Thread: Flint and Ball

Maybe a decade ago I bought my first muzzleloader. At thr time I wanted a flintlock but was daunted by the learning curve so went to the other extreme and got an inline. It satisfied me for a while but eventually I moved to caplocks. I shot a few animals with my hawken before deciding I'd have to just bite the bullet and get a flintlock.

It was certainly a learning curve but I haven't looked back, and do pretty well all my hunting with one now.

My main gun is a custom 54 longrifle, running patched balls it does a great job on anything up to red stag size.

I have a couple of smoothbores, my fusil de chasse 62 cal is my favourite gun and I've got it shooting well enough to take a deer at 50 yards but haven't done so yet.

Sold a couple of caplocks to fund a custom build, due to be finished next year. It'll be an English styled hunting rifle I'm 58 cal. Slow twist to accommodate 0.570 round balls that weigh around 280gn. Should kill most things in the southern hemisphere pretty easily.

I don't dress historically correct, but all my gear is. Adds to the flavour and enjoyment for me.

50m shot, dropped on the spot to the 230gn roundball.


My kit.


Smoothbore hare.