(1) What is in a percussion cap that makes it go bang ? ESSENTIALLY THE SAME KIND OF STUFF THAT'S IN A MODERN CF PRIMER.
(2) What's an easy way to tell if i've loaded too much powder and i'm wasting it ? CHRONOGRAPH THE LOADS AS YOU WORK UP. WHEN VELOCITY STOPS INCREASING, YOU'RE THERE!
(3) If i ram a ball/bullet down the barrel and it gets stuck half way , can i just shoot it out ? NOT UNLESS YOU LIKE RINGED/BURST BARRELS!!
(4) What's the difference between a round ball and a minnie ball ? THE MINIE BALL, NAMED FOR THE FRENCH CAPTAIN WHO DESIGNED IT, IS NOT A BALL AT ALL, BUT A CONICAL BULLET WITH A HOLLOW BASE WHICH IS MADE SLIGHTLY UNDERSIZE FOR THE BORE. THE SKIRT EXPANDS UP INTO THE RIFLING WHEN FIRED, PERMITTING A ML RIFLE TO BE LOADED A LOT FASTER THAN WITH A PATCHED BALL.
(5) What's a sprue ? IT'S THE LITTLE HUMP LEFT STICKING UP ON THE SURFACE OF A CAST BALL AFTER THE MOULD CUTTER PLATE CUTS OFF THE PIECE OF LEAD LEFT STICKING OUT AFTER THE MOLTEN LEAD HAS BEEN POURED INTO THE MOULD.
(6) What material is best for patching round balls and what thickness ? FINE LINEN IS BEST, HEAVY COTTON WEAVE IS NEXT. THICKNESS DEPENDS ON THE DIAMETER OF THE BALL IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE DIAMETER OF THE BORE AND DEPTH OF THE RIFLING. EACH RIFLE/BALL COMBINATION IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT IN THIS REQUIREMENT.
(7) How do you slug a barrel ? YOU DRIVE A SOFT LEAD, OVERSIZE SLUG THROUGH THE BORE FROM BREECH TO MUZZLE. YOU CAN'T DO THIS WITH A GUN HAVING A PERMANENTLY INSTALLED BREECH PLUG. DO IT BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE PLUG!!
( How many shots can be fired before swabbing the bore ? ONE OR TWO IF USING BLACK POWDER. WITH PYRODEX OR EQUIVALENT, I CAN SHOOT ALL AFTERNOON WITHOUT WIPING!
(9) Why doesn't pyrodex ignite reliably and what can i do about it ? IT DOES IGNITE RELIABLY. USE A CCI MAGNUM NO. 11 CAP, OR GET A "MAGSPARK NIPPLE" AND USE NO. 209 PRIMERS ON YOUR SIDELOCKS. I DO!
(10) Why would i grease the front of a cylinder on a black powder revolver ? TO KEEP THE FLASH FROM THE CHAMBER YOU ARE FIRING FROM SETTING OFF ONE OR MORE OF THE OTHER CHAMBERS!! (CHAIN FIRING). A PRED-LUBED WONDERWAD ON TOP OF THE POWDER & UNDER THE BALL WORKS AS WELL, AND ELIMINATES FOOLING WITH GREASY CRAP!
(11) What do i use in what ? fg , ffg , fffg , ffffg ? Fg in muskets/smallbore cannons. FFg IN ALL RIFLES FROM .45 to 58 CALIBER! FFFg IN ALL RIFLES UNDER .45 CALIBER, AND PISTOLS/REVOLVERS. FFFFg IN YOUR FLINTLOCK'S FLASHPANONLY.
(12) Is black powder corrosive ? YOU DAMN BETCHA!! CLEAN EVERY DAY AFTER SHOOTING!!! POUR TWO QUARTS OF BOILING P[LAIN WATER THROUGH THE BORE, THEN DRY WITH 3-4 PATCHES AND OIL BORE. CLEAN ALL BP FOULING OFF ALL METAL PARTS WITH WET PATCH, THEN OIL. I SUBSTITUTE BIRCHWOOD-CASEY SHEATH FOR OIL IN BORES, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SWABBED OUT BEFORE LOADING UP AGAIN TOMORROW!! CLEAN PYRODEX SAME WAY. PLAIN, NON-BOILING WATER WILL REMOVE 777, CLEAN SHOT & CLEARSHOT FOULING.
(13) What grade of powder would i use in the frizzen of a flintlock? FFFFg IS FASTEST. BUT FFg AND FFFg CAN BE USED AS WELL.
(14) If a black powder rifle is charged with ball and powder but not a cap or flint is it still considered loaded ? IN MANY STATES, IF THERE IS NO CAP OR POWDER IN THE FLASHPAN, THE GUN IS LEGALLY UNLOADED AND CAN BE TRANSPORTED THAT WAY. CANADA?? MOOLA ME, MY HOME TAEGU!!
(15) Why wouldn't i ram a ball with my hand over the ramrod ? I DO! IT USUALLY HAS TO BE DONE THAT WAY IN ORDER TO GET IT DOWN!
(16) If my sights are windage adjustable only , how would i adjust elevation ? RAISE THE FRONT BLADE (GET A HIGHER ONE) TO LOWER POI, OR FILE DOWN THE FRONT BLADE TO RAISE THE POI. YOU CAN ALSO FILE DOWN THE NOTCH IN THE REAR SIGHT TO LOWER THE POI.
(17) Will black powder explode by any means other than a spark? IT CAN BE IGNITED BY A HAMMER BLOW, SOMETIMES, OR BY STATIC ELECTRICITY!!
(1 What is flint made of? FLINT IS A NATURALLY OCCURING ROCK! IT IS "KNAPPED" (CHIPPED & HAMMERED) OR CUT WITH DIAMOND SAWS TO THE CORRECT SHAPE FOR USE IN THE FLINTLOCK. AGATE CAN ALSO BE CUT INTO THE CORRECT SHAPE AND USED IN A FLINTLOCK. IT WORKS GREAT!
(19) Do i lube bullets before ramming them down? IN A ROUND-BALL RIFLE, USE A LIGHTLY LUBED PATCH. I AVOID LUBING CONICAL BULLETS BY USING A PRELUBED WONDERWAD UNDER THEM. SAME AS WITH A REVOLVER.
(20) Do i lube patched balls ? How , they have a patch on them? NO!! LUBE THE PATCH, NOT THE BALL!!
(21) Is there some way of measuring to tell if my bullet/ball has been rammed all the way? RAM WITH THE CLEAN BARREL, THEN MAKE A MARK ON THE RAMROD AT THE MUZZLE WITH THE END RESTING ON THE RAMMED BULLET. FROM NOW ON, USE THAT MARK TO ENSURE THAT YOUR BALLS ARE FULLY RAMMED!!
(22) What is springing the rod? LIKE WHEN IT FLEXES UNDER PRESSURE OF RAMMING.
(23) Can rods break? HICKORY RODS CAN, UNLESS YOU SOAK THEM FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN COAL OIL (KEROSENE) WHICH WILL RENDER THEM AS FLEXIBLE AS FIBERGLASS R CARBON RODS! IF USING WOODEN RODS, USE ONLY HICKORY RODS FOR LOADING & CLEANING ML RIFLES. OTHER WOODS DON'T FLEX ENOUGH BEFORE BREAKING!!!
(24) Should i use some kind of short rod to start the ram? HELLYES!! IT IS DIFFICULT TO START A BALL WITH THE FULL-LENGTH ROD, IF THE BALL/PATCH COMBINATION IS AS TIGHT AS IT NEEDS TO BE FOR ACCURACY.
(25) Why do black powder rifles have such a slow twist? TWIST IS DETERMINED BY BULLET LENGTH. ALSO, THE BIGGER AROUND THE BALL IS, THE SLOWER IT NEEDS TO BE SPUN FOR ACCURACY. PLEASE NOTE THAT BARRELS CUT TO SHOOT SABOTTED BULLETS THAT ARE THREE OR MORE DIAMETERS IN LENGTH, HAVE MUCH FASTER TWISTS THAN ROUND-BALL SHOOTERS!!
(26) What are the wedges in a black powder rifle for? PERHAPS TO KEEP THE BARREL FROM FALLING OFF????
(27) Do i really need a powder measure ? I once saw a guy place a ball in his palm and then poured enough black powder in his hand to cover the ball . He said that it was the correct measurement . YES, YOU DO! THAT GUY WAS WRONG. SUCH A METHOD ALWAYS RESULTS IN AN UNDERLOADED RIFLE EXCEPT FOR MAYBE SHORT-RANGE TARGET PRACTICE OR BUSTIN' BEER CANS!!. IT IS ALSO A METHOD WHEREBY YOU NEVER GET EXACTLY THE SAME CHARGE TWICE EXCEPT BY ACCIDENT!! FOR A ROUND BALL RIFLE, THE CORRECT HUNTING LOAD IS ONE-HALF THE WEIGHT OF THE BALL. IN A .50 SHOOTING A 175 TO 185-GRAIN BALL (DEPENDING ON DIAMETER), THIS IS 90 GRAINS. A "DOUBLE-CHARGE" (LOADED FER B'AR!!) IS THE WEIGHT OF THE BALL. IN A 50, THIS IS 180 GRAINS. IN A .54, IT IS 230 GRAINS.
(2 Are powder horns necessary or should i just pour my powder from the can? YOU MOST DEFINITELY CAN POUR
YOUR POWDER RIGHT FROM THE CAN, INTO THE POWDER MEASURE, THEN INTO THE BORE. NEVER POUR FROM A CONTAINER DIRECTLY INTO THE RIFLE, LIKE YOU SEE FESS PARKER DO ON TV!! THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO LOSE YOUR HAND/HEAD/ETC.!!
(29) What's a capper ? IT'S A LITTLE GADGET MADE FROM BRASS OR PLASTIC THAT HOLDS A LINE OF CAPS SO YOU CAN DISPENSE THEM ONE AT A TIME RIGHT ONTO YOUR NIPPLE (THE RIFLE'S NIPPLE. THAT IS!!) THERE ARE CAPPERS MADE FOR RIFLE-SIZE CAPS, MUSKET-SIZE CAPS, AND #209 SHOTGUN PRIMERS.
(30) How does an inline work? ESSENTIALLY JUST LIKE A SIDELOCK, EXCEPT THAT THE FIRING MECHANISM IS LOCATED BEHIND, RATHER THAN ON THE SIDE OF, THE BARREL. THE FLASH FROM THE CAP ENTERS INTO THE REAR CENTER OF THE POWDER CHARGE INSTEAD OF FLASHING INTO THE POWDER CHARGE FROM THE SIDE.
(31) Does an inline use the same caps as anyother percussion rifle? YES, BOTH TYPES CAN USE NO. 11'S, MUSKET CAPS, OR NO. 209 SHOTGUN PRIMERS, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF NIPPLE YOU PUT ON IT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF GADGETS CALLED "MAG-SPARK" NIPPLES WITH 1/4x28 THREADING THAT ALLOW ME TO USE #209 SHOTGUN PRIMERS ON MY SIDELOCKS, JUST AS IF THEY WERE INLINES. USING THESE, I AM ABLE TO SHOOT PYRODEX PELLETS IN MY SIDELOCKS (MINE HAVE "SEMI-PATENT" BREECH PLUGS, FROM WHICH THE PRIMER FLASH ENTERS THE POWDER CHARGE FROM THE REAR IN THE CENTER, JUST AS IF THEY WERE INLINES. HOWEVER, I PREFER LOOSE POWDER.)
(32) Are modern inlines more accurate than repros of the old ones? NO!! HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE A REPLICA OF AN OLD TIME SIDELOCK THAT'S MADE TO SHOOT ROUND BALLS, THERE ARE LIMITS AS TO HOW ACCURATELY THEY CAN SHOOT ELONGATED CONICAL BULLETS. MY .50 WITH A 1/72" BILL LARGE BARREL WILL SHOOT .500 DIA ROUND BALLS USING 90 GRAINS OF DUPONT FFg POWDER INTO 1" AT 100 YARDS ALL AFTERNOON LONG (WHEN NO WIND IS BLOWING!!!). IT IS A SIDELOCK PERC. RIFLE, BUT IS SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO SHOOT ROUND BALLS. IT WILL ALSO SHOOT 370-GRAIN .50 MAXI-BALLS PRETTY WELL, BUT THE GROUP AT 100 YARDS OPENS UP TO ABOUT 3" WITH THESES CONICAL BULLETS!
(33) How many shots can i get off with a front stuffing repro in a minute? WITH PRACTICE, UP TO THREE. "NO RECRUIT TO BE DISMISSED FROM THE DRILL UNTIL HE IS SUFFICIENTLY PROFICIENT WITH HIS FIRELOCK AS TO BE ABLE TO DISCHARGE 15 SHOTS IN THREE AND THREE-QUARTERS MINUTES". (BARON VON STEUBEN'S DRILL REGULATIONS USING THE BROWN BESS MUSKET, WHICH IS FASTER-LOADING THAN A RIFLED BARREL.)
(34) How many shots can i get off with an inline in a minute . SAME!! MAYBE LESS, BECAUSE CAPPING THE TBOLT-ACTION ONES IS A PAIN!!
(35) If i get a bullet/ball stuck how can i get it out? REMOVE THE BREECH PLUG, AND USING A STEEL ROD OF CLOSE TO BORE DIAMETER WITH A FLAT FACE, TAP IT OUT THE MUZZLE FROM THE BREECH. OR TAKE IT TO A GUNSMITH & BE SAFE! A STUCK BALL IS NOT AS BAD AS A STUCK BALL PLUS A STUCK RAMROD!!
(36) Other than the obvious shape difference is there any advantage of a minnie ball over a round ball? THEY CARRY MORE ENERGY FARTHER DOWNRANGE, AND HAVING GREATER SECTIONAL DENSITY, PENETRATE MUCH DEEPER. A ROUND BALL CAN BE LAUNCHED MUCH FASTER, AND THUS SHOOTS FLATTER THAN THE MINIE TO 200 YARDS OR SO. PLUS, THE RB HAS ENOUGH PENETRATION FOR DEER HUNTING IN .45 AND .50 CALIBERS, AND BOTH THE .54 AND .58 ROUND BALLS HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY AND PENETRATION FOR ELK AND MOOSE AT RANGES UP TO 100-125 YARDS. DESPITE BEING ABLE TO SHOOT HEAVY CONICALS OUT OF HIS HUGH RIFLES, SIR SAMUEL BAKER PREFERRED TO USE BIG ROUND BALLS FOR DANGEROUS GAME. HE SAID THEY KILLED THE BIG STUFF, INCLUDING ELEPHANTS, FASTER THAN THE CONICALS.
37) What is a sabot and why would i want one? A SABOT (IN ML USE) IS A PLASTIC SHOE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SHOOT UNDERSIZED BULLETS IN A ML RIFLE FOR HIGHER VELOCITIES, ETC., ETC. I HAVE TRIED THEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'D WANT ONE!! I DON'T!!
(3 Should i buy a kit and build my own rifle? WHY NOT?? MY FIRST ML WAS A PENNSYLVANIA LONG RIFLE FROM A DIXIE GUN WORKS KIT, CIRCA 1960!
(39) What the difference between a Pennsylvania and a Kentucky long rifle? "KENTUCKY RIFLE" IS THE NAME OFTEN, POPULARLY, AND ERRONEOUSLY, APPLIED TO THE PENNSYLVANIA LONG RIFLE. THE RIFLES WERE MOSTLY MADE IN PA AND WESTERN MARYLAND, BUT CARRIED TO AND USED IN THE "DARK & BLOODY GROUND" OF KY. THEY WERE NOT, AS A RULE, MADE IN KY, BUT A FEW MIGHT HAVE BEEN. NAME "KY RIFLE" POPULARIZED BY A WAR OF 1812 SONG, "THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY".
(40) What's a Hawkin? IT'S A HAWKEN, NOT A HAWKIN!! THE HAWKEN RIFLE WAS DEVELOPED AS AN EVOLUTIONARY OUTGROWTH OF THE PA RIFLE. WHEN THE FUR TRAPPERS STARTED GOING OUT TO THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI WEST, THEY BEGAN TO ENCOUNTR HUGE HERDS OF BISON, AND WORSE, GRIZZLY BEARS!! THEY NEEDED RUGGED RIFLES OF VERY LARGE CALIBER WHICH WOULD STAND UP TO THE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS IN THE SHINING MOUNTAINS FAR FROM ANY KIND OF GUNSMITH, GUNS WHICH HAD THE POWER TO KILL THE HUGE BEARS WITH ONE WELL-PLACED SHOT. SO THE PA RIFLES GREW SHORTER, LOST THEIR FULL-LENGTH STOCKS, BECAME HEAVIER BECAUSE THEY WERE MOSTLY TRANSPORTED ON HORSEBACK, AND THUS COULD BE MADE MORE RUGGED, AND THE CALIBERS WERE INCREASED FROM AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN .40 TO .50 FOR THE PA, TO AN AVERAGE OF .54 OR LARGER FOR THE PLAINS/MOUNTAIN RIFLES. TWO OF THE MOST NOTED MAKERS OF THIS NEW STYLE RIFLE WERE THE BROTHERS JACOB AND SAMUEL HAWKEN. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE OTHERS WHO MADE SIMILAR RIFLES, THESE TWO MADE GUNS SO HIGH IN RELIABILITY, ACCURACY AND POWER THAT ALL THE MOUNTAIN MEN WHO HAD THE MEANS DEMANDED A GENUINE HAWKEN. TODAY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PRODUCTION RIFLE ON THE MARKET CALLED "HAWKENS". ASIDE FROM CUSTOM-MADE GUNS, THE ONE PRODUCTION MODEL RIFLE THAT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES A TRUE HAWKEN IS THE LYMAN GREAT PLAINS RIFLE.
(41) Is black powder smoke addictive? YOUDAMNBETCHA IT IS!! ONE WHIFF, YER HOOKED!!
(42) Are black powder rifles really messy and hard to clean? DIRTY, MESSY, YES. BP IS DIRTY, MESSY AND SMELLY. BP RIFLES ARE NOT HARD TO CLEAN AT ALL, BUT THERE ARE MORE PARTS THAT MUST BE CLEANED BESIDES THE BORE AFTER SHOOTING. YOU HAVE TO CLEAN BP FOULING OFF OF THE HAMMER, THE LOCKPLATE, MAYBE SOME STOCK AREAS, AND OUT OF THE BORE TOO. THIS MEANS THAT IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE TIME TO CLEAN, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO REMOVE THE NIPPLE AND MAYBE THE HAMMER IN ORDER TO CLEAN THEM CORRECTLY.
(43) Are wheelwieghts o.k. or should it stick to soft lead for casting balls/bullets?NEVER USE ANYTHING FOR ML BULLETS EXCEPT PURE, SOFT LEAD. NO ALLOYS, JUST PURE LEAD. IF YOU WANT THE EXPERIENCE OF A STUCK BALL, MAKE SOME BULLETS FROM SOMETHING HARDER THAN PURE LEAD! HARDER ALLOYS CAN BE USED FOR BP CARTRIDGE GUNS, HOWEVER.
(44) What is Crisco used for? A BULLET/PATCH LUBE, AND OR/OVER THE BALLS IN A REVOLVER CYLINDER.
(45) Can black powder rifles kill big game? MOST ALL GAME EVER KILLED IN THIS WORLD WAS KILLED WITH BP RIFLES, MOSTLY THOSE SHOOTING ROUND BALLS! IN AFRICA TOO!
(46) Are black powder rifles accurate? A UNION SNIPER KILLED A CONFEDERATE GENERAL OFFICER AT A RANGE OF OVER 1 MILE WITH A SLUG RIFLE THAT HAD A PRIMITIVE SCOPE ON IT. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF BILLY DIXON AND THE BATTLE OF ADOBE WALLS? WHAT DO YOU THINK KILLED ALL OF THE BISON IN NORTH AMERICA?? A SHARPS BP RIFLE, AT RANGES FROM 400 OUT TO 1000 YARDS!!
(47) Why are there special seasons for muzzleloaders? WHY NOT? IN NY, IT'S TO GET PEOPLE TO KILL MORE DEER!!
(4 Are there metallic cartridges that i can load with black powder? YEP!! EVER HEAR OF A .45/70? A .32/40? A .38/55? A 44/40? A .45 COLT? AD NAUSEUM!!
(49) If my black powder gets wet of damp is it ruined forever? MAYBE NOT. DEPENDS ON HOW MUSHED UP IT GETS BEFORE DRYING OUT.
(50) Why do black powder guys blow in the nipple to blow the remaining smoke out of thier rifles ? I NEVER COUILD FIGURE THIS ONE OUT MYSELF. PROBABLY SAW JOHN WAYNE DO IT IN "THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN" OR SOME SUCH NONSENSE!!
(51) I may have double loaded my rifle , how do i know for sure? HOW MUCH OF YOUR RAMROND IS STICKIN' OUT THE MUZZLE WHEN IT'S ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE (TOP???) BALL?
(52) What is a chainfire? REVOLVER-MORE THAN ONE CHAMBER GO BOOM, SAME TIME!!
(53) If i did double load my rifle what's the big deal , it'll just kick a little more on that shot? AMYBE YES, MAYBE NO! THAT'S A PROOF LOAD, FOR SURE!! BETTER TO USE A BALL SCREW AND DRAW THE BALL, POUR OUT THAT LOAD, AND SHOOT THE FIRST ONE ONLY!
(54) How do i shoot modern jacketed rifle and pistol bullets from my black powder rifle? WITH THE (UGH!!!) SABOT! BUT YOUR TWIST HAS TO BE FAST ENOUGH TO STABILIZE THE BULLET!
(55) How do black powder rifles kick ? Is a .50 cal comparable to a 30-06? AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY .50 RB RIFLE KICKS ABOU THE SAME AS AN'06 WHEN I FIRE A 370-grain Maxiball OUT OF IT OVER 120 GRAINS OF PYRODEX RS. WITH A ROUND BALL AND 90 GRAINS IT IS MUCH LESS THAN A .30/'06!
(56) Is a .45 caliber sufficient for big game? WELL, IN COLORADO, .50 IS MINIMUM FOR ELK, BUT YOU CAN USE A .45 FOR DEER, AND THE MULIE CAN DRESSAT AS MUCH AS 350 POUNDS!! IN INDIANA, YOU HAVE TO USE AT LEAST A .440" FOR DEER.
(57) What's the difference between a musket and anyother black powder rifle? THICKNESS OF THE BARRELS, WHICH IN TURN DICTATES HOW POWERFUL A LOAD YOU CAN SHOOT (I ASSUME YOU MEAN "RIFLED-MUSKET" HERE?? OTHER MUSKETS ARE OF COURSE, SMOOTHBORES!!) ICAN LOAD OVER 200 GRAINS OF POWDER IN MY .58 HAWKEN RIOFLE, BUT THE SERVICE CHARGE FOR THE SPRINGFIELD RIFLE-MUSKET IS 60 GRAINS, USING THE EXACT SAME MINIE BALL IN BOTH!! MY MV EXCEEDS 1400 FPS, WHICLE THE SPRINGFIELD JUST BARELY DOES 900!!
(5 Are muskets accurate ? RIFLE-MUSKETS WILL HIT A MAN AT 400 YARDS!! THE BROWN BESS WAS LUCKY TO HIT A MAN BEYOND 40-50 YARDS MAX!!
(59) When you measure out black powder is it by wieght or volume ? VOLUME ALWAYS! THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF STUFF LIKE PYRODEX, BECAUSE IT WEIGHS LESS BY PERHAPS 25-30%, BUT VOLUME-FOR-VOLUME IT PRODUCES THE SAME BALLISTICS AND SIMILAR PRESSURES.
(60) Should black powder bullets be sized? How? DON'T SIZE ANY CAST BULLET UNLESS IT IS SO OVERSIZED FOR YOUR BARREL THAT YOU HAVE TO TO MAKE IT FIT!!
(61) What's the purpose of the hollow base in a minnie ball? TO MAKE IT EXPAND UP INTO THE RIFLING SO IT SPINS AND THUS FLIES POINT-FORWARD!!
(62) If i'm ramming a round ball down how should the sprue be oriented ?UP
(63) If i load 100 grains of powder in my rifle how many shots will i get from one pound of black powder ?70
(64) Why are flintlocks not as reliable as percussion caps regarding ignition ?THEY CAN BE AS RELIABLE IF DESIGNED & BUILT RIGHT. THEY ARE MORE EASILY MADE TO MISFIRE IN WET WEATHER, BUT A GOOD FLINTLOCK WILL FIRE EVEN IF UPSIDE DOWN!!
(65) What is a speedloader and do i need one? A PLASTIC CARTRIDGE THAT HOLDS A PREMEASURED POWDER CHARGE AND THE BULLET MAKING RELOADING FASTER IN HUNTING SITUATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED ONE OR NOT!!
(66) What accessories are required beyond the rifle? POWDER., POWDER MEASURE, RAMROD, BALLS, PATCHES, CAPS, AND A NIPPLE WRENCH AS WELL AS A CLENING ROD AND CLEANING SUPPLIES.
(67) Will any powder solvent properly clean a black powder rifle? WATER WILL! OTHERS CLAIM TO, BUT NONE ARE AS THOROUGH AS WATER. Why ? Why not ? JUST BECAUSE, SONNY!
(6 What speciality items should i have in my cleaning kit ?
(69) Is it necessary to cast my own bullets/balls? NO! BUY SWAGED BALLS! If there is an advantage, what is it ? NO ADVANTAGE, UNLESS YOU'RE SHOOTING A GUN WHOSE BORE IS AN ODD SIZE FORCING YOU TO USE A SPECIAL SIZE BALL. BUT CASTING'S FUN!!
(70) Can i lube my cast bullets at home before taking them afield ? How ? YES. SMEAR GREASE ON THEM (CRICSO)
(71) Will my wife get mad if i dis-assemble my rifle at home and clean it in the bath tub ? IF WE THOUGHT YOU NEEDED A WIFE, WE'DA ISSUED YOU ONE!!
(72) What kind of attachments are there for a ramrod and what are they used for ?
(73) Should i get a fiberglass ramrod ? NAAH! USE TREATED HICKORY!
(74) Are nipples replaceable ? Are some better than others ? Why ? HOTSHOT NIPPLES ARE THE BEST! ALL NIPPLES ARE REPLAEABLE!
(75) Do i need special tools to take the rifle appart for cleaning and removing the nipple ? A NIPPLE WRENCH IS ALL.
(76) Is a .32 cal squirrel rifle accurate enough for shooting squirrels? DEPENDS ON HOW BIG YER SQUILLS ARE.
(77) What's a breechblock? NO ML HAS A BREECHBLOCK. THEY HAS BREECH PLUGS, WHICH AR JUST BIG OL' SCREWS THAT KEEP 'ER CLOSED UP IN BACK.
(7 What's the advantage of pyrodex over Black Powder if there is any ? YOU KIN SHOOT ALL AFTERNOON WITHOUT WIPING WITH PYRODEX, BUT CAIN'T DO THIS WITH BP!!
(79) Should i just start with the minnimum recommended load and work my way up. Why not just go to the maximum , it's for hunting ? CUZ, ACCURACY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PURE POWER! A 106MM RECOILLESS RIFLE ROUND WON'T KILL A DEER IF IT DON'T HITTEM!
(80) If i'm not sure if my load is all the way to the bottom can i use a mallet and just smack the ramrod a few times? SURE! BUT THIS WILL DEFORM THE BALL SOME, SO DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE OUTSTANDINGLY ACCURATE AFTER YOU POUND EM!
(81) Will black powder detonate under compression? NO! IT IS A "LOW EXPLOSIVE"! IT CANNOT "DETONATE".
(82) What is a damascus barrel ? ONE MADE UP OF WRAPPED-UP ALTERNATING BANDS OF IRON & STEEL WELDED TOGETHER BY HAMMERING ON AN ANVIL WHILE THE METAL IS STILL RED-HOT FROM A FORGE.
I know we have some very knowledgable black powder enthusiests on here so let's get these questions answered and give the new guys a hand . Maybe someone could quote the questions into thier post and give the answer below the questions and we can make a sticky out of this.
THANK GOD!! I GO TO TH' END HERE!!

NOW I'LL ASK ONE!! WHAT DO I DO IF I GET A BALL DOWN?? (WITHOUT PUTTING THE POWDER CHARGE IN FIRST)?? (Happens all the time......)