Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Muzzleloaders and Black Powder

© 2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles

Howdy Folks!


I'm still unable to directly access The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles and you my Blogger friends. Seems that there are subversive and insurrectionist elements and all around bad behavior among Bloggers, and as such, the security of the free world and corporate profits are at risk...

None the less, I am still going to post whenever I feel like it, so call me a subversive! Just remember, I can't moderate comments, nor can I comment on your comments.
Today's post is on a an old hobby of mine that has been reignited.

I'm talking about traditional Muzzleloading and Black Powder Shooting.

First off allow me to direct you to a couple of really neat forums. The http://www.americanlongrifles.org/ American Longrifle Forum is the preeminent forum specializing on traditional American muzzleloaders. The mission of AmericanLongrifles.org is to promote, preserve and support the traditional art and craft of building and using the American Longrifle. This includes accouterments and related arms of the period.

None of this inline muzzleloading nonsense here, no sir! If you are looking for real knowledge on the subject this is the place. With experts from around the world, the available knowledge is both broad and deep. Everything from traditional hand tool techniques to the chemistry of traditional finishes is covered. The skill levels range from yours truly's amateurish attempts, to world class museum quality pieces. You will also find lively discussion areas on collecting both fine original arms and impeccable contemporary ones. Hand made accoutrements is another area that is full of remarkable examples of contemporary work as well as the historic. I strongly urge you to visit if you have an interest in traditional Longrifles, black powder shooting, or the history of American firearms of that era.


Next is the http://www.traditionalmuzzleloadingassociation.org/forum/ Traditional Muzzleloading Association. The TMA is dedicated to preserving the rich and fascinating heritage of the traditional muzzleloading firearms of early America. Whether your interest is in rendezvous, re-enactments, historical clothing, camps, trapping, weapons, accoutrements or American history, all historical topics in relation to the muzzleloading firearms prior to 1900 are welcomed.

I have a Chambers New England Fowler waiting at home for me, and you can rest assured that we will be building that together. It's a ten bore of course, none of that 12 bore sissy stuff for me! Anyway, I need a light smoothbore for fooling around out back in the woods.

Now you all know me, and I now have a line on 4 bore barrels, so you can expect a special operations black powder big bore hog hunting rifle from me in the future. Nothing says "Lay down and Die!" like a quarter pound of lead in the boiler room. That's 1750 grains by the way! I can tell you we are going to have us a lot of fun with that!

I've got a few posts lined up for you all my friends, but they will be sans pictures, due to IT's intransigence, but like everything else in this world, things change at the drop of a hat. So for all I know we might be back on line before you or I know it! Keep the faith, and know that I'm thinking about all of you.

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
"Skull Mountain" Sperwan Ghar, Panjwai District, Afghanistan
Standing Ready when the Wolves Growl at the Door...

ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!


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