What are some Black powder guns for starters?

Question

Hello everyone, I just researched my states guns regulations and Black Powder guns are legal. I was wondering what are some good older Black powder guns that are good for beginners

Answer 1

Thompson Contenders/Encores come in Black Powder configurations.  I understand they are nice guns.  I know their smokeless powder versions are top of the line.

Answer 2

An old flintlock rifle

Answer 3

Black-powder guns . . . that's a pretty broad category of weapons.  What are you looking for:  A rifle, or a pistol?  Are you just looking to plink, or are you hoping to hunt with it?  Muzzle-loading rifles come in one of two flavors.  First are replicas of 19th century percussion-cap sidelock muzzle-loaders, such as the Kentucky rifle, or the Hawken rifle (available from Traditions.)  They deliver adequate accuracy and punch to take small to medium game.  However, these traditional rifles are limited to equally traditional patched round lead balls, seriously restricting their range.

For the serious black-powder hunter or long-range target shooter are the so-called inline muzzle-loaders, which use a #209 shotgun primer to ignite the powder charge. which is both hotter, and safer to use than fragile and highly sensitive percussion caps.  Modern in-line muzzleloaders have a greater selection of bullets than most old 19th century pattern sidelocks.  The modern muzzle-loader has access to conical lead bullets resembling bullets going into modern metallic-cartridge firearms.  They can also use saboted JHP bullets for even greater versatility.  An excellent in-line muzzle-loader is the Thompson-Center Omega.

For pistols, the best choice for the beginner is a single-shot percussion-cap sidelock pistol, such as a replica of the 19th century Kentucky-pattern pistols.  A patched, greased lead ball is easier to get down a ten inch barrel than it is a 30 inch barrel, and you have just one charge and one cap to worry about, compared to a percussion-cap revolver.  Clean-up is easier too.  Black-powder fouling is corrosive, and gets into everything, and the revolver has more gaps and surfaces for it to get into.

Answer 4

If you are wanting to hunt with a muzzleloader and you dont mind using an inline, you cannot beat a Knight for accuracy. I have one, my dad had a thompson encore, He sold his in disgust because I could out shoot him with the Knight all day long. Keep in mind my dad is a much better shot than I am. He shot that much better with the knight as well. They arent that expensive to get started. If you are set on a more traditional front stuffer, I cant help ya. Buy a quality one, and keep it forever. Dont go buy a cheaply made gun just because you are a beginner. You wont be sorry, and you will be happier having one that has a good sales dept and customer service. Many people like the Encores, Im not bashing them, just relating personal experience with one.

http://www.knightrifles.com/

Answer 5

Cabelas has lots of starter kits or if you got one near by just go to one and see fit. for example i was trying to deciede a black powder rifle that would be best for me and i narrowed it down to a hawken traditions precution cap blackpowder rifle. also if you have any questions they can answer most of them. Also Thompson Center has a great starters kit too from what i seen and heard about from my friends whom have muzzle loaded longer than i have. There are many calabers and actions to choose from and for the right job such as the new electronic fire but i don't like it personally but it's good for cracking off a few rounds quicker samthing with the in line models "T/C muzzle loaders mostly". If your in to more classy traditional style shooting go for somthing like a flint lock or a precution cap rifle which its fun and looks nice but your reload time is slower and ther is more to clean but it's more simpler which is nice when cleaning anyways.  

Answer 6

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/ , (Enter "kit" in the search box) still has black powder kits, but only the "jailhouse key" muzzleloader pistol is still cheap at $37.50, MH-0100. Some stuff still not too expensive. Weird stuff like webfoot pistol still there. Regards, Larry.

Answer 7

I would stick with something like Thompson Center or Knight.  Both are great guns.  If you prefer a traditional muzzleloader instead of an inline, again Thompson Center makes a great half stock rifle at a reasonable price.  DO NOT GET A FLINTLOCK if it is your first muzzleloader.  Flintlocks are great guns and I love them but they are not beginner guns.  There are just too many things to go wrong and the inexperienced shooter can be really distracted by the flash of teh pan when you fire the gun.  Save the flintlock for later.  Get a caplock.  You can use black powder substitutes such as Pyrodex, Shockey's Gold, Triple 7, etc in a caplock but they will not work wortth a d**n in a flintlock.  The ignition temperature is too high to be reliably ignited by a flintlock.  The advantages to the subsititues is their availability and their ease of cleaning up.  They are also less corrosive than black powder.

Contact the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association in Friendship, Indiana to find out if there is a blackpowder club in your area.  If there is, go visit them sometime and ask a lot of questions.  Blackpowder shooters are always ready to share thier knowlege with a beginner.  You will not only find out what you need to buy and what to avoid but you will most likely find several guns for sale.  Be careful when visiting any blackpowder club or you will find yourself joining and setting you feet on a path to a lot of fun.