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chewie146 · February 4, 2013, 04:45 PM

Hello all,

I have decided to switch to BP this year, as I'm sick and tired of all the ammo panic, and have decided to go with traditional hunts only. I only have one BP weapon, an old TC Hawken .50 that my dad built for me years ago. I have some questions about BP hunting, as I haven't shot the thing since I was 12 or 13. I'm 29 now. Yeah, yeah, I've neglected the poor thing, but it's been clean and oiled for all these years and begging for a chance for a comeback. So, here it goes:

How many shots can usually be fired using Pyrodex RS and a patched RB before cleaning is necessary?
Is lube necessary on all patches, regardless of charge weight?
Are cast round balls that much worse than swaged?
What are your cheapest sources of round balls and other ML components?
How long can my rifle sit loaded and still be reliable, provided it is kept dry?
Is there a way to find black powder cheaply, as nobody around here sells it?
Do harder alloys make acceptable round balls, if I'm casting my own?
Do Lee molds provide enough life to be worth the $20?

Well, if you've made it this far, thanks for your time.

February 4, 2013, 04:45 PM	#1
chewie146 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 853	Oh Boy: Lots of BP Questions. Hello all, I have decided to switch to BP this year, as I'm sick and tired of all the ammo panic, and have decided to go with traditional hunts only. I only have one BP weapon, an old TC Hawken .50 that my dad built for me years ago. I have some questions about BP hunting, as I haven't shot the thing since I was 12 or 13. I'm 29 now. Yeah, yeah, I've neglected the poor thing, but it's been clean and oiled for all these years and begging for a chance for a comeback. So, here it goes: How many shots can usually be fired using Pyrodex RS and a patched RB before cleaning is necessary? Is lube necessary on all patches, regardless of charge weight? Are cast round balls that much worse than swaged? What are your cheapest sources of round balls and other ML components? How long can my rifle sit loaded and still be reliable, provided it is kept dry? Is there a way to find black powder cheaply, as nobody around here sells it? Do harder alloys make acceptable round balls, if I'm casting my own? Do Lee molds provide enough life to be worth the $20? Well, if you've made it this far, thanks for your time.