Just wanted to say high and give you some info about who I am. I recognize a few names from other forums so a few of you will already know me but for those of you who do not ...

I am an avid black powder shooter and enjoy hunting with them as well. My first deer rifle was a .45 smokepole I built from a kit. I have been making smoke for over 24 years now ... mostly traditional. I shoot flintlocks, caplocks, cap-n-ball, and modern inline. The inline and my double barrel flintlock fowler are the only muzzleloaders I have which I did not either build or assemble from parts. I have built several muzzleloaders for myself, family, and friends. I am currently building a .54 cal flintlock from parts and a stock blank. Just finished making my own front sight for it from a 1 inch by 1 inch by 6 inch brass bar and a sheet of German silver.

I enjoy shooting and hunting with my inline but do enjoy hunting and shooting my more traditional rifles more. Had great fun shooting squirrels with my original 24ga double flint fowler. With 33.5 inch barrels at 6.25 pounds she is very svelt and ballances like a dream.

I have some very strong biases about stock archetecture and powder type. Being more of a traditionalist it is natural I shoot only real black powder in all my guns. The makers of the mass produced modern reproductions could learn a lot by studying original archecture and stock design thereby producing a far better product inproving recoil management and ballance at the same time. My stock archetechure biases come from building my rifles rather than buying them though I do have some comercial kits in my arsenal with which to compare.

I used to compete in IPSC pistol competition, NRA Small Bore Three Possition Rifle, NRA Air-Rifle, and Black Powder rifle shooting. I taught hand to hand combat skills in the Army. No longer serving. I also commanded a rapid responce team in the Army for 7 months. All in all just you average freindly neibore.

Well I guess that pretty much sums me up ...

54jNoll, welcome aboard. Sounds like you have a lot of experiences to share. I hope to see you online here a lot in the future.

Fisher,

Thanks for the welcome.