bishop Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) Black powder sunset Morning venture Edited November 17, 2019 by bishop added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Very nice pictures thanks for sharing 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Superb pics that captivate. More people should try BP shooting as modern gun/cartridge combinations have absorbed some of the base pleasure of hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 As a percussion shooter just one word of warning. Big guns and black powder can have a very negative effect on a good flight. I have observed geese being severely shocked when such a gun has been discharged at even a significant distance. This can vary from absolute silence on an otherwise noisy roost to skeins completely changing direction even though a few hundred yards off. So whilst I advocate what Bishop is doing I know it is pretty unpopular in some wildfowling circles. I suppose it depends how sensitive you are to the feelings of others and your popularity. Other than that well done and do you aspire to the British equivalent of the pedersoli? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) Ill pick up another percussion gun at some point absolutely.Big bore perhaps.On the subject of upsetting other fowlers.I walked that shore nightshooting from dusk till dawn as a boy with my old man.that was 45 years ago now.Without being flippant.If some young lad feels his semi auto is not getting enough work or his trigger fingers rusting up and wanted to blame me well,i think my sensitivity would stretch to pointing the way back to his 4x4 black monster truck that seems to be the "cool" car of choice these days.My father used a black powder Tolley 10 hammergun for decades, fowling with no effect on the wildfowl other than to those that ended up with BB in their chest.Interesting though,what in your mind is the factor that would cause such a reaction?Popularity? dave if they dun like it then they can go on home.We read posts constantly of big bags and cowboys skybusting all over the place yet these fellas seem to be almost hero worshipped in some strange sort of way.If a bloke cant take out a traditional fowling gun for a bit of true sport then its a sad day indeed.Someone fancies a shot,come over to me and ill gladly pass my gun over to them for a go.But a bloke complaining?Ive saved up some colourful metaphors over the years.id share one or two with him Edited November 17, 2019 by bishop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Nice pics well done! Is the gun a repro? It looks to have blued steel barrels? 45+ years ago I used to decoy pigeon with an antique, single barrelled 16 bore percussion gun....very successfully I may add!.........used To go home with black face and hands and smelling like the devils toilet! Lol! 💣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 aye its a pedersoli 12 bore(13 bore) from the 70's i reckon.Handles remarkably well.Ive had some wildfowl with the gun this year,hopefully more to come.Id love a double 8 but finding one thats as safe as you could hope for is difficult indeed on a budget.You need to be willing to shell out a fair amount and hope the mrs does not smother you in your sleep.My other half howled up the stairs the other morning "what is that aweful smell?".I told her it was the powder but i still think she feels i had a bad guts and was not being truthful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 17 minutes ago, bishop said: aye its a pedersoli 12 bore(13 bore) from the 70's i reckon.Handles remarkably well.Ive had some wildfowl with the gun this year,hopefully more to come.Id love a double 8 but finding one thats as safe as you could hope for is difficult indeed on a budget.You need to be willing to shell out a fair amount and hope the mrs does not smother you in your sleep.My other half howled up the stairs the other morning "what is that aweful smell?".I told her it was the powder but i still think she feels i had a bad guts and was not being truthful. Yep foul smell when cleaning. One good way that all our team follow is to plunge in a bowl of windscreen washer fluid mixed 50/50 water and concentrate. Wet a mop and suck up and down the barrel through the nipples. Then you dry with hot water in the usual way. Gets the worst out and doesn’t smell as bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainhastings Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Very idyllic. Couldn't get much better really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 With the ban on lead shot my original fowling guns were pensioned off original fowling guns in bores of 4 to 10 are 150 and more years old with Damascus barrels to shoot steel from is not recommended and would soon ruin them and bismuth is too expensive . I have been shooting black powder for the last 71 years be it flint ,percussion or hammer gun one, duck or goose shot with black powder is worth 10 with a modern nitro gun Feltwad Astand of large bore fowlers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 In the half light of the dawn when the noise of the day seems to be reaching out to even the more secluded spots along the shoreline I tend to sit and check,then recheck the nipples have their percussion caps still in place as they can slip off or be nudged off by vegetation when navigating your way through the reed beds ,quite easily i might add .Its difficult to see your loading gear ,but not impossible,This is where planning and practice comes in for sure.Plenty pockets in your coat is a good thing and nothing carried that's not essential.No clutter.I have wads in the left lower pocket with phials of small shot in the left upper side pocket.My right side lower pocket has the BB shot,also in phials ,ready to be used as individual loads when required .The upper right side pocket has phials of black powder.each one done before leaving home.In my gamebag there is a smaller waterproof velcro sealed water proof carrybag(used to have yacht flares in it).This has the shot flask with small shot inside.A powder flask with black powder inside ready to decant into phials as and when i have need to replenish my pockets.Various items from plastic funnel to powder measures lie underneath the fold up base inside the bag so i have everything i could possibly need. Sat with both hammers at half cock you sit with your thumb on the right hammer waiting till you have need to bring it to full cock.Its so tempting to lift the gun on the skeins that whiffle over to the fields in search of their goose breakfasts but you ignore them ,instead concentrating on the ones elsewhere over the horizon ,the low skein,the one that will surely come over if you have patience to sit like a stone.Thats what you wait for.As time passes and you finally see a skein lower than the rest you know its time to get those hammer right back,both of them not just one ,in case you forget the hammers not cocked and pull on a dead trigger.As the geese pass over you note they are a good height but not too high.30 yards or maybe 35 is a good range.You Line up a goose to the side with both hammers now fully cocked from their half cocked position, you give the bird some lead and of course swing through and let go your first shot.The subsequent whoomph and massive discharge of smoke leaves you blinded for a second ,its mesmerising ,and of course you are left debating the need for that second barrel but after a few shots with black powder you know the time frame and follow the bird subconsciously through the smoke so that when its visible (or not if and its dropped ) again you can offer up a second barrel.Ive found fowling with the muzzle loader to be a severe test of my fieldcraft and i enjoy it immensely.The reload that takes place after both barrels are fired can be one of two things.either fast and focused ready for another go,everything in its correct location and practiced like in an army drill over and over till its as seamless and efficient as possible ignoring absolutely everything around you till the reload is done safely --Or,alternatively, if the birds down,and like myself its quality not quantity you seek ,you retrieve the prize lay the bird by your gamebag ,open up the coffee flask and drink.The reload can be done in a minute --or two or maybe 5 --who cares i have my dinner sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 11 minutes ago, Feltwad said: With the ban on lead shot my original fowling guns were pensioned off original fowling guns in bores of 4 to 10 are 150 and more years old with Damascus barrels to shoot steel from is not recommended and would soon ruin them and bismuth is too expensive . I have been shooting black powder for the last 71 years be it flint ,percussion or hammer gun one, duck or goose shot with black powder is worth 10 with a modern nitro gun Feltwad Astand of large bore fowlers agreed 100% .Its a learning curve but one i embrace whole heartedly.Tests me all over again this black powder muzzle loading just as wildfowling did when i was a boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Bishop If has you say you are keen on muzzle loading shooting there is a M.L.A.GB Cumbria branch who shoot clays only a couple of miles from Carlisle , see MLAGB webpage for more information . Feltwad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 17 minutes ago, Feltwad said: Bishop If has you say you are keen on muzzle loading shooting there is a M.L.A.GB Cumbria branch who shoot clays only a couple of miles from Carlisle , see MLAGB webpage for more information . Feltwad Bill is that you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperGoose75 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 5 hours ago, bishop said: Ill pick up another percussion gun at some point absolutely.Big bore perhaps.On the subject of upsetting other fowlers.I walked that shore nightshooting from dusk till dawn as a boy with my old man.that was 45 years ago now.Without being flippant.If some young lad feels his semi auto is not getting enough work or his trigger fingers rusting up and wanted to blame me well,i think my sensitivity would stretch to pointing the way back to his 4x4 black monster truck that seems to be the "cool" car of choice these days.My father used a black powder Tolley 10 hammergun for decades, fowling with no effect on the wildfowl other than to those that ended up with BB in their chest.Interesting though,what in your mind is the factor that would cause such a reaction?Popularity? dave if they dun like it then they can go on home.We read posts constantly of big bags and cowboys skybusting all over the place yet these fellas seem to be almost hero worshipped in some strange sort of way.If a bloke cant take out a traditional fowling gun for a bit of true sport then its a sad day indeed.Someone fancies a shot,come over to me and ill gladly pass my gun over to them for a go.But a bloke complaining?Ive saved up some colourful metaphors over the years.id share one or two with him I like your style! Class photos also👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Pinch the caps between your finger and thumb to slightly distort them - they should then stick to your nipples like the proverbial to a blanket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 3 hours ago, bruno22rf said: Pinch the caps between your finger and thumb to slightly distort them - they should then stick to your nipples like the proverbial to a blanket. Take a small hammer at drive them onto the nipple 😂. That would get them to stay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer425 Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 7 hours ago, NoBodyImportant said: Take a small hammer at drive them onto the nipple 😂. That would get them to stay. 😁 Like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 10 hours ago, NoBodyImportant said: Take a small hammer at drive them onto the nipple 😂. That would get them to stay. Hope this was just a joke if not a really dangerous practice . Bishop afraid it is not Bill Feltwad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 Just in case you have`nt seen it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 cheers, that was well worth a watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 On 18/11/2019 at 15:43, mudpatten said: Just in case you have`nt seen it. Not a bad video the early breech loading hammer guns were well documented but the muzzle loaders could have been more , seems their muzzle loading knowledge was limited . which was a pity . Feltwad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 Always eager to learn. Does anything jump off the page at you that that should have been mentioned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted November 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 The fact that when buying older guns like these its similar to the second hand car market and the industry is full of dodgy Aurthur Daleys😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank1 Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 Great video with amazing gun history. Thanks for sharing. If you read Robert Burns poem Twa Dugs , he mentions the first labs coming off the boats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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