Muzzleloading Supplies

[Ben]

For you BP addicts, where are you all buying your supplies?

I broke out the 1851 Navy today and got some smoke going. Realized I'm running low on balls. It turns out both Thunder Ridge, where I have always bought my supplies from, and Buffalo Bullet, which I've always used in my revolvers and rifle, have gone by the wayside. The last time i ordered from them was a few years ago when I ordered a ton of stuff at once. They've apparently been out of business for a while, but I just got the news today. :)

Anyway, looking for some good online vendors. I already checked out Graf & Sons, which is where I buy my BP, but they actually seem to be limited in other muzzleloading stuff and carry a lot of Thompson / Center, which I'm kinda "meh" about. Cabelas has a lot of stuff, but I'm not sure if their prices are competitive.

Anyway, any good links are mucho appreciated!

[charby]

I have T/C Hawken and CVA Optima (modern inline 209 primer)

I shoot pyrodex in the Hawken, it has a fast twist barrel so I shoot sabots (Knight 250g lead).

My CVA I shoot Blackhorn 209 and my home brew sabot (high pressure plastic sabot with a Hornady SST .452 bullet) I can cover a playing card at 150 yards with this.

I buy my supplies from Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabelas and the local outdoor store.

I don't shoot BP because none of the shops sell it and its expensive to ship.

[RoadKingLarry]

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/

http://www.buffaloarms.com/

About the only thing I'll buy online these days for the muzzle loaders is flints.
I buy the powder local and I cast my own balls.

[Ben]

I'd like to cast my own balls, but have no good sources for lead that would make doing so cheaper than just buying them. :(

On the BP, last time I bought (from Grafs) I got 12lbs so the hazmat fee wasn't too bad. I still have 1/3 of that order left. I haven't looked at BP prices in a long while, I'm surprised that it hasn't really gone up at all over the last few years (not counting the shipping and handling).

[RoadKingLarry]

Sometimes it isn't about cheaper. A lee 2 cavity mould, a suitable pot,a dipper/ladle and  a heat source, I use an old Coleman running on propane (for convenience). You could even melt your lead over a camp fire.
Suitable lead isn't the easiest to come by for muzzle loaders but it's out there to be found. You want as dead soft close to pure as you can get. I've scrounged a bunch of old pipe, cable sheathing, bathroom shower pans, roof flashing and the like.

[Gewehr98]

I can't stand shooting anything other than Holy Black.

Bill's Sporting Goods in Lomira, WI that stocks Goex, Swiss, and Elephant brands of real BP.

I make a pilgramage about once a year to get my charcoal fix. 

I cast my projectiles, but only because I've laid in a supply of wheel weights and soft lead for mixing into the 30-1 alloy my Sharps likes best.

[gunsmith]

I'd like to cast my own balls, but have no good sources for lead that would make doing so cheaper than just buying them. :(

On the BP, last time I bought (from Grafs) I got 12lbs so the hazmat fee wasn't too bad. I still have 1/3 of that order left. I haven't looked at BP prices in a long while, I'm surprised that it hasn't really gone up at all over the last few years (not counting the shipping and handling).

mr ranch owner has some BP guns and used to be into it, has been saying we will do some BP shooting sometime soon for at least 13 yrs now
We were visiting a neighbor (40 miles away or so) off grid survivalist type who recovers lead from old car/marine batteries and uses that for casting ball and bullets.

I gotta get one of those cabelas bp revolvers after I pay off stuff, seems like a good price.

[AmbulanceDriver]

mr ranch owner has some BP guns and used to be into it, has been saying we will do some BP shooting sometime soon for at least 13 yrs now
We were visiting a neighbor (40 miles away or so) off grid survivalist type who recovers lead from old car/marine batteries and uses that for casting ball and bullets.

I gotta get one of those cabelas bp revolvers after I pay off stuff, seems like a good price.

AIEEEEEEE!!!   That is BAAAAAAD juju there man.   Unless you have one heckuva good setup, that is stuff you do *NOT* wanna mess with.    Lead sulfide is some seriously bad stuff.  Most modern batteries are also not just pure lead in the plates, but are alloyed with arsenic and other nasty metals.   Arsenic, when heated, forms arsenate gas when it comes into contact with moisture (in the air).    I'd make sure I was nowhere even remotely near him anytime he's doing his "recovery".   And would strongly recommend he not do it anymore....   :)

[Ben]

I gotta get one of those cabelas bp revolvers after I pay off stuff, seems like a good price.

The Cabelas Pietta revolvers are really good deals. I have the 1851 Navy Confederate and the 1851 Navy Civilian. The Confederate is a really good price (I remember when they were sub-one hundred dollars) but you do have to be careful with loading because of the brass frame. Generally no higher than 20gr and then top it off with cream of wheat or cornmeal before seating the ball. I actually keep it around 16gr of 3F most of the time, which makes for very pleasant all day shooting.

On a side note, I can't believe the prices of BP firearms now. It looks like my BP guns have all increased in value at a higher percentage than most of my modern arms over the same period. Don't know what the used market on BP is like, but damn, nice investment.

[Tallpine]

Realized I'm running low on balls.

Yeah, that happens to the best of us, sometimes     


Back 30+ years ago before my TC Hawken got stolen, I cast round balls from wheel weights.  I never had any problems with the alloy, but those were all patched of course and it might be different in a six shooter.

I just threw them in the pot, and dipped out the clamps and skimmed off the slag.

I still have my casting stuff, and I've thought about getting back into it but I'm not sure that it's worth it at this point to buy BP guns 

[Ben]

Yeah, that happens to the best of us, sometimes     

What took you guys so long?