Antman2

I was thinking of getting a T/C Black Diamond from Wal-mart. I dont know anything about black powder guns. How hard is it to use if you have no one to show you how? Are the instructions easy to understand? Do you think one could be up in running in a few hours? I wolud like to get one today and be in the woods in a few more to fill out my tags. Thanks for any help.

lonewolf5347

SHOOTING BLACKPOWDER IS FAIRLY SIMPLE JUST KEEP IN MIND WHAT YOU ARE DOING.FIRST CLEAN YOUR NEW RIFLE WITH SOLVENT NOW WHAT IS YOUR PERFERENCE WITH POWDER PYRODEX SELECT OR BLACKPOWDER OR THE NEW TRIPLE 777 THEN YOU WILL NEED BULLETS YOU CAN GO WITH THE NEW POWERBELTS OR SABOT MY CHOICE ARE SABOTS MADE BY PERCISION 50 CAL RIFLE WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO. POWDER MEASURE GOOD STARTING POINT WOULD BE 90 GRAINS NO HIGHER THAN 120 GRAINS WITH LOOSE POWDER AND THEN CHOICE OF IGNITION 209 PRIMER NO # 11 CAPS MUSKET CAPS .YOU MUST SNAP A COUPLE OF CAPS OFF TO REMOVE ANY OIL LEFT IN BARREL THEN FOLLOWED BY A DRY PATCH THEN YOU MEASURE OUT YOUR POWDER 90 GRAINS TO START DUMP THAT DOWN THE BARREL YOU CAN TAP THE BREECH AREA TO SEAT THE POWDER THEN THE BULLET SABOTS NO SOLVENT AT ALL POWERBELTS SAME DRY LOAD BULLETS YOU WILL NEED A BULLET STARTER TO START THE BULLET DOWN THE BARREL THEN FINISH OFF WITH YOUR RAMROD YOU MUST SIT THE BULLET RIGHT ON TOP OF THE POWDER A FIRM STEADY PRESSURE A THEN A LITTLE MORE TO COMPRESS THE POWDER CHARGE MARK YOUR RAMROD SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW AS REFERENCE NEXT TIME YOU LOAD MORE POWDER WILL CHANGE THE MARK ON YOUR RAMROD PLACE CAP ON NIPPLE YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.AFTER THE SHOT SPIT PATCH FOLLOWED BY A DRY PATCH AND SO ON NEVER POUND THE BULLET TRYING TO SIT IN ON POWDER CHARGE NEVER LOOK OVER BARREL WHEN LOADING POWDER @ BULLET SAFTEY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT .FIRE THREE SHOTS AT A TIME YOU CAN INCREASE CHARGE BY 5 GRAINS AND SEE HOW YOU RIFLE SHOOTS.AFTER A DAY AT THE RANGE MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN YOU RIFLE WELL AND USE BLACKPOWDER SOLVENT OR SOAP IN WATER YOUR CHOICE RECOAT INSIDE OF BARREL WITH GUN OIL TO PERVENT RUST I USR TEFLONE PATCHES ALSO USE SOME TYPE OF NIPPLE GREASE ON NIPPLE THREADS.HOPE THIS HELPS GOOD LUCK I THINK IF YOU BY A T/C THEY HAVE A TAPE WITH INSTRUCTION THAT COMES WITH THE GUN

round ball

check around your area there are probly guys that would like to show you how and help you out.It is best to start out shooting with other people so they can help you when you put in your first dry load and things like that. smoke pole shooters are good guys and like to show new shooters how and the trick to use<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

driftrider

It may seem somewhat difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it it's really pretty easy and very enjoyable. Just take it slow and pay attention to each step and you'll be fine. If you rush you'll just end up getting more pi$$ed when you realized that you forgot to load the powder AFTER you seated the bullet (if you shoot an inline you'll realize how nice it is to have a removeble breach plug too )

Also, when you go to the range try to find someone out there shooting BP who looks like they're not totally lost and ask questions. Most experienced shooters will be more than happy to help you out.

Good luck,

Mike


Gun control means putting the second bullet through the same hole as the first- Ted Nugent
NRA Member
&quot;They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.&quot; -Ben Franklin

Itinerant

Antman2,It's not to hard at all. I got mine this year never really seen one. Did alot of reading on this board and these guys have alot of information, so read it all. It will certainly help in your choices. I think i got lucky finding what to shoot from the gun. I bought the Omega , went with maxi balls, worked up to 100 gr. of RS and after 7 shots was grouping on the target. Practice from 50,75,100 yrds and after 30 shots felt comfortable enough to take it out to hunt. 4 deer later and I'm hooked.