First black powder rifle?

[Hrun]

If you want to dip your toe it doesn't have to cost a fortune. My first muzzle loader was a Replica Bengal Carbine and cost £80. As it is smoothbore it sits on my shotgun licence so no variation required and shoots just fine with fake gunpowder.

If cleaning doesn't turn you off, it is a slippery slope indeed :-)

[acormack]

I had a look online and quite fancy an inline ML rather than a classic, how do the Ardesa's and Traditions hold up? Anyone find them good, bad or whatever..??

[Dellboy]

i knew i shouldnt have started reading this

[ballkeeper]

could recommend ardesa .45 ranger

[legs748]

i knew i shouldnt have started reading this

Oh go on, go on go on go on, oh go on now, go on go on go on, they are only small........

[BooBoo]

I have a 50 Ardesa Vortek in line...

I had been after an in line for many a year, to the extent that I was looking at importing one through Midway UK (at that time). Imagine my surprise when Kranks popped up as having one in stock!

It is one of my most fun guns... I started out by using 50 PRB, but have moved to 230gr 45 FMJ in a Hornady 45/50 sabot... so much easier to load and shoot.

Great fun gun that never fails to raise a smile.

[FredB]

The in-line guns came about because in some US states, the hunting season is extended for muzzle loaders. Hunters used to bolt guns wanted something that looked and felt the same. They are cheaply produced and have little resale value. Makers of traditional muzzle loaders attempt to reproduce the craftsmanship of the 19th century when final fit and assembly and much of the parts manufacture was by hand. The quality of the better modern replicas is right up there with the originals.
I cannot understand how the in line products can be desirable, but it is your choice.
Fred

[redcat]

The Ardesa in-line guns are simple, easy to use, reasonably priced and a doddle to clean. You will not be disappointed with one if you only want it for fun shooting.
BooBoo where do you get your sabots?

Redcat

[BooBoo]

RC,

Mine came from either Midway or Brownells:

https://www.brownells.co.uk/HORNADY-MUZZLELOADER-SABOTS

It's a free postage weekend apparently but sadly they are showing out of stock at the mo :-(

After 5 or 6 prb, things became quite a struggle... But you can crack on no problem with sabots...

Best wishes,

Simon

[acormack]

The in-line guns came about because in some US states, the hunting season is extended for muzzle loaders. Hunters used to bolt guns wanted something that looked and felt the same. They are cheaply produced and have little resale value. Makers of traditional muzzle loaders attempt to reproduce the craftsmanship of the 19th century when final fit and assembly and much of the parts manufacture was by hand. The quality of the better modern replicas is right up there with the originals.
I cannot understand how the in line products can be desirable, but it is your choice.
Fred

Hi Fred

Good to know that the modern replicas are so well made and I must agree are a thing of beauty but if I scratched it or damaged it I would kick myself from here to next Sunday, almost everything I have in the cabinet is stainless / synthetic hence the attraction of the in lines. That would be the main reason to be honest but as you say everyone to their own :)