for the powder horn hanging at my side and poured thirty grains of powder from the spout into my measure and down the barrel. I then took a round ball from my hunting bag and centered it on a cotton strip of sheeting at the muzzle and pushed it part way into the barrel, with one sweep of my razor sharp patch knife the sheeting was cut flush with the muzzle of the rifle. Drawing the long ramrod from its place under the rifle barrel I firmly shoved the ball down on top of the powder charge. Setting the hammer to half cock I placed a percussion cap on the nipple of the rifle lock and replaced the ramrod under the barrel. It had taken me a couple of minutes to reload, but now the rifle was ready to continue on my hunt. It could have been a scene from the 1800s as the rifle I was using was a copy of a style of blackpowder Ohio Squirrel Rifles built originally by the Vincent’s. These and similar Southern Longrifles were used by early settlers of the southern mountain ranges of the new frontiers. Such a rifle could have been carried by one of the settlers coming to Texas for the first time.


In a morning of hunting I had taken three squirrels with four shots and had slipped away from all worries of what we call the real world. What a change in the method and speed in which my morning hunt took place from my usual style of hunting. Using the old style gun had slowed the pace and made every shot more challenging. I made a real effort to make each shot good, as reloading would take a couple of minutes with the muzzleloader and second shots on the same squirrel would be few and far between. Normally I would hunt squirrels with a modern .17 or .22 caliber rifle with a high power scope and take a larger bag limit in a lot less time. I believe I now enjoy the old ways better and will spend more time in the woods with the slower paced black powder firearms. I even think the game taken in this way tastes better or maybe I am just more proud of the game I take with the old style guns.


If you would like to try shooting one of the old type guns there are many companies out there making replicas of the old guns and quite a few gun builders building custom rifles in the old styles. They are available in flintlock or percussion ignition. For those of you that prefer shotguns those are available also. Many of these are not only accurate firearms but also works of art. Check out rifles, smoothbores and supplies at the following links to take a look at some of these works of art.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/

http://www.longrifles-pr.com/

http://mikelange.homestead.com/

http://www.cherrytreefamily.com/muzzleloading.htm


Here are some links to forums with knowledgeable people that can guide you along the way to learning more about muzzleloading and all that goes with it. I can’t give you a favorite as I like them all. Some will have a more freelance feel, while others live the old time lifestyle. You will find some of the same people in many of them and new folks in others. All are welcome from expert to pilgrim. Feel free to drop in and look around, just tell em Wild Ed sent you.

http://traditionalmuzzleloadingcheap.com/forum/index.php

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php

http://thebordercamp.com/phpbb/index.php?sid=cfc79863a75a88fc480345a8fb4efd28

http://kabooom.proboards.com/index.cgi?

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=bbd533181424df23a7c6776f14849ee2&

http://muzzleloadermag.infopop.cc/eve

http://blackpowderfa.proboards.com/index.cgi


Shooting and hunting with the old black powder guns is truly a step back in time. You can become Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Jeremiah Johnson or The Long Carbine from”Last of the Mohicans”. No matter your age no one but you will know who you are when you step back in time. Enjoy the trip, Wild Ed

Remember to click on comments below to leave a comment or read the comments from other readers

Becoming a Birder in Lampasas Texas

Every since my brother, that is a long time birder, put the idea of listing all the bird species we see at the place in my mind, it has almost become an obsession to identify all the birds we see each week. My wife and I have started to carry bird identification books and binoculars around with us as we work and do chores at the place. A strange bird flying over or even a strange bird call has us scrambling to identify what species of bird. We have seen a lot of birds that we can not identify, at least not well enough to add to our species list. We also see a lot of birds that are not really supposed to be in our area but that is kind of normal for Lampasas County as it is the hub of several different regions and types of habitat for birds. This last month we have had different Towhees and other birds just mobbing the feeders. I really have a problem trying to identify all of the different sparrows and other tiny birds that flit around the brush piles and cedar breaks. Every time I see ducks dropping down on the tank I feel compelled to go jump them just to see what species they are and if we need to add them to the list. This last week Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese both flew over the place and alerted us with their calls. We are always seeing hawks, vultures, buzzards and even a few falcons such as the small Kestrel. Screech owls and Great Horned owls are common along with crows and ravens. Black Chinned and Ruby Throated humming birds fly in and out of the oak motts and we have even had rare hummingbirds come through on occasion.



I keep telling myself I am not a birder, not the type that I have always had the stereotype image of in my mind. After all I am an Outdoorsman, a Hunter, Trapper and Fisherman. Surely I am not turning into a Birder! Wild Ed

Here is our list to date: We now are up to 116 species and quite a few unkowns.

 
BIRD NAME


Blackbird Red Winged

Blue Bird Eastern

Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher

Bunting Painted

Cara Cara

Cardinal

Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Chickadee, Carolina

Cowbird, Brewers

Cowbird, Brown Headed

Crane, Sandhill

Crow, American

Cuckoo Yellow Billed

Dove, Eurasian Collared

Dove, Inca

Dove, Mourning

Dove, Rock (Pigeon)

Dove, White winged

Duck, Gadwall

Duck, Mallard

Duck, Pintail

Duck, Shoveler

Duck, Widgeon

Egret Great White

Egret, Cattle

European Starling

Falcon Prairie

Falcon, Kestrel

Falcon, Merlin

Falcon, Peregrine

Finch, House

Finch, Purple

Flicker, Northern

Flycatcher, Ash Throated

Flycatcher, Impid (several sub-species)

Flycatcher, Olive Sided

Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed

Flycatcher, Vermilion

Gadwall

Geese, Blue

Geese, Snow

Grebe

Green Wing Teal

Grosbeak, Black Headed

Grosbeak, Blue

Harrier Northern

Hawk, Broad Winged

Hawk, Coopers

Hawk, Red Shouldered

Hawk, Red Tailed

Hawk, Sharp Shinned

Hawk, Swanson's

Heron Great Blue

Humming Bird - Black Chinned

Humming Bird - Blue Throated

Humming Bird - Ruby Throated

Humming Bird- Broad Tailed

Jay, Blue

Jay, Scrub

Killdeer

Kingbird, Western

Kingfisher, Belted

Kite, Mississippi

Loggerhead Shrike

Martin, Purple

Meadow Lark, Eastern

Meadow Lark, Western

Mocking Bird

Nighthawk, Common

Nightjar Common

Owl, Barn

Owl, Eastern Screech

Owl, Great Horned

Pelican White

Phoebe

Plover

Pyrrhuloxia

Quail, Bobwhite

Raven Common

Roadrunner

Robin

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Sparrow House

Sparrow, Chipping

Sparrow, Harris

Sparrow, Lark

Sparrow, Rufous Crowned

Sparrow, Savannah

Sparrow, Tree

Sparrow, Vesper

Sparrow, White Crowned

Summer Tanager

Swallow, Barn

Swallow, Northern Rough-Wing

Teal, Green Winged

Thrasher, Brown

Towhee Eastern

Towhee Spotted

Tufted Titmouse

Turkey, Rio Grande

Vulture, Black

Vulture, Turkey

Warbler Magnolia

Warbler, Yellow Rumped

Whippoorwill

Woodpecker, Golden Fronted

Woodpecker, Ladder-Backed

Woodpecker, Red Bellied

Woodpecker, Red headed

Wren, Bewicks

Wren, Canon

Wren, Carolina

Wren, House

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Just More Pictures

If you are like me the Christmas/New year season has been very busy. Just trying to see all the families on both sides and make sure you get all the kids a gift can drive you nuts. Then of course there is the preparing of foods, wrapping gifts and all that goes along with the holidays. We did get to spend some time with our youngest daughter whom we rarely see anymore as she is out in West Texas making her own way. Anyhow we are thankful that all the kids, grand kids, parents and the rest are all safe and back into the grind.


I really don’t have a story this week but thought I would post some pictures from my nephew Nathan in Colorado along with some from my brother Mike on his recent trip. I am also including pictures from the Primos Truth Cams taken at our place in Lampasas. I hope each of you have a happy and prosperous new year, Wild Ed