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I've found myself getting seriously interested in old muskets despite never having held one! I'll hopefully be receiving some training on this dark art in good time but in the mean time I'd like to read more during the darker months!

Can anyone recommend a few decent articles/threads/websites please?

Cheers all, Mike.

http://mlagb.com/

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/


http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php

I know Researchpress is on here.

I am certain he will be more than happy to help!

Thanks, I'd not come across "researchpress" and the "muzzleloadingforum" during my google session. I've been doing a bit of googling but most of what I come across seems to be modern muzzle loading stuff.

Researchpress' username is ....researchpress :P

I am sure he will be ok about you sending him a PM.

Hope your don't mind my asking.... but do you mean 'musket'.

These are smooth bored long arms. Flintlock military arms are most commonly encountered as a reproduction and these don't generally have a rear sight. Most shooting is at 50m offhand. There are smooth-bored percussion arms, but these have few competition opportunities if you are that way inclined.

Other longarm options are
- flintlock rifle (comps. generally 50m offhand/100m prone)
- military percussion arms (comps. generally 50m offand/ 100-600 yard prone)
- percussion 'match rifles' (comps. generally 100-1000 yards prone)

There's other variants... specialist offhand rifles in flint or percussion, American 'plains' rifles shooting patched round ball, matchlock muskets.....

It's a very diverse and addictive sport and you'll eventually need a large gun cabinet! :)

David

I think I do haha.... [is there a confused smilie]

I'm unsure about which guns the club has whether they be smoothbore or rifled but my interest peaked when I read the wiki article on the Brown Bess. Now, I don't think I'll ever wish to own a historical piece but a nice reproduction that I could shoot without having to worry about damaging a piece of history really appeals to me!

I'm a bit of a sentimental fool and there's already a little plan forming in my head about which rifles I'd eventually like to own, it's a dangerous game this shooting :cheers:

Brown Bess, Flintlock, Smooth Bore muzzle loader.

If you're ever near me, you can shoot my Brown Bess

If you're looking to get one, you'll probably find a whole heap of Indian-made "Brown Bess" muskets, not to be confused with the India-Pattern Brown Bess.

India has a tradition of knocking out modern repros of black-powder firearms. They range from top-notch to utter tosh and dangerous. I have known one to explode... let me say that again. I have known one to EXPLODE! No one was hurt, though.

I'm not trying to turn you off the idea, but do not rush into a buy blindly without knowning what you're buying.

Another "issue" I have found with the Indian guns are lack of accuracy in their design. They might have one too many rammer hoops, or the lock will be the wrong shape. For some reason that puts me off, mainly 'cos I'm an awkward git :lol:

Pedersoli can be argued to be the best producers of repros on the market, but they're expensive. A second-hand one pops up from time to time.

Welcome to the black-art of black-powder shooting. I say "welcome" because I can tell you've already been bitten by the bug

Hello,
If you are ever near me in Norfolk you are welcome to try out my 451 Enfield Volunteer, but be warned, it is highly addictive