Hickok, You've always reminded me of my dad. Which is part of the reason why I enjoy your videos. Well sadly my dad just passed. As a result, you're videos just became a lot more significant to me. Watching them has become similar to seeing him in a family movie. It's silly I admit but regardless I appreciate it. Thank you.
At least you saw yours before he overdose and never meet you and first time you saw him he was dead that kinda of sucks but my point is sorry about your dad
I have a 54 cal Hawken muzzle-loader that was passed down to me from my dad. It was a kit gun he received for his birthday. It's a beautiful rifle. I'll pass it down to one of my grandsons eventually.
I retired from the US Army Infantry, and never owned a rifle, but I have been missing shooting and even cleaning a rifle. I recently purchased a traditions deerhunter percussion 1/48 twist. Love your black powder videos. Thanks for all the information you put out.
Incredible. How this gentleman talks interesting facts and history while loading that old gun, and then just - bam! - hits the target from long range like it’s nothing. Immense respect to you, Sir! Hat off
Yes Sir, I understand...and there are some of those other guys out there for sure. I think the vast majority of the shooters are the same, most of them safe and sane. I was taught by a WWII combat veteran how to handle weapons from an early age and learned much respect for them and everything for that matter. He was a great father figure for any boy to have. Cheers to you Sir...thanks for all you do.
I see a lot of comments complaining about the cicadas. Personally, I like them. It's a pleasant sound. Also, cap-and-ball weapons have easily the highest number of unintentionally-funny terms relating to them of any other object invented by man.
+Smitty Werben Jaeger man Jensen (Number One) When I hear people complain about the noise in person I look around confused, "what I don't hear anything" It's just white noise if you're used to it. Sounds like summer.
@@MikesLuxuryHouse Me too ! I guess I just tuned it out, I always liked Cicadas anyway, they spend a huge amount of time waiting to emerge, 13 -17 years in the nymph stage, underground, maturing slowly, so if you were 5, the cicada emerges, you are 21 and old enough to order a beer !
I always put a patch on the ramrod with a little water on the patch and ram the patch all the way to the bottom of the barrel. I have been shooting and hunting with black powder rifles for over 50 years. Never had anything like an accidental ignition of any powder left in the barrel. The wet patch is rammed to the bottom of the barrel and left there for 10 seconds while rotating the ramrod back and forth. My grandfather taught me this. He was born in 1881 and hunted with black powder firearms only. He never owned a cartridge gun that I know of. He also never had a misfire of any kind according to him of course! Anyone who loves black powder shooting or hunting should do this. Flintlock or Cap Lock it doesn't matter.
Had a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .50 caliber some years ago. A very well made and solid firearm. Won several matches with it at our local 'black powder/muzzleloader' club and took a deer with it. Sold it years ago to finance purchase of another muzzleloading rifle but realized what a well made firearm my example of the Lyman Great Plains Rifle was and I regret selling it. I believe the Lyman lock uses a coil mainspring as opposed to the 'traditional' flat spring used in most other percussion locks, and that is one of the things that set it apart and made it very reliable and sturdy. The Lyman rifle is rather plain and understated (no shiny brass furniture) but that is one of the attractions of it.
my dad and i were never very close growing up. i'm in my forties now. thinking how lucky your son and you are, sharing this nice hobby through the years. M
I have the .54 cal plains rifle kit that I bought and built in 1975. It has brass hardware and patchbox and the stock is European walnut. It was such a nice woodgrain, didn't stain it but left it in its natural color with 8 coats of spar varnish and linseed oil; it's beautiful. The owner of the local muzzleloading shop said it was one of the best builds he had seen. The gun is very accurate at 100 yards and I still have the rifle today.
Several years ago I ordered this rifle in a kit. It was fairly easy to build and I browned all the hardware on it. It was a :50 cal., and shot really well. I ordered the flintlock version. I bought my son one in cap lock. He sent it to Log Cabin Sports Shop in Lodi, Ohio and they fixed it till it can be used as a cap lock or a flintlock just by removing the drum and screwing in a touch hole and changing the lock. Very authentic rifle.
You are by far my favorite gun channel. Seems like most of the others are mostly into "tactical" stuff and/or politics. I love guns of all kinds. I have a .50 cal Lyman Trade Rifle, percussion cap version. Mine is the single trigger model. I love shooting it, but unlike you, I don't have such a beautiful place to shoot. I have to drive almost 100 miles round trip to get to a place to shoot that is not a commercial range. You have an ideal setup for a gun enthusiast. I am very envious.
Your Hawken is a beauty, so discreet, even a touch of sinister elegance with all her darkened parts... and her deep song, resonating through the trees... one of the best poems I've ever listened to. Again, what a beauty! My Kentucky, my Hawken 50 and I want to give you both our best wishes. Thanks for that great video, dear Hickok.
Re:@19:33 the crescent shaped butt. My understanding (which could be mistaken) is that the crescent shaped butt is very intentional for the Hawken rifle. The rifle is not held to the shoulder in the traditional manner - that is pressed against your shoulder/chest. Instead the crescent butt is meant to be hooked into the arm pit and hook around your shoulder and/or upper arm. If you place this style of rifle butt flat up against your shoulder as you would a traditional style of rifle, yes, it will hurt! But that is because that is not how you shoulder this type of stock. Again also my understanding the reason (one of the reasons?) for the crescent shaped butt is to make it easier to support the rifle. The Hawken is front heavy. "Hooking" the stock into your armpit helps to steady the rifle. Another great video Hickok. I have the "GPR" in a flintlock - love the rifle, but no doubt that crescent stock can be tough to get the hang of. Peace.
RobertKaydoo Yeah, and I don't really have interest in changing how I shoots a long gun. I'll probably eventually find a good leather slip-on that allow me to shoot it properly.
Bought a used kit gun ol' CVA 54 cal. Flint. Finished her up real good...shouldering her felt like holding a svelte babe in your arms...CVA used green mountain barrels in that kit too....the Spanish lock was so-so...tuned it best we could. If had kept the rifle would've switched it out with an L& R or Davis...
Years ago I built a Thompson Center 54 caliber Hawken style. I browned it in the oven and made molds for 54 balls and a 54 mini ball that weighed about 400 grains. I used pyrodex cause it was a little cleaner, but just as much fun to shoot. It was accurate and I liked it because it had a more modern adjustable sight. I haven't shot it in years but your video reminded me to get it out. Thanks
+papa Hajek You should do that; you have been cutting yourself out of some great pleasure! Get that thing out and limber it up. It's great therapy. I always recommend muzzle loaders to men who have dogs that bite them, bosses that abuse them, kids that hate them, and wives that are mean to them. A few hours on the range with one of these and everything will be good again. :-)
+papa Hajek You should do that; you have been cutting yourself out of some great pleasure! Get that thing out and limber it up. It's great therapy. I always recommend muzzle loaders to men who have dogs that bite them, bosses that abuse them, kids that hate them, and wives that are mean to them. A few hours on the range with one of these and everything will be good again. :-)
I just picked up a 54 cal Thompson Center Hawken. Your videos have been a wealth of knowledge for me for years, but the info on these old BP guns has been invaluable. Thank you sir, and good evening from a fellow middle-Tennessean.
I loved learning about this rifle! I really liked how you explained everything about the loading, shooting and the history too. Thank you for making this video.
Mr. Hickok, I bought a replacement ramrod for my Lyman GPR. It is a Tresco. I got the one for the earlier rifles (like your first one) where the ramrod is a 1/2 too long. But this allowed to to slide on a brass bore protector and be able to leave it on. Its out of the way shooting as well. I like the Tresco because both ends are concave which allows to pull the ramrod up and push the ball down without having to flip the ramrod around. And my bore protector slides down in position perfectly. The ramrod tips are iron with rivets which are astoundingly strong for loading, cleaning, and even pull out the occasional dry ball. I absolutely love the fact I do not have to flip my ramrod around and I am able to protect the fifling at the muzzel. I bought the ramrod 32.5 on Ebay for $20 including taxes and shipping and my 3/8 brass bore protector for $5. Another neat addition I installed is a $5 brass flash cup. This keeps are the fouling from getting all over the barrel and stock and a $5 flush nipple with hose. I shoot at least twice a week with anywhere from 30 to 40 rounds each time and I can clean it this way in less than 15 minutes. However, I still removal barrel and every 3rd shooting. I enjoy cleaning my guns just as well as shooting them. I only wish I could had gotten the flash cup and barrel/muzzle protector in iron to match the gun. I enjoy your videos. THank you for all of your hard work. Sincerely, James Sparhawk from NC.
I started shooting a Pedersolli Flintlock .50 cal. I love shooting black powder. It took me awhile to get the hang of it as there isnt many people i know using them. Videos like yours are how i learned to shoot. Thanks again for making these helpful videos
I think I've seen all of the H45's... For me, the best work to date. Thanks for letting us channel your middle school class with the early giggle lecture. Hickok was like a kid in a candy store once he got a hold of that rifle and Big John's camera work was spot on! Thanks guys.
Believe me, I wouldn't want to miss it, either. What I love about your videos is that you go into the history of the firearm, and show us how it actually works. Thank you, so much, for sharing such your vast knowledge. Keep up the great videos.
Early generation Hawkens were full stock Flintlocks. Those were all eaten, destroyed by wilderness with none known to exist other than one that was converted to cap and is rumored to be Beckwourths Hawken. The ones that you see such as this one, with a cap can ball existed later during the end of the fur trade era. The early Mountain Men such as Hugh Glass, Jim "OG" Bridger and Osborne Russell, carried Flintlocks during the pre-1837 time period. Caps were unavailable out on the frontier and more prone to fail due to weather. If a trapper fell in a creek, every cap was shot-done-gone, whereas he could dry his powder out. The cap technology was the shortest serving firearm technology there was really. The Flint was the primary ignition mechanism for nearly 300 years. Even after the introduction of the cap, many preferred the flint.
I am finding the black powder videos much more entertaining at the moment. the history and the craftsmanship of the guns are much more interesting than polymer, massed produced clones. Keep up the great work H.
Outstanding on showing the Lyman Great Plains, I have owned and shot mine for over 20 years, I have a Traditions Hawkin as well, but the Lyman just speaks to me!
I've had my GPR for about a year and a half and absolutely love it. Had a T/C but the Lyman's are better in my opinion. Definitely the best value for the money. Great vid Hickock!!
That's nice to hear! I have had my Lyman PR for a couple years. Installing an actual Hawken patch box into it, so at least part of it will be authentic Hawken.
What a fine time of the year to make smoke! Thanks for the Black Powder post!!! One safety point. In this Video You are using a brass range rod, and grabbing high on it when pushing the ball home. While doing this with a brass rod is safe enough......the same action with a wooden rod often causes a split along the grain (when the rod bows ), leaving a sharp hardwood point sticking out of the barrel. The same high grip and fast push also drives your hand onto the hardwood point impaling it.. It is a much safer practice to NEVER grab the rod, even the range rod, higher then about 8" above the barrel. Like never assuming a gun is unloaded, the repetitive nature of short stroking the range rod will train you to short stroke a wooden rod when you have just shot a buck & your nerves are a wreck. Thanks again for the Muzzle Loader Posting, I would love to see you shoot a .32 cal. "squirrel rifle" I hunt rabbits with one and whenever I let someone shoot it they come away with that little kid smile a great firearm will bring to an adult.
I hatchet Jack, being of sound mind and broke legs, do hereby leaveth my bear rifle to whatever finds it. It is a good rifle, and killt the bear that kilt me...
I bought a CVA Accura MR inline muzzleloader 3 years ago , and have taken 2 deer . This year I bought a Traditions Pa pellet flintlock to take advantage of late season deer. I have shot the flintlock and love it . I do have to shim the front sight though .
I love the movie Jeremiah Johnson. That's what inspired me to get the T/C version of this rifle 15 years ago. Believe it or not Mr Hickok I have hit 55 gallon drums 150 yards away with it.
I nearly dropped my phone in shock when I saw this was the most recently uploaded video. I had been looking into black powder guns, specifically looking at the Traditions rifles...then got to handle the Lyman Great Plains rifle at my local gun shop...I'm set on the Lyman now. Excellent upload, and as always, thank you.
Enjoyed the Lyman Great Plains Rifle video. I've owned one in 50 cal. for about 25 years. I shoot conicals in mine and switched from 2F blackpowder to Hodgen Triple 7 which I find to shoot very well with much better ignition than Pyrodex. Mine likes 240 grain 45 cal.XTP sabots over 80 grains of Triple7 or equally well the 285 grain Great Plains 50 cal. lead bullet over 85 grains of Triple 7. Great Rifle that I enjoy shooting and have taken a lot of deer with.
I got my .54 caliber Great Plains Rifle December 1979, $154.95, not a kit. Fit & finish is excellent, barrel & furniture is browned. I love it! They used to be made by Investarm in Italy, I see now they are being made by Davide Pedersoli.
Thanks for this video! I shoot a .54 caliber flintlock Great Plains Rifle I built from a kit. I cast my own balls and knap my own flints. I'm Texan - there's no prettier sound than the Cicadas.
@@J55152 I heard it being tossed around that they were thinking of changing the state flower from bluebonnet to mildew but I do not give that story a great deal of credit.
The only diiference in our guns is that mine is a 50 cal. I wish I would had gottten the 54 now. But that's ok because I have already made my mind up on my next gun. I will be getting the .54 cal Lyman GPR "Hunter" with the 1:32 twist for deer hunting. Italians make excellent guns. I have an 1858 Uberti as well that shoots absolutely dead on with a .457 ball, 30 gns of 3f Goex, and a lubed felt wad. Thanks again Mr. Hickok!
Ahh.......springtime, everything is green, weather is nice, great shade. The compound looks awesome. And the guest of honor is the Lyman Great Plains rifle. This video is pure entertainment. In all my years I have never seen anyone use a strip of patch material and cut it of with a knife. That's a fine idea. I like it.
Great Plains RIFLE = 1 in 60". Great Plains HUNTER = 1 in 32". Same gun, different twist rate. 1/60 for round ball. 1/32 for sabots, slugs, bullets etc.
NC9ballguy if you shoot BP you will eventually have or will dry ball. I have once or twice.. and the method Hickok recommends is what I do as well. Basically remove the nipple, put a few grains of BP down the nipple cavity, put the nipple back on.. cap and fire.
@punchingmegatree He didn't demonstrate. He explained it. I believe him when he says it works- I just felt it would be fascinating for everyone to actually see.
@punchingmegatree I get the point, but Hickok45 is a good instructor... Even for "this is why you don't " topics. I just figured I would ask. Nothing more.
A friend of mine made many, many muzzle loaders. I had the privilege to shoot some of them (including the "old" way, pan, flint, etc). My first muzzle loader was a Thompson Center .45 caliber Hawken with all the brass fittings and great wood. Beautiful. I cheated and never did anything the old ways since I was bringing home meat. :) No possibles bag since I had almost everything around my neck. It was the easiest muzzle loader to start a ball. I later tried the sabboted bullets in .357 caliber with 90 grain using one of the speed loaders. Enjoyed your shooting.
My thoughts exactly. Could you imagine an old trapper from the 1820s seeing what the world has become. He’d probably go into shock and die of a heart attack thinking they’re actually in hell. The smells, noises, and infrastructure would be hard for him to comprehend I’m sure. I know these where about as hearty of men every to live, but still.
Thank you Lyman for providing the rifle. Hope the Black powder sport gets a resurgence because you will never have so much fun. Take a whole day with a few friends and dedicate to black powder only and you will have a great time.
dzhellek Black powder muzzle loaders are exempt from FFL transfers in California regardless of their age, believe it or not. You can get them mailed to your door as long as it's legal for you to own it. All other firearm laws apply. For instance, carrying a muzzle loading pistol concealed without a license is still illegal.
I got to agree with you Hickok (in your hands) it's a great shooter & I really don't think it needs all the brass. The muzzle flash is enough to let the others see where your at Great video
Can anyone with reloading experience tell me what result i should be ready for when i load a cartridge made out of a soda can with a capgun cap as primer and matchpowder with an aluminion foil bullet and all of this shot from a short pipe from a local junkyard? Other than this being a bomb of course.
It will work barely if you do it right but the aluminum won't go very far unless you use something heavy inside. People are women, I say do it of course it won't be a bomb theirs not enough pressure with aluminum foil. I used to make cannon out of tranny line for my GI joes when I was a kid using bottle rocket powder for explosive and when I got really curious I loaded black powder into a iron pipe with a paper towel filled with pot seeds. I figured i would be like Johny apple seed but with pot. It worked very well I heard seeds hitting houses about 75yds give or take away and it sounded like a 12gauge lol. Try it all, make giant firecrackers with pipes and guns from a scrap yard its fun and beats being a little girl.
Yes but the pipe isnt from the hardware store its from a junk yard and it could be in worse condition then you think theres a difference between new pipe from the hardware store and old pipe from the junk yard
timothy berry Yea but unless the pipe is capped at both ends it will not explode. The blast will always take the path of least resistance, which is the open end of the pipe.
Hi Greg! Nice video! I deer hunted for several years with a Modern Inline Muzzle Loader....a CVA Kodiak. I hunted riding a Mountain bike out here in the West. Great fun! Always worried about Bears and Cougars here as they're very abundant, and the Cougars will stalk hunters, so I always carry a .44 Mag handgun as well. Anyway, I want to suggest trying a Black Powder substitute called "Blackhorn 209" from Western Powders. It's a phenomenal product. Absolutely no need to swab between shots, no crusty buildup. The more you shoot it, it seems the easier it is to load and it appears it's self-cleaning. When first trying the Blackhorn 209, I shot 11 times, then ran a patch down the barrel and it came out clean. I've shot as many as 25 times without running a patch. I can shoot 1-1/4" 3 shot groups with Iron sights from a standing rest at 100 yards. My gun is .50 caliber. My decent groups are shot with saboted .45 Handgun bullets. When using .50 caliber Powershot or similar projectiles, the groups are slightly larger.
I put together a Lyman Great Plains Pistol Kit in .54 Cal, I am in love with it. With 40 gr of 777 and a 230 gr RB it will hang with many modern medium magnums without the snappy recoil. Though its not made for it, its still really accurate with a paper patch mini ball in it . The accuracy is extreme with the pistol. I will be getting the rifle to go with it soon.
Wonderful video. Between you and an uncle of mine, back in the '80s, I suffer from an occasional bout with the black powder bug. There just something about the sound, the smell, the smoke and sparks, combined with all that history and charm.
I, too, had a Thompson-Center Hawken in .50 cal - bought it shortly after I returned home from the Army - but lost it in pawn when i hit tough times after i relocated to Florida in '79...stoopid me!!!
bought a lyman in mid 70s while stationed at ft hood, TX. .45 cal with rifling for a maxi ball but was pretty accurate with round ball and 65 gr powder. I used 3f mostly because that's what the gun store carried
I've got a Lyman deerstalker I use for muzzleloader deer season here in the NW. Octagonal stainless steel barrel and fiber optic sights. Great shooting rifle.
I put the Lyman aperature on mine and some florescent orange nailpolish on the front site. Takes away from the traditional theme but works great for our aging eyes . Awsome vidio as always!!
If I had only known---. My Lyman Plains rifle was only slightly different from this, in 1974. But we sold them for $79! A pound of Gearhart-Owens (GOEX now) was $3.95 and Remington percussion caps were about $1.50. Since they were 45 caliber, I finished a blank 50 cal Hart barrel for deer hunting. 75 grains of double f actually produced a fair recoil. BTW, I looked up the price for this rifle now and was absolutely stunned to see $796.95.
Enjoyed this video. have been shooting black powder for years now and there is nothing like it. Lately I have been using my Cabela's Hawkins .54 and also a generic trappers rifle flintlock .67, both have been great deer rifles here in Northern Indiana. Was also pleased that you had mentioned the one movie The Mountain Men, as a good friend of mine, Larry Houchin was one of the technical advisers for the movie, due to his membership in the American Mountain Men Association, where they completely participate as a real mountain man would of during the period. Always love watching your video and keep up the great work sir.
I have a CVA .50cal and it works like a charm not to mention that it is very accurate. I've taken it out deer hunting and scored a reasonable sized buck. Great video, keep up the good work.
+Leo Grey Cool! I'd like to see more deer hunters enjoying the traditional, historical muzzle loaders. The in-line muzzle loaders are less trouble, I guess, and if a person's interest in firearms is mainly as a tool for hunting, he's not necessarily going to be drawn to a traditional rifle.
You have amazing videos as well as teaching people Safety I would have to say that you are Prior Military! If you have never been in the Military you would have been an Expert shooter for sure Thank You for all your videos, Jimmy Groh from Michigan!
i am a black powder fan, here in PA flintlocks are whats legal for hunting, they are as you say pretty accurate, always enjoy your videos, thanks hickok45
Hickok45, you are the best. Thanks for teaching me so much about firearms. I’m a greenhorn when it comes to this, and your lessons and showcases are really really helpful and entertaining. Much love from Texas! ❤️
I learned from my father a small amount of pan power(fine black powder) will clear a dry ball easy. Living in New England we always put a little powder under the nipple when hunting in winter, gives you a better flash in wet environment.
Great video, it's about time someone breaks out the old smoke pole!! They have been retired for the inline! I'm old school and still like the old hex barrel side locks! Thanks, it was fun watching your video!!! Jim from Kansas!!
Thanks for the video! I'm currently building the Lyman Great Plains Rifle in the 50 cal. version. It was a gift to me some 15+ years ago when I didn't have the means or place to work on it and had since forgotten about it. I ran across it a couple of weeks ago and started working on it. Just blued the barrel last night. I was looking for a video on inserting and adjusting the sights when I came across your video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and info.
A good way to make sure you seat the round properly with modern blackpowder and even early ones is by loading the rifle as you normally would and sticking the ramrod in the barrel marking it where the barrel end and use that as a reference to make sure the ball is fully seated
Planning on ordering one from Track of the Wolf. Always wanted this rifle. I had two TC sidelocks. But,this is a beautiful rifle. I had a couple CVA inlines. Took a six point with one. I liked it, was easier to clean. But, I prefer a sidelock.
Hickok, You've always reminded me of my dad. Which is part of the reason why I enjoy your videos. Well sadly my dad just passed. As a result, you're videos just became a lot more significant to me. Watching them has become similar to seeing him in a family movie. It's silly I admit but regardless I appreciate it. Thank you.
Dad, is a very special name.
I am sorry for your loss😢
At least you saw yours before he overdose and never meet you and first time you saw him he was dead that kinda of sucks but my point is sorry about your dad
I have a 54 cal Hawken muzzle-loader that was passed down to me from my dad. It was a kit gun he received for his birthday. It's a beautiful rifle. I'll pass it down to one of my grandsons eventually.
I retired from the US Army Infantry, and never owned a rifle, but I have been missing shooting and even cleaning a rifle. I recently purchased a traditions deerhunter percussion 1/48 twist. Love your black powder videos. Thanks for all the information you put out.
Incredible. How this gentleman talks interesting facts and history while loading that old gun, and then just - bam! - hits the target from long range like it’s nothing.
Immense respect to you, Sir! Hat off
You're a great representative of this sport; thank you for all you do my friend!
Thank you. the vast majority of shooters I've met ARE. It's just the "sleeze bags" that get way more attention than they should in the media. :-)
Yes Sir, I understand...and there are some of those other guys out there for sure. I think the vast majority of the shooters are the same, most of them safe and sane. I was taught by a WWII combat veteran how to handle weapons from an early age and learned much respect for them and everything for that matter. He was a great father figure for any boy to have. Cheers to you Sir...thanks for all you do.
don't worry mr hickok i eat while i'm watching :)
Wobble Copter guns are murder, not sport
@@MBsaturnus
What are you rabbiting on about mate ?
Those cicadas are a Southern thing. The sound of summer in the Old South. The hotter it gets, the faster the pitch.
I see a lot of comments complaining about the cicadas. Personally, I like them. It's a pleasant sound.
Also, cap-and-ball weapons have easily the highest number of unintentionally-funny terms relating to them of any other object invented by man.
+Smitty Werben Jaeger man Jensen (Number One) When I hear people complain about the noise in person I look around confused, "what I don't hear anything" It's just white noise if you're used to it. Sounds like summer.
+Smitty Werben Jaeger man Jensen (Number One) lol i didnt even notice the sound until i read your comment
@@MikesLuxuryHouse
Me too ! I guess I just tuned it out, I always liked Cicadas anyway, they spend a huge amount of time waiting to emerge, 13 -17 years in the nymph stage, underground, maturing slowly, so if you were 5, the cicada emerges, you are 21 and old enough to order a beer !
Ramrods, ball starters, lube, nipples... Black powder shooting is a hell of a sport!
I always put a patch on the ramrod with a little water on the patch and ram the patch all the way to the bottom of the barrel. I have been shooting and hunting with black powder rifles for over 50 years. Never had anything like an accidental ignition of any powder left in the barrel. The wet patch is rammed to the bottom of the barrel and left there for 10 seconds while rotating the ramrod back and forth. My grandfather taught me this. He was born in 1881 and hunted with black powder firearms only. He never owned a cartridge gun that I know of. He also never had a misfire of any kind according to him of course! Anyone who loves black powder shooting or hunting should do this. Flintlock or Cap Lock it doesn't matter.
Or a quick spritz of ballistol/water, before swabbing out the barrel, with a patch, or tow
Jeremiah Johnson made his way into the mountains, bettin on forgettin all the troubles that he knew...
Great Movie!
Had a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .50 caliber some years ago. A very well made and solid firearm. Won several matches with it at our local 'black powder/muzzleloader' club and took a deer with it. Sold it years ago to finance purchase of another muzzleloading rifle but realized what a well made firearm my example of the Lyman Great Plains Rifle was and I regret selling it. I believe the Lyman lock uses a coil mainspring as opposed to the 'traditional' flat spring used in most other percussion locks, and that is one of the things that set it apart and made it very reliable and sturdy. The Lyman rifle is rather plain and understated (no shiny brass furniture) but that is one of the attractions of it.
hickok45 would host the Best damn PBS show I always wanted, but never had.
my dad and i were never very close growing up. i'm in my forties now. thinking how lucky your son and you are, sharing this nice hobby through the years.
M
You almost need the hearing protection just for the cicadas alone.
Hmmm…I don’t hear any.
I have the .54 cal plains rifle kit that I bought and built in 1975. It has brass hardware and patchbox and the stock is European walnut. It was such a nice woodgrain, didn't stain it but left it in its natural color with 8 coats of spar varnish and linseed oil; it's beautiful. The owner of the local muzzleloading shop said it was one of the best builds he had seen. The gun is very accurate at 100 yards and I still have the rifle today.
What I wouldnt give for a range like that!
Several years ago I ordered this rifle in a kit. It was fairly easy to build and I browned all the hardware on it. It was a :50 cal., and shot really well. I ordered the flintlock version. I bought my son one in cap lock. He sent it to Log Cabin Sports Shop in Lodi, Ohio and they fixed it till it can be used as a cap lock or a flintlock just by removing the drum and screwing in a touch hole and changing the lock. Very authentic rifle.
When I restored a beat up old TC Hawken, I'm glad that I chose to brown it as well.
"I'm generally not in combat with a muzzleloader."
Good one!
You are by far my favorite gun channel. Seems like most of the others are mostly into "tactical" stuff and/or politics. I love guns of all kinds. I have a .50 cal Lyman Trade Rifle, percussion cap version. Mine is the single trigger model. I love shooting it, but unlike you, I don't have such a beautiful place to shoot. I have to drive almost 100 miles round trip to get to a place to shoot that is not a commercial range. You have an ideal setup for a gun enthusiast. I am very envious.
Not a DiCaprio fan, but "The Revenent" is pretty good.... Especially the bear....
Your Hawken is a beauty, so discreet, even a touch of sinister elegance with all her darkened parts... and her deep song, resonating through the trees... one of the best poems I've ever listened to. Again, what a beauty!
My Kentucky, my Hawken 50 and I want to give you both our best wishes. Thanks for that great video, dear Hickok.
Re:@19:33 the crescent shaped butt.
My understanding (which could be mistaken) is that the crescent shaped butt is very intentional for the Hawken rifle. The rifle is not held to the shoulder in the traditional manner - that is pressed against your shoulder/chest. Instead the crescent butt is meant to be hooked into the arm pit and hook around your shoulder and/or upper arm. If you place this style of rifle butt flat up against your shoulder as you would a traditional style of rifle, yes, it will hurt! But that is because that is not how you shoulder this type of stock.
Again also my understanding the reason (one of the reasons?) for the crescent shaped butt is to make it easier to support the rifle. The Hawken is front heavy. "Hooking" the stock into your armpit helps to steady the rifle.
Another great video Hickok. I have the "GPR" in a flintlock - love the rifle, but no doubt that crescent stock can be tough to get the hang of.
Peace.
RobertKaydoo Yeah, and I don't really have interest in changing how I shoots a long gun. I'll probably eventually find a good leather slip-on that allow me to shoot it properly.
Bought a used kit gun ol' CVA 54 cal. Flint. Finished her up real good...shouldering her felt like holding a svelte babe in your arms...CVA used green mountain barrels in that kit too....the Spanish lock was so-so...tuned it best we could. If had kept the rifle would've switched it out with an L& R or Davis...
Years ago I built a Thompson Center 54 caliber Hawken style. I browned it in the oven and made molds for 54 balls and a 54 mini ball that weighed about 400 grains. I used pyrodex cause it was a little cleaner, but just as much fun to shoot. It was accurate and I liked it because it had a more modern adjustable sight. I haven't shot it in years but your video reminded me to get it out. Thanks
+papa Hajek You should do that; you have been cutting yourself out of some great pleasure! Get that thing out and limber it up. It's great therapy. I always recommend muzzle loaders to men who have dogs that bite them, bosses that abuse them, kids that hate them, and wives that are mean to them. A few hours on the range with one of these and everything will be good again. :-)
+papa Hajek You should do that; you have been cutting yourself out of some great pleasure! Get that thing out and limber it up. It's great therapy. I always recommend muzzle loaders to men who have dogs that bite them, bosses that abuse them, kids that hate them, and wives that are mean to them. A few hours on the range with one of these and everything will be good again. :-)
+hickok45 all of the above apply, so I'll take that as a word from on high ;) 90 grains and a mini ball thumps when it hits, even dirt.
I just picked up a 54 cal Thompson Center Hawken. Your videos have been a wealth of knowledge for me for years, but the info on these old BP guns has been invaluable. Thank you sir, and good evening from a fellow middle-Tennessean.
I loved learning about this rifle! I really liked how you explained everything about the loading, shooting and the history too. Thank you for making this video.
Mr. Hickok, I bought a replacement ramrod for my Lyman GPR. It is a Tresco. I got the one for the earlier rifles (like your first one) where the ramrod is a 1/2 too long. But this allowed to to slide on a brass bore protector and be able to leave it on. Its out of the way shooting as well. I like the Tresco because both ends are concave which allows to pull the ramrod up and push the ball down without having to flip the ramrod around. And my bore protector slides down in position perfectly. The ramrod tips are iron with rivets which are astoundingly strong for loading, cleaning, and even pull out the occasional dry ball. I absolutely love the fact I do not have to flip my ramrod around and I am able to protect the fifling at the muzzel. I bought the ramrod 32.5 on Ebay for $20 including taxes and shipping and my 3/8 brass bore protector for $5.
Another neat addition I installed is a $5 brass flash cup. This keeps are the fouling from getting all over the barrel and stock and a $5 flush nipple with hose. I shoot at least twice a week with anywhere from 30 to 40 rounds each time and I can clean it this way in less than 15 minutes. However, I still removal barrel and every 3rd shooting. I enjoy cleaning my guns just as well as shooting them.
I only wish I could had gotten the flash cup and barrel/muzzle protector in iron to match the gun.
I enjoy your videos. THank you for all of your hard work.
Sincerely, James Sparhawk from NC.
Love the Lyman .54cal flintlock
I started shooting a Pedersolli Flintlock .50 cal. I love shooting black powder. It took me awhile to get the hang of it as there isnt many people i know using them. Videos like yours are how i learned to shoot. Thanks again for making these helpful videos
That 60fps is so beautiful. It's even better than real life...
I think I've seen all of the H45's... For me, the best work to date. Thanks for letting us channel your middle school class with the early giggle lecture. Hickok was like a kid in a candy store once he got a hold of that rifle and Big John's camera work was spot on! Thanks guys.
"I don't care if you're hungry, or on your way to eat." That's the beauty of the "Pause" button.
+Cory Walker I don't want you to have to pause the video; you might miss some of my genius! :-)
Believe me, I wouldn't want to miss it, either. What I love about your videos is that you go into the history of the firearm, and show us how it actually works. Thank you, so much, for sharing such your vast knowledge. Keep up the great videos.
Yes put a notch on the ramrod to make sure the ball is seated properly.
Early generation Hawkens were full stock Flintlocks. Those were all eaten, destroyed by wilderness with none known to exist other than one that was converted to cap and is rumored to be Beckwourths Hawken. The ones that you see such as this one, with a cap can ball existed later during the end of the fur trade era. The early Mountain Men such as Hugh Glass, Jim "OG" Bridger and Osborne Russell, carried Flintlocks during the pre-1837 time period. Caps were unavailable out on the frontier and more prone to fail due to weather. If a trapper fell in a creek, every cap was shot-done-gone, whereas he could dry his powder out. The cap technology was the shortest serving firearm technology there was really. The Flint was the primary ignition mechanism for nearly 300 years. Even after the introduction of the cap, many preferred the flint.
So true. The Hawken was not anyway near as popular among fur trapper during the era as the hard to kill myth suggests.
Too many equate Hawkens with the Fur Trade era. Osbourne Russell retired from the fur trade before a single percussion gun had made it west.
I am finding the black powder videos much more entertaining at the moment. the history and the craftsmanship of the guns are much more interesting than polymer, massed produced clones. Keep up the great work H.
What a beauty!
I want to tap it. If u know what i mean.
Thanks so much, black powder is so awesome,'cheers from france
Outstanding on showing the Lyman Great Plains, I have owned and shot mine for over 20 years, I have a Traditions Hawkin as well, but the Lyman just speaks to me!
I've had my GPR for about a year and a half and absolutely love it. Had a T/C but the Lyman's are better in my opinion. Definitely the best value for the money. Great vid Hickock!!
That's nice to hear! I have had my Lyman PR for a couple years. Installing an actual Hawken patch box into it, so at least part of it will be authentic Hawken.
The Lyman GPR is one of the most authentic to the Hawken design in a production rifle that exists, and is more authentic than the Thompson Center.
What a fine time of the year to make smoke! Thanks for the Black Powder post!!! One safety point. In this Video You are using a brass range rod, and grabbing high on it when pushing the ball home. While doing this with a brass rod is safe enough......the same action with a wooden rod often causes a split along the grain (when the rod bows ), leaving a sharp hardwood point sticking out of the barrel. The same high grip and fast push also drives your hand onto the hardwood point impaling it.. It is a much safer practice to NEVER grab the rod, even the range rod, higher then about 8" above the barrel. Like never assuming a gun is unloaded, the repetitive nature of short stroking the range rod will train you to short stroke a wooden rod when you have just shot a buck & your nerves are a wreck. Thanks again for the Muzzle Loader Posting, I would love to see you shoot a .32 cal. "squirrel rifle" I hunt rabbits with one and whenever I let someone shoot it they come away with that little kid smile a great firearm will bring to an adult.
I got my Hawkens rifle from Hatchet Jack. Found him frozen to a tree. It's a good rifle and killed the bear that killed him...
Thats a famous line.
I think he spelled bear. "bar" lol.
I hatchet Jack, being of sound mind and broke legs, do hereby leaveth my bear rifle to whatever finds it. It is a good rifle, and killt the bear that kilt me...
Logan Ireland Seems like you forgot just a bit there laddy
James Cooper yeah I left most of it out.
I bought a CVA Accura MR inline muzzleloader 3 years ago , and have taken 2 deer . This year I bought a Traditions Pa pellet flintlock to take advantage of late season deer. I have shot the flintlock and love it . I do have to shim the front sight though .
I stole one of these years ago for a mere $50. I can't believe I sold it. Fun little rifle.
I love the movie Jeremiah Johnson. That's what inspired me to get the T/C version of this rifle 15 years ago. Believe it or not Mr Hickok I have hit 55 gallon drums 150 yards away with it.
Great as always hickok, keep up those 60fps videos, and the great firearms!
I didn't realize it was 60fps until I saw his arm wiggle around like spaghetti
***** ... and he still hit the gong!
I nearly dropped my phone in shock when I saw this was the most recently uploaded video. I had been looking into black powder guns, specifically looking at the Traditions rifles...then got to handle the Lyman Great Plains rifle at my local gun shop...I'm set on the Lyman now. Excellent upload, and as always, thank you.
Hope you got er , one sweet rifle
Damn. When i pause the video in the middle of it my ears are ringing from the (cricket?) sound. But very nice rifle.
ideamachineim just looked it up, around 2-5 year life cycle and the north american genus has a 13-17 year life cycle.. annoying sound though
My ears are ringing too
TheGameTripleH4Life Yeah,at first I thought my tinnitus was getting worse, but then I realized it was the cicadas, as ideamachineim said.
jackoghost I'm wondering if it's one of the years where they swarm.
TheGameTripleH4Life If you hate the noise don't ever come to Tropical Australia haha, the noise is deafening :D
The Mountain Men: 1980; with Charlton Heston, Brian Keith, Victoria Racimo.
Du you adopt people if they ask you?
Enjoyed the Lyman Great Plains Rifle video. I've owned one in 50 cal. for about 25 years. I shoot conicals in mine and switched from 2F blackpowder to Hodgen Triple 7 which I find to shoot very well with much better ignition than Pyrodex. Mine likes 240 grain 45 cal.XTP sabots over 80 grains of Triple7 or equally well the 285 grain Great Plains 50 cal. lead bullet over 85 grains of Triple 7. Great Rifle that I enjoy shooting and have taken a lot of deer with.
I love my GPR if you do your part she'll put it where you aim. It was my dads and when he got it he took all the bluing off and browned it.
Jacob Pepmueller Sounds like a good idea. That's the only thing that it needs to make it appear more authentic.
I got my .54 caliber Great Plains Rifle December 1979, $154.95, not a kit. Fit & finish is excellent, barrel & furniture is browned. I love it! They used to be made by Investarm in Italy, I see now they are being made by Davide Pedersoli.
Thanks for this video! I shoot a .54 caliber flintlock Great Plains Rifle I built from a kit. I cast my own balls and knap my own flints. I'm Texan - there's no prettier sound than the Cicadas.
If there's such a thing as a state insect in Texas it would be the Cicadas.
@@williamkerr2121 , no joke.
@@J55152 I heard it being tossed around that they were thinking of changing the state flower from bluebonnet to mildew but I do not give that story a great deal of credit.
I have a 54 cal. flintlock Lyman Deerslayer. I live in PA where we have a flintlock only season after Christmas. It's a awesome time to hunt.
Haha born and raised in Texas. When i moved to Colorado i was confused that it was so quiet. Had to start sleeping with a fan on.
I shoot an Austin Halleck Flint Mountain Rifle in .50, these old style rifles are more accurate than most people think. Thanks for the vid!
Hey, Hickock you should try to get your hands on a .700 Nitro Express double rifle!
That's a $100 000 plus rifle go 900 nitro lol
The only diiference in our guns is that mine is a 50 cal. I wish I would had gottten the 54 now. But that's ok because I have already made my mind up on my next gun. I will be getting the .54 cal Lyman GPR "Hunter" with the 1:32 twist for deer hunting. Italians make excellent guns. I have an 1858 Uberti as well that shoots absolutely dead on with a .457 ball, 30 gns of 3f Goex, and a lubed felt wad. Thanks again Mr. Hickok!
"middle age" of gun was GREAT... One shot - one bullet - one chance
Not like today... ~ 16000 ammo ( 5,56 or 7,62 ) to eliminate ONE enemy
:-)
Ahh.......springtime, everything is green, weather is nice, great shade. The compound looks awesome. And the guest of honor is the Lyman Great Plains rifle. This video is pure entertainment. In all my years I have never seen anyone use a strip of patch material and cut it of with a knife. That's a fine idea. I like it.
Hickok, What's the twist rate on that rifle?
62sugarbear 1 in 60.
Great Plains RIFLE = 1 in 60". Great Plains HUNTER = 1 in 32". Same gun, different twist rate. 1/60 for round ball. 1/32 for sabots, slugs, bullets etc.
I have a lyman gpr. With a flintlock. Absolutely love it!
Hickok, your Tennessee bugs are almost as loud as our North Carolina bugs...
Can't get enough of your fantastic vids Mr H..,it's was a great start to my Sunday morning here in Melbourne.. Thanking you Sir & ofcourse John.
Nothing like the smell of black powder. :)
Thank YOU Hickok for making videos that my 4 and 7 year old's can watch with me.
You should demonstrate dry-ball removal methods sometime.
NC9ballguy if you shoot BP you will eventually have or will dry ball. I have once or twice.. and the method Hickok recommends is what I do as well. Basically remove the nipple, put a few grains of BP down the nipple cavity, put the nipple back on.. cap and fire.
I've used compressed air before with an air gun with a good rubber fitting.
@punchingmegatree He didn't demonstrate. He explained it.
I believe him when he says it works- I just felt it would be fascinating for everyone to actually see.
@punchingmegatree I get the point, but Hickok45 is a good instructor... Even for "this is why you don't " topics. I just figured I would ask. Nothing more.
+NC9ballguy Get a Ball puller! It's a lot easier.
A friend of mine made many, many muzzle loaders. I had the privilege to shoot some of them (including the "old" way, pan, flint, etc).
My first muzzle loader was a Thompson Center .45 caliber Hawken with all the brass fittings and great wood. Beautiful. I cheated and never did anything the old ways since I was bringing home meat. :) No possibles bag since I had almost everything around my neck. It was the easiest muzzle loader to start a ball. I later tried the sabboted bullets in .357 caliber with 90 grain using one of the speed loaders.
Enjoyed your shooting.
When you tote one of these around, you realize what a bunch of wussies we have become.
My thoughts exactly. Could you imagine an old trapper from the 1820s seeing what the world has become. He’d probably go into shock and die of a heart attack thinking they’re actually in hell. The smells, noises, and infrastructure would be hard for him to comprehend I’m sure. I know these where about as hearty of men every to live, but still.
Thank you Lyman for providing the rifle. Hope the Black powder sport gets a resurgence because you will never have so much fun. Take a whole day with a few friends and dedicate to black powder only and you will have a great time.
do the cap and ball require FFL dealer to buy ?
***** Not in any of the "free states." Not sure about the five or six "Com-Bloc" states. :-)
Awesome thanks Texas here should be good to go then I may order the pistol soon
***** I live in California so I'm just going to assume yes for me.
dzhellek Black powder muzzle loaders are exempt from FFL transfers in California regardless of their age, believe it or not. You can get them mailed to your door as long as it's legal for you to own it. All other firearm laws apply. For instance, carrying a muzzle loading pistol concealed without a license is still illegal.
silentdude56k I stand both corrected and stunned.
I have a Browning Mountain Rifle very similar to this and love it. Very underrated gun segment imo
Was that 1870 when you owned the gun?
I got to agree with you Hickok (in your hands) it's a great shooter & I really don't think it needs all the brass. The muzzle flash is enough to let the others see where your at
Great video
Come On Hickok, RELOAD FAST. I want to see some RAPID FIRE shooting. HaHa Luv Ya
Hey again Hickok45
Thank you for all the fun and educational videos.
Wishing you and your family a safe and Joy filled Christmas.
Can anyone with reloading experience tell me what result i should be ready for when i load a cartridge made out of a soda can with a capgun cap as primer and matchpowder with an aluminion foil bullet and all of this shot from a short pipe from a local junkyard? Other than this being a bomb of course.
〈--- Literally FAST food ™ (mɐin chɐnnǝl) Dying, dont do it.
Yea dont do it cus your either gomma get a bomb or just a boring fizz of powderbut either way it would be completely stupid to try
It will work barely if you do it right but the aluminum won't go very far unless you use something heavy inside. People are women, I say do it of course it won't be a bomb theirs not enough pressure with aluminum foil. I used to make cannon out of tranny line for my GI joes when I was a kid using bottle rocket powder for explosive and when I got really curious I loaded black powder into a iron pipe with a paper towel filled with pot seeds. I figured i would be like Johny apple seed but with pot. It worked very well I heard seeds hitting houses about 75yds give or take away and it sounded like a 12gauge lol. Try it all, make giant firecrackers with pipes and guns from a scrap yard its fun and beats being a little girl.
Yes but the pipe isnt from the hardware store its from a junk yard and it could be in worse condition then you think theres a difference between new pipe from the hardware store and old pipe from the junk yard
timothy berry Yea but unless the pipe is capped at both ends it will not explode. The blast will always take the path of least resistance, which is the open end of the pipe.
Smoke pole season is by far my favorite hunting season. Glad to see you have gotten one.
Hi Greg! Nice video! I deer hunted for several years with a Modern Inline Muzzle Loader....a CVA Kodiak. I hunted riding a Mountain bike out here in the West. Great fun! Always worried about Bears and Cougars here as they're very abundant, and the Cougars will stalk hunters, so I always carry a .44 Mag handgun as well.
Anyway, I want to suggest trying a Black Powder substitute called "Blackhorn 209" from Western Powders. It's a phenomenal product. Absolutely no need to swab between shots, no crusty buildup. The more you shoot it, it seems the easier it is to load and it appears it's self-cleaning. When first trying the Blackhorn 209, I shot 11 times, then ran a patch down the barrel and it came out clean. I've shot as many as 25 times without running a patch. I can shoot 1-1/4" 3 shot groups with Iron sights from a standing rest at 100 yards. My gun is .50 caliber. My decent groups are shot with saboted .45 Handgun bullets. When using .50 caliber Powershot or similar projectiles, the groups are slightly larger.
I used to own a T/C greyhawk . caliber... You brught back some good old memories.. Thanks
I put together a Lyman Great Plains Pistol Kit in .54 Cal, I am in love with it. With 40 gr of 777 and a 230 gr RB it will hang with many modern medium magnums without the snappy recoil. Though its not made for it, its still really accurate with a paper patch mini ball in it . The accuracy is extreme with the pistol. I will be getting the rifle to go with it soon.
i never get tired of listening to him and learning stuff, u_u i wish my grandpa was like this.
Wonderful video. Between you and an uncle of mine, back in the '80s, I suffer from an occasional bout with the black powder bug. There just something about the sound, the smell, the smoke and sparks, combined with all that history and charm.
I, too, had a Thompson-Center Hawken in .50 cal - bought it shortly after I returned home from the Army - but lost it in pawn when i hit tough times after i relocated to Florida in '79...stoopid me!!!
bought a lyman in mid 70s while stationed at ft hood, TX. .45 cal with rifling for a maxi ball but was pretty accurate with round ball and 65 gr powder. I used 3f mostly because that's what the gun store carried
I've got a Lyman deerstalker I use for muzzleloader deer season here in the NW. Octagonal stainless steel barrel and fiber optic sights. Great shooting rifle.
I have one in .54 and 1 in 66 twist. A fine round ball shooting firearm.
I put the Lyman aperature on mine and some florescent orange nailpolish on the front site. Takes away from the traditional theme but works great for our aging eyes . Awsome vidio as always!!
If I had only known---. My Lyman Plains rifle was only slightly different from this, in 1974. But we sold them for $79! A pound of Gearhart-Owens (GOEX now) was $3.95 and Remington percussion caps were about $1.50. Since they were 45 caliber, I finished a blank 50 cal Hart barrel for deer hunting. 75 grains of double f actually produced a fair recoil. BTW, I looked up the price for this rifle now and was absolutely stunned to see $796.95.
Enjoyed this video. have been shooting black powder for years now and there is nothing like it. Lately I have been using my Cabela's Hawkins .54 and also a generic trappers rifle flintlock .67, both have been great deer rifles here in Northern Indiana. Was also pleased that you had mentioned the one movie The Mountain Men, as a good friend of mine, Larry Houchin was one of the technical advisers for the movie, due to his membership in the American Mountain Men Association, where they completely participate as a real mountain man would of during the period. Always love watching your video and keep up the great work sir.
i wish i had you as a teacher. i would have payed more attention. keep up the good work. your the greatest
I have a CVA .50cal and it works like a charm not to mention that it is very accurate. I've taken it out deer hunting and scored a reasonable sized buck. Great video, keep up the good work.
+Leo Grey Cool! I'd like to see more deer hunters enjoying the traditional, historical muzzle loaders. The in-line muzzle loaders are less trouble, I guess, and if a person's interest in firearms is mainly as a tool for hunting, he's not necessarily going to be drawn to a traditional rifle.
+hickok45 We have a great Elk season for black powder here in AZ.
You have amazing videos as well as teaching people Safety I would have to say that you are Prior Military! If you have never been in the Military you would have been an Expert shooter for sure Thank You for all your videos, Jimmy Groh from Michigan!
i am a black powder fan, here in PA flintlocks are whats legal for hunting, they are as you say pretty accurate, always enjoy your videos, thanks hickok45
That rifle is a Gemmer. Rare, beautiful, and a shooter. I just finished building one, can't wait to shoot it. You got a great rifle.
"You're generally not in mortal combat with a muzzle loader." hahahaha I love Hickok
Probably the best start to any video I have ever seen.
Hickok45, you are the best. Thanks for teaching me so much about firearms. I’m a greenhorn when it comes to this, and your lessons and showcases are really really helpful and entertaining. Much love from Texas! ❤️
I learned from my father a small amount of pan power(fine black powder) will clear a dry ball easy. Living in New England we always put a little powder under the nipple when hunting in winter, gives you a better flash in wet environment.
Great video, it's about time someone breaks out the old smoke pole!! They have been retired for the inline! I'm old school and still like the old hex barrel side locks! Thanks, it was fun watching your video!!! Jim from Kansas!!
Not me; I guess I have 8 or 10 "real" muzzleloaders. We have videos with all of them.
Thanks for the video! I'm currently building the Lyman Great Plains Rifle in the 50 cal. version. It was a gift to me some 15+ years ago when I didn't have the means or place to work on it and had since forgotten about it. I ran across it a couple of weeks ago and started working on it. Just blued the barrel last night. I was looking for a video on inserting and adjusting the sights when I came across your video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and info.
A good way to make sure you seat the round properly with modern blackpowder and even early ones is by loading the rifle as you normally would and sticking the ramrod in the barrel marking it where the barrel end and use that as a reference to make sure the ball is fully seated
I have the Great Plains Hunter in .50 caliber, my grandpa gave it to me and love it
Planning on ordering one from Track of the Wolf. Always wanted this rifle. I had two TC sidelocks. But,this is a beautiful rifle. I had a couple CVA inlines. Took a six point with one. I liked it, was easier to clean. But, I prefer a sidelock.
I prefer a sidelock as well. I go out with a .50 TC rifle and a .50 Traditions Hawken pistol.