hunting with black powder guns

[R.O]

Are there hunters that still use black powder guns to hunt ,I don't live in the U.S and don't know much about hunting, what caliber and gun is used when you hunt deer or bear's? I know there are some people that hunt with bow and arrow,but what about BL.PDR guns?

[the rifleer]

There is still Black Powder season in some parts of the country. People use everything from .36 cal to .58 cal rifles to hunt. Some people use traditional flintlocks and others us the top if the line modern day inline rifles.

[thallub]

Lots of US hunters use BP guns. Most of my hunting is done with an inline BP rifle. Each year my BP guns account for 2-4 deer and 20-30 wild hogs.

[MJN77]

I use three different bp guns.

Top one is an old Cabela's plains type rifle .50, second is a Lyman GPR .54, bottom is a Euroarms enfield musketoon .58. Looking to get a nice flintlock eventually. They worked 150 years ago, no reason they shouldn't now.

[arcticap]

The most popular black powder muzzle loaders used for hunting large game animals in the U.S. today are .50 caliber inline rifles. They're also available in .45 and .54 caliber and many states do have special muzzle loader firearms hunting seasons dedicated to using any modern or traditional black powder muzzle loader.
Every state is different and has their own regulations, but .44 and 45 caliber saboted bullets are the most popular. But many hunters do hunt with bore size conical bullets and patched round balls too, and also with flintlocks.
Modern inline percussion rifles are preferred because they have a fast twist barrel for superior long range accuracy shooting the saboted bullets, and because they're designed for mounting a scope and for ease of cleaning since they have a removable breech plug. Inlines are also usually rated to be loaded with up to 150 grains of pelletized powder which provides some additional range and lethal energy for hunting large North American game animals.

[troy_mclure]

ive killed many a deer with a t/c hawken .50, percussion, with a patched ball.

ive also killed a few more with my knight wolverine, inline .50, shooting saboted .44 bullets.

where i grew up it wasnt uncommon for people to use cap & ball revolvers to take deer.

some states require that a flintlock, or a minimum caliber be used, or it might be shotgun/muzzle loader only for gun season.

my dad has killed 2 small black bear(200lb, 310lb) with his muzzle loader, and one of his buddies hunts deer with a single shot .50 black powder pistol.

[shafter]

There sure is black powder hunting in the US! In my area you can use them during the regular firearm season if you want to and there is another short season right after the general season that is blackpowder only.

Most is done with inline rifles but there are quite a few guys who go traditional. If you learn to care for your weapon properly they are very effective and are very good at taking game. You only get one shot though so practice is a good idea.

[Pahoo]

I routinely hunt squirrels with my .36 side lock (Traditional) and vary a bit on deer hunting. Currenty mostly in-line and occasionally use a .50 of .45, sidelock. I also use a .50 In-line handgun. In my area, there are many hunters that exclusively use Side-Locks in .50 to .54 PRB. We set up a camp, for a week and hunt 24-7. Our biggest problem is rain. ....


Be Safe !!!

[R.O]

thank you all , we don't have a hunting culture here ,on ocassion they hunt wild bore ,but hunting with black powder guns is just unthinkable here,
very intresting,appreciated the info and the pictures

[Rifleman1776]

My favorite rifles are a traditional Revoultionary period flintlock longrifle in .45 caliber and a traditional Jaeger style flintlock in .54 caliber.
Many-many people do use muzzle loaders. Traditionalists, like me, use black powder exclusively. Those who use modern inline rifles usually prefer synthetic substitutes for black powder.

[R.O]

thanks rifleman 1776,by synthethic substitutes do you mean pyrodex powder ? I owned a pedersoli .45 and an armi jaeger .45 kentucky rifle and reading this thread it would be possible to hunt with that sort off rifles as well
howmuch grains of powder do you use ? sorry for all the questions but I am very currious on this matter
I attached a few small sized pictures ,the double barrel st -ettiene is still used ,cal 16 black powder, I use a brenneke bullit and 40 grains ff

[Hawg]

I use a .54 Hawken, a 44-40 lever action and a .58 Enfield.

[R.O]

hi ,the enfield probably uses the minie ball,? what is your load?
r.o

[Hawg]

hi ,the enfield probably uses the minie ball,? what is your load?

70 grs. of Pyrodex and a traditional minie cast from a Lyman mold. Lubed with beeswax and crisco in the grooves.