Vince Green Posted February 6, 2013 Report Share Posted February 6, 2013 Has anybody got any experience of getting a muzzle loading rifle cleared for vermin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 6, 2013 Report Share Posted February 6, 2013 Why would you want to? Makes a follow up shot nigh on impossible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted February 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) Why would you want to? Makes a follow up shot nigh on impossible It doesn't have to be the only rifle out that night. We just thought it would be a bit of fun to give the smoke pole a real outing instead of just using it to make holes in a paper target. Edited February 7, 2013 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted February 8, 2013 Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 Has anybody got any experience of getting a muzzle loading rifle cleared for vermin? Interesting this one ! I always thought about this myself & why not ? I understand they are used in the USA & if my memory serves me correct I think some US States have an earlier start in the season for muzzle loaders ? or they use to years ago when I was there ? . I will make some phone calls to some black powder chaps I know . Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 (edited) Go for it and find out, some are quite accurate at shorter ranges, second shots? are they charging you? Set of a defensive line perhaps? Edited February 9, 2013 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 This subject was put to the ACPO FELWG by the NGO (I think it was) a couple of years ago. The NGO requested that ACPO consider the possibility of conditioning muzzle loading rifles for use on quarry species. After considering the matter the ACPO FELWG said NO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 A muzzleloading 12g would be ideal for fox.Loaded with a single lead ball or minnie ball instead of shot its actually .54 calibre so is more than capable of knocking a fox over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 A muzzleloading 12g would be ideal for fox.Loaded with a single lead ball or minnie ball instead of shot its actually .54 calibre so is more than capable of knocking a fox over. No it wouldn't. If it's a 12b with a ball you are shooting from a smoothbore, that projectile could go anywhere. You've got about as much chance of just wounding the fox as killing it, even from close ranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerbob Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 No it wouldn't. If it's a 12b with a ball you are shooting from a smoothbore, that projectile could go anywhere. You've got about as much chance of just wounding the fox as killing it, even from close ranges. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steppenwolf Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 I shot my mate's kentucky rifle at an army range at over 100 yards and I hit pretty close to the centre. It can be done, but you must ensure you are consistent to ensure a clean kill. You don't want the animal to suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 No it wouldn't. If it's a 12b with a ball you are shooting from a smoothbore, that projectile could go anywhere. You've got about as much chance of just wounding the fox as killing it, even from close ranges. Really-you think? I've watched guys shooting Brown Bess's (a smooth bore musket) at 100mtrs very accurately. Thats my observation and not an opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Really-you think? I've watched guys shooting Brown Bess's (a smooth bore musket) at 100mtrs very accurately. Thats my observation and not an opinion. I don't doubt it, but before we come americanized, we should stick the right tool for the right job, without 'playing' with guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 As far as I am aware,if the correct procedures are followed (i.e. weighing the powder) a BP rifle is just as effective as its modern counterpart-you think that Nitro powders are the latest propellants on the market then think again-BP substitutes such as Triple Seven and Pyrodex are and these powders create less fouling and thus more accuracy from your smoke(less)pole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 interesting that such a thing cannot be licenced. I fear its another case of a little knowledge and a lot of power Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Some of the posts on here are clearly from those who know nothing about muzzle loaders ! smooth bored or rifled they are well up to the job if used with care just like any other fire arm . Well facts are they have in the past taken the African big five not to mention all sorts of game from squirrel to moose & fed families for many for hundreds of years now ! so the proof is in the pudding !. A bolt action 410 shot gun loaded with a solid ball & patch will make handy groups at 50yards with just a bead sight ! NOTE NOT LEGAL IN THE UK SO DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT !. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Some of the posts on here are clearly from those who know nothing about muzzle loaders ! smooth bored or rifled they are well up to the job if used with care just like any other fire arm . Well facts are they have in the past taken the African big five not to mention all sorts of game from squirrel to moose & fed families for many for hundreds of years now ! so the proof is in the pudding !. A bolt action 410 shot gun loaded with a solid ball & patch will make handy groups at 50yards with just a bead sight ! NOTE NOT LEGAL IN THE UK SO DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT !. Its perfectly legal to use a slug in the UK if you have such on an FAC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Yes Kent I am well aware of that but the last part of my post was to enlighten those who think smooth bores will send a ball of in any direction & I would not want any inexperience newbies to start loading ball bearings into their guns as I know for a fact it is dangerous ! . A chap in the village were I grew up had a scare in the middle of his fore head because he thought it would be a good idea to load a steel ball bearing into his bolt action 12 g ! . The result ? it blew the bolt clean out of his shot gun ! & he carried that scare till the day he died ! . Pole Star ps there is nothing wrong with using a muzzle loader weather rifled or smooth bored to shoot foxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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