Fire up history
Muzzleloading firearms give hunters another shot
By DWAYNE RIOUX
Staff Writer
Bill Laney, owner of Hawk -N- Horn Modern Muzzleloading Firearms in West Gardiner, claims he can always tell when a hunter didn't bag a deer during the regular firearm season the moment they walk through his door. Most are looking to purchase a new muzzle-loader to hunt deer one or two additional weeks, he says.
The black-powder season on deer ran from Dec. 1-6 statewide. In central, southern and western sections of Maine -- Wildlife Management Department's 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30 -- the season runs from Dec. 8-13.
Muzzleloading guns, which date back hundreds of years, are the oldest line of firearms still used by hunters.
Laney, an expert muzzle-loader with over 30 years experience in the art of handling vintage-styled or modern day firearms, says today's muzzle-loaders are manufactured in two different styles .
"Some folks still like to shoot round-ball flintlock or percussion rifles similar to ones made famous by our forefathers," he said. "Personally, I like to shoot roundball rifles that are replicas of yesteryear and made famous by legends such as Davy Crocket or mountain men like Jeremiah Johnson. They're a great plinking gun; fairly cheap to shoot and can be used to hunt big-game and small-game as well."
Full stock or half-stock flintlocks or hammer-style rifles are manufactured to resemble vintage firearms such as the famous Kentucky long-rifle made famous in the movie "Last of the Mohicans" or the Hawkin .50 caliber rifle used as weapon of choice in the film "Last of the Mountain Men."
Muzzle-loaders who enjoy shooting replica-style rifles will generally use the firearm not only for hunting, but for target or competitive match shooting as well. Hunters manually load the firearm with gunpowder, musket ball or bullet with ramrod.
"A 100 .50 caliber roundball rounds cost under $10, where as the same amount of bullet-style projectiles used in inline cost $75," Laney said. "If I had to go out and survive in the woods today, I'd take round-ball rifle with me."
Laney says most hunters today prefer the new inline models because the firearms are easy to maintain and are more accurate at longer ranges. The rifles are made from a variety of metals such as blue or stainless steel, fiberglass stocks, and come equipped with modern rifle sights. Older flintlocks with wood stocks and heavy iron barrels weighed considerble more than the mordern inline muzzle-loader of today. Some flintlocks weighed as much as 12 pounds. On average, a new inline black-powder rifle are similar in weight to a centerfire rifle.
"You can also mount a rifle scope because most rifles are pre-drilled and tapped for scope mounts," he said.
Laney says inline muzzle-loaders are generally used for hunting big-game animals such as deer, moose and bear. The expert black-powder buff says the difference between older-style flintlocks, also called side-hammer rifles, and inline muzzle-loaders is the internal spiral twist manufactured in the barrel. The barrel twist in older percussion style rifles only allows the use of round, lead balls. Inline models have more barrel twist and can safely fire projectiles similar to elongated rifle bullets.
"The more barrel twist, the better the accuracy," Laney said. "Depending on the model, some inline rifles will consistently place a bullet or slug on target accurately at 150 to 200 yards. Roundball rifles are basically accurate only up to 100 yards."
Hunting deer with a flintlock or new inline muzzle-loader allows the hunter only one shot at his quarry before having to reload the firearm with gun powder, ball or rifle slug and a primer cap. Round balls and bullets are formed in assorted grain weights, with the more popular projectiles weighing 180, 200, 240, 295, and 300 grains. With proper instruction, the firearms are relatively safe to load and fire. All modern inline muzzle-loaders have push/pull safety's similar to center fire rifles.
Stocks are made of fiberglass, wood, and can be purchased colored in full camouflage. Compared to normal manufactured brass-cased rifle cartridge, which are inserted into the breach and ready to fire, black-powder shooters must manual pour a pre-measured amount of gun powder down the barrel, insert a ball or bullet and push the combination down to the breach-end of the barrel using a ram-rod to load the gun. The removable ram-rod can be made from wood or metal and is normally located between barrel and the stock.
Compared to old flintlock rifles often associated as the firearm used for hunting and defense by early American frontiersmen, the modern inline muzzle-loader has been completely redesigned in stock, action and barrel, says Gary Hamilton, owner of Neilson's Sporting Goods and Hamilton Gun in Farmingdale.
"Roundball and inline muzzle-loaders have completely different ignitions systems to ignite the gun powder and fire off a round," Hamilton said. "The older style side-hammer or flintlock rifles actually used flint to make a spark to ignite the gun powder and fire the shot. The new inline rifles fire pre-manufactured percussion or primer caps to ignite the round."
Like Laney, Hamilton sells a variety of name brand muzzle-loaders priced at $139.95 to $800, depending on style and materials used to manufacture the firearm. Muzzle-loaders vary in caliber size including the .45, .50, and .54 caliber rifle.
"I also have a .58 caliber," he said. "But most folks normally buy a rifle in .50 caliber."
Laney and Hamilton both also sell starter kits which measure and hold the proper amount of gun powder, cleaning tools, Hamilton says the muzzle-loader business has been brisk, especially since the end of regular firearm season on deer.
"There were a lot of hunters who didn't get a deer this season and my muzzle-loader stock proves it," Hamilton said. "I started out with 54 last week and I'm down to 23 right now. I even had three non-resident hunters stop by the shop to buy a black-powder rifle. They all want additional time to hopefully get a deer."
Hamilton says it's now legal to use a double-barrel muzzle-loader and has a vintage model on hand for show or sale. Both rifle dealers recommend purchasing a muzzle-loader from a reputable dealer who can instruct the buyer how to properly load, unload, shoot and clean the weapon after each firing.
"To date, there has never been a hunting fatality during the muzzleloader season," Laney said. "Muzzle-loaders make for a much safer firearm."
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.