Although the equipment has evolved over time, the basics of blackpowder shooting are much the same today as they’ve been for hundreds of years. A propellant is poured down the barrel of a long gun or handgun, followed by a solid projectile or measure of small shot tamped into place with a ramrod. When the propellant within the barrel is ignited by the spark from flint striking steel or the ignition of a percussion cap, the energy released launches the projectile or shot out of the muzzle toward the target.
Brief History of Gunpowder
Gunpowder, which was invented by the Chinese in the 13th century, is basically a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal. Not surprisingly, the first firearms were also a Chinese invention.
Known as “fire lances,” they were handheld bamboo or metal tubes charged with gunpowder that, when ignited, launched ceramic shards, bits of metal and even small pebbles.
Muzzleloader Firing Mechanisms
Firearms began to appear throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East during the 14th century. By the 15th century, matchlock firearms had come into use. Matchlocks required a lighted match or fuse to ignite the gunpowder in the chamber, which rendered them virtually useless during damp or rainy weather.
By the early 16th century, matchlock firing mechanisms were replaced with wheel locks, which were the first self-igniting firearms and the forerunners of flintlock handguns and rifles. Much like a modern-day cigarette lighter, wheel locks had rotating steel wheels that used friction to create a spark off a piece of flint that then ignited the gunpowder. Wheel locks, however, were expensive to build, fragile and costly to maintain or repair.
The world’s armies began to replace matchlocks and wheel locks with muzzleloading flintlocks during the 16th century. Flintlock rifles and handguns continued to be the military weapons of choice until the mid-19th century.
Sturdier, more reliable and less expensive than their predecessors, flintlocks have a hammer with metal jaws that hold a sharpened piece of flint. There’s also an L-shaped steel piece called a frizzen in front of the hammer that’s held in place by a spring. When the frizzen is pushed forward, a shallow pan is exposed, into which a small amount of gunpowder is poured as the weapon is being loaded. Pulling the frizzen back to its closed position covers the pan, which keeps the powder from spilling out or getting wet. After the hammer is cocked and the trigger pulled, the hammer is released and flies forward, causing the flint to strike the frizzen. The spark created by the flint striking steel ignites the powder in the pan, which forces heat and flame through a small port in the barrel, igniting the gunpowder in the chamber and launching the projectile out of the muzzle and toward the target.
The flintlock was succeeded by the percussion lock, or cap lock, mechanism, which was invented and patented by a Scottish minister and avid hunter in the early 19th century. By the 1820s, flintlocks and wheel locks were in large part replaced by muzzleloading firearms that used waterproof percussion caps that were easier to load and far more reliable. Rather than using a spark from a piece of flint striking steel, the firearm’s hammer struck a cap containing fulminate of mercury, which ignited the powder within the gun barrel’s chamber.
The caplock’s firing mechanism had a hammer similar to a flintlock, but without the jaws and flint. The flintlock’s frizzen and pan were replaced with a small nipple that had a narrow tubular opening into the barrel’s chamber. After tamping down the powder charge and projectile, a percussion cap was placed on the nipple in preparation for firing. Cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger released the hammer, which struck the percussion cap, causing it to ignite. Fire from the detonated cap traveled through the nipple into the barrel, igniting the charge in the chamber and launching the projectile. By the end of the 19th century, caplocks had largely been replaced by firearms using modern day, one-piece, self-contained ammunition with primers already embedded in the base of metal, paper or plastic casings that held the propellant and projectiles.
Although the concept had been around since the 1800s, inline muzzleloaders weren’t commercially available until 1985. They’re designed so that the nipple that holds the primer cap is placed directly behind the charge. When the trigger is pulled, the primer is detonated and the energy released travels directly to the propellant within the barrel, making inline muzzleloaders more dependable than caplock firearms. The CVA Wolf PR 2110M is a good example of a modern-day inline muzzleloading rifle.
Appeal of Modern Day Blackpowder Hunting and Shooting
Basically, blackpowder shooting is fun. There is, of course, the nostalgia and tradition of taking game in the same manner as Jim Bridger, Daniel Boone or other frontier icons, but there’s more than that to the growing popularity of blackpowder shooting.
There’s also the sheer satisfaction of scoring a long range hit on a stationary target or cleanly putting down a game animal that’s been carefully stalked and taken in the same way as it’s been done for hundreds of years. Today’s blackpowder shooters, whether they prefer a pistol or rifle, also enjoy the challenge of hand loading and accurately shooting a flintlock, such as a Lyman Deerstalker PR2110M or a percussion cap muzzleloader like the Lyman Great Plains Muzzleloader.
Another reason for the increasing popularity of blackpowder shooting is that in many states, muzzleloaders aren’t regulated in the same way as traditional firearms, and often don’t require background checks or waiting periods in order to purchase them.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT) National Firearms Act, antique firearms, which generally include any firearm manufactured prior to 1899 not designed or intended to use conventional rimfire or centerfire ammunition, are considered antiques and are exempt from federal regulation. Regardless of their date of manufacture, muzzleloading replicas of antique matchlock, flintlock and percussion cap firearms are generally classified the same as antiques, and therefore aren’t subject to National Firearms Act of 1934 restrictions. They’re also exempt from Federal Firearms License (FFL) purchase or transfer requirements, including background checks. Antique and muzzleloading firearm exemptions vary significantly from state to state, so be sure to check the regulations in effect in your area.
Blackpowder Firearms Uses
Hunting
Perhaps the most popular modern day use of blackpowder firearms is hunting. Virtually any bird or animal from upland game to caribou or black bear that can legally be hunted with a traditional handgun, rifle or shotgun can also be taken with a muzzleloading firearm.
Adding to the increasing popularity of blackpowder shooting is the fact that, in many regions, rules for hunting with muzzleloading firearms are relaxed. Some states have blackpowder hunting seasons that begin earlier and run beyond seasons for hunting with traditional firearms. Blackpowder hunting tags are purchased separately from the regular season tags usually required in these states, which means hunters can legally take more than one animal per year by hunting with both a muzzleloader and a conventional firearm. Some states have areas set aside exclusively for blackpowder hunting, while others have totally separate seasons for hunting with muzzleloaders only. Virginia is among the states that allow hunting with muzzleloaders during the regular season without having to purchase a license.
Regulations for blackpowder hunting vary from state to state. Check the muzzleloading hunting seasons and restrictions that apply in your area.
Target Shooting
Evidencing the growing popularity of blackpowder shooting, the NRA sponsors muzzleloading rifle, pistol and shotgun competitions, some of which can be a path to acceptance into the prestigious U. S. International Muzzleloading Team and an opportunity to compete in the biannual world championships. Using the same targets as NRA High Power Rifle competitions, NRA-sanctioned blackpowder matches are fired at distances of 100 to 1,000 yards. Events include bull’s eye matches fired at 25, 50 and 100 yards in the prone, sitting or kneeling and offhand (standing) positions. Muzzleloading trap shooting competitions are fired at distances of 5 and 8 meters.
Another organization dedicated to promoting blackpowder rifle, pistol and shotgun safety, marksmanship and hunting is the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA). Headquartered in Indiana, the nonprofit NMLRA holds two national blackpowder shooting competitions each year, which are the Spring National Shoot held in June and the September National Championship Shoot. Both draw entrants from around the world to compete in target shooting events that include musket, rifle, handgun, shotgun and slug gun shooting. The Association’s more than 300 charter clubs throughout the country also regularly hold local and regional blackpowder shooting competitions.
Even if the shooter isn’t, most of today’s muzzleloading rifles are capable of shooting one-inch groups at 100 yards, and in the right hands, many are capable of scoring tight groups at 200 yards or more. The key to shooting tight groups at long distance is consistency—consistent cleaning, consistent loading and, most importantly, frequent and consistent practice. The same rules apply to becoming proficient with muzzleloading handguns and shotguns.
Loading and Firing Supplies and Ammunition
In addition to the firearm itself, here are the basic supplies for blackpowder shooting:
- A powder horn or powder flask to hold and dispense the propellant
- A ramrod such as a CVA universal fiberglass ramrod to seat the projectile against the propellant
- Bullets or projectiles. The most common calibers for muzzleloading firearms, which are the bore’s diameter measured in hundredths of an inch, range for .32 to .58. Here are the various types of muzzleloader bullets:
• Round ball bullets are the traditional spherical lead balls. Mold cast lead ball bullets have a flat spot called a sprue that, when loaded, must be faced toward the muzzle to prevent it from negatively affecting accuracy. Swaged lead ball bullets are shaped in a press, which prevents air pockets or surface defects. When properly loaded and in the hands of an experienced shooter, swaged ball bullets are extremely accurate.
• Conical bullets, which are usually made from lead, are hollow at their base. Gas from the discharge trapped behind the bullet forces it to expand into the barrel’s grooved rifling. Conical bullets are stable, accurate and easy to load. Some conical bullets come pre-lubricated, which eliminates the need for a patch or sabot.
• PowerBelt® bullets are known for fast loading, clean shooting and increased muzzle velocity, and are more accurate than round ball or conical projectiles. PowerBelt® bullets feature a snap-on base that, as with a sabot, creates a seal that traps the gas behind the bullet for improved accuracy and increases muzzle velocity. Unlike sabots, PowerBelt® bullets don’t require cleaning the barrel after each shot.
• Sabots are plastic jackets that fit over the projectile to keep it perfectly aligned within the barrel for stability and accuracy when fired. Sabots also provide a seal that keeps the expanding gasses behind the bullet, which increases its muzzle velocity. Sabots fall away from the projectile as it leaves the muzzle.
- Shooting patches are used with round ball projectiles. During the loading process, the ball is wrapped in a lubricated shooting patch before being tamped down the barrel with a ramrod and seated against the powder charge. The purpose of a shooting patch is to create a seal between the bore and the bullet, causing it to engage the rifling as it travels down the barrel. Some shooting patches come pre-lubricated. Non-lubricated patches require the shooter to add a lubricant such as Hoppe’s 999 Black Powder Lube to the patch during the loading process.
- Propellants used for blackpowder hunting and target shooting range from the centuries-old original black powder mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal to modern-day black powder substitutes. Of all available muzzleloader propellants, black powder is the easiest to ignite, and is the most widely used propellant among flintlock and caplock shooters. Being easier to ignite, black powder is also dangerous. It’s classified as an explosive, making it subject to strict governmental transportation and storage regulations. Although true purists wouldn’t consider using anything else, black powder is dirty and corrosive.
Commercially available black powder substitutes such as Pyrodex have higher ignition points than true black powder, making them somewhat safer. Introduced in 1976, Pyrodex, which is available in both powder and pellet form, was developed specifically for muzzleloading firearms. Like black powder, Pyrodex contains potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal, but also includes graphite, potassium perchlorate and other unnamed ingredients protected under a trade secret. Unlike black powder, Pyrodex isn’t considered an explosive, and therefore is more readily available. A downside of Pyrodex is that it’s corrosive and caustic, and requires the same thorough bore cleaning as true black powder.
Tools and Accessories
Here’s a list of essential items that every blackpowder shooter needs:
- Possibles Bag: This is a carryall used to hold various blackpowder shooting tools and accessories. The name is derived from 18th century trappers who carried bags containing everything they “might possibly need.”
- Speed Loader: A speed loader is a tubular device that holds loose powder or pellets and a bullet to simplify and speed up the reloading process.
- Capper: Holds percussion caps until they’re needed during reloading. Most cappers have tips that position the cap so it’s easy to place on the firearm’s ignition nipple.
- Decapper: A tool used to remove spent or unfired percussion caps from the nipple. Some are 2-in-1 tools that combine a capper with a decapper.
- Powder Horn: Also called powder flasks, powder horns hold the propellant until it’s dispensed into the barrel during reloading.
- Powder Measure: A device used to accurately measure the amount of powder poured down the barrel while reloading.
- Flintlock Touch Hole Pick: Used to keep flintlock handgun and rifle touch holes clear of corrosion.
- Short Starter: A ramrod-like device 6 to 9 inches in length used to push the bullet part way down the barrel before it’s firmly seated against the charge using a full-length ramrod.
- Patch Puller: A device that’s attached to the tip of a ramrod used to retrieve lost or jammed patches from inside the barrel. An example is CVA’sBrass Patch Puller.
- Ball Puller: Another device that attaches to a ramrod’s tip and used to remove a jammed or unfired ball or bullet. It works by twisting the ramrod and screwing the ball puller’s threaded tip into the soft lead projectile. The Thompson Center 9014 is a common example.
- Breech Plug Wrench: A tool such as a Thompson Center 7788 that’s used to unscrew and remove the breech plug, which is a device used to close the aperture in an in-line breech muzzleloader. For peak performance, breech plugs need to be removed and cleaned frequently.
Contact Hinterland Outfitters for Your Blackpowder Shooting Needs
Whether you’re a seasoned blackpowder hunter or target shooter, or someone just getting started in blackpowder shooting, you’ll find everything you need at Hinterland Outfitters. Flintlock, percussion cap or in-line, handgun or long gun, we have them all, along with a full line of the accessories you’ll need. Get in touch with us by email at sales@blog.hinterlandoutfitters.com or call us toll-free at 877-446-8370. We’ll be pleased to answer any questions or address any of your concerns involving the challenging and exciting pastime of blackpowder shooting.
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