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I'll be darned!
One of my oldest, orneriest, best friends who swore he would never own a black powder fire arm has gone and bought himself his first! Its a beauty.
I have always wanted one of these, but never got around to it.
So, why am I writing about my friend's gun? lol He ASKED me to! He won't sign up for Facebook. He won't sign up for on-line forums. But, he WILL use me to use them for him. He has asked me to ask YOU for HIM about his new toy.
A little personality background on the new owner is appropriate as I think you will find it fun and helpful to understanding the mind-set behind his question. He has appeared in one of my stories here in the past. He was referred to by the nickname, 'Spartan,' in the thread, "The Worst Hunter in the World." So, we will just call him Spartan here, too.
Spartan collects old WWI and WWII rifles and Desert Storm/Shield .45 slide pistols. He's a Luddite. But, only to a point because he has always complained about wooden side-locks. They are too 'primitive' and 'inefficient' for him.
For 30 plus years, it has been like this...
Spartan: "And if you are going to buy a black powder rifle to hunt with, get a modern in-line poly! And, use synthetic, modern powder!"
Me: You really ought to try one of my side locks with original black powder. I know you. If you just give it a try, you'll be hooked!
Spartan: "uh-uh. I don't like all that Daniel Boone crap. I'll just use my Swedish Mauser."
Two years ago, we had the chance to hunt together, BUT, it fell during Muzzleloader season in Kentucky. HE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A NEW CROSSBOW TO AVOID BUYING A BLACK POWDER RIFLE. (He is NOT a bowman. lol) Crossbows are legal during Muzzleloader season in Kentucky. This is funnier because I offered to loan him one of mine and he refused! He preferred to spend money to buy a crossbow he had never hunted with.
<img src="blob:https://www.frontiermuzzleloading.com/b4afcdd2-bb17-49c8-a161-e919d82ea2ea" style="width: 51px;height: 49px" alt="I'll Be Darned: A Friend's Ruger Old Army B4afcdd2-bb17-49c8-a161-e919d82ea2ea" />
I love him like a brother and he makes me laugh! And, yes, he will see a copy of this story I am writing. I'll see to it. :Bat: Back to the new gun...
Spartan bought the ROA because of the following 'Spartan logic' reasons:
1. It is BP and legal for some hunts.
2. It is designed based on a modern gun; the Ruger Blackhawk pistols. He has had good experiences with these.
3. It has more than "One dang shot!" - Spartan
4. "I want modern pistol power" - Spartan
5. It ain't a side lock.
6. It came with an extra conversion cylinder that shoots .45 Colt Longs
7. He has heard me talk a little enviously about the ROA.
8. He wants to carry it as a legal back up to his crossbow... Wait for it... That he still intends to use!
We are scheduled to hunt in muzzleloader season again this year and I am DYING with amusement. AND, I think he has acquired a really nice firearm that I want him to enjoy using.
So, here is his request for information: He does not want to load a simple round ball set up. Oh, no. I could help him with that. He wants the best, most lethal, legal, modern, synthetic set up possible that is specific to the Ruger Old Army. "What is that?" he wants to know. "Ask your black powder buddies for me?"
Does that mean conical? Sabot? Corn meal? Tea? Lard sealant? Nitroglycerine-Infused-Pyrodex? Lasers? Napalm? Flechette? I don't know. :lol:
He almost always is packing bigger, badder calibre guns in the field than I do. He does intend to use this as a BP hunter/back up. I know he is hunting deer with a crossbow/ROA back up this season with me. He might have visions of elk or bear dancing in his head later? I really don't know.
Subtlety is not in Spartan's DNA. His philosophy is that 'if parts get blown off when I hit my meal, I won't have to go chase it down as far.' During our last deer hunt together, he used a Springfield Armory M1A with a Hornady 155 GR expanding point and blew a 6.5 inch exit hole. I was using my old .50 CVA Hawken.
So, what advice do you have for my highly entertaining, eccentric, and contradictory old friend?
PS. The short version: He wants to know a hot, super impact, safe (for him) load for his new Ruger Old Army. Suggestions?
One of my oldest, orneriest, best friends who swore he would never own a black powder fire arm has gone and bought himself his first! Its a beauty.
I have always wanted one of these, but never got around to it.
So, why am I writing about my friend's gun? lol He ASKED me to! He won't sign up for Facebook. He won't sign up for on-line forums. But, he WILL use me to use them for him. He has asked me to ask YOU for HIM about his new toy.
A little personality background on the new owner is appropriate as I think you will find it fun and helpful to understanding the mind-set behind his question. He has appeared in one of my stories here in the past. He was referred to by the nickname, 'Spartan,' in the thread, "The Worst Hunter in the World." So, we will just call him Spartan here, too.
Spartan collects old WWI and WWII rifles and Desert Storm/Shield .45 slide pistols. He's a Luddite. But, only to a point because he has always complained about wooden side-locks. They are too 'primitive' and 'inefficient' for him.
For 30 plus years, it has been like this...
Spartan: "And if you are going to buy a black powder rifle to hunt with, get a modern in-line poly! And, use synthetic, modern powder!"
Me: You really ought to try one of my side locks with original black powder. I know you. If you just give it a try, you'll be hooked!
Spartan: "uh-uh. I don't like all that Daniel Boone crap. I'll just use my Swedish Mauser."
Two years ago, we had the chance to hunt together, BUT, it fell during Muzzleloader season in Kentucky. HE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A NEW CROSSBOW TO AVOID BUYING A BLACK POWDER RIFLE. (He is NOT a bowman. lol) Crossbows are legal during Muzzleloader season in Kentucky. This is funnier because I offered to loan him one of mine and he refused! He preferred to spend money to buy a crossbow he had never hunted with.
<img src="blob:https://www.frontiermuzzleloading.com/b4afcdd2-bb17-49c8-a161-e919d82ea2ea" style="width: 51px;height: 49px" alt="I'll Be Darned: A Friend's Ruger Old Army B4afcdd2-bb17-49c8-a161-e919d82ea2ea" />
I love him like a brother and he makes me laugh! And, yes, he will see a copy of this story I am writing. I'll see to it. :Bat: Back to the new gun...
Spartan bought the ROA because of the following 'Spartan logic' reasons:
1. It is BP and legal for some hunts.
2. It is designed based on a modern gun; the Ruger Blackhawk pistols. He has had good experiences with these.
3. It has more than "One dang shot!" - Spartan
4. "I want modern pistol power" - Spartan
5. It ain't a side lock.
6. It came with an extra conversion cylinder that shoots .45 Colt Longs
7. He has heard me talk a little enviously about the ROA.
8. He wants to carry it as a legal back up to his crossbow... Wait for it... That he still intends to use!
We are scheduled to hunt in muzzleloader season again this year and I am DYING with amusement. AND, I think he has acquired a really nice firearm that I want him to enjoy using.
So, here is his request for information: He does not want to load a simple round ball set up. Oh, no. I could help him with that. He wants the best, most lethal, legal, modern, synthetic set up possible that is specific to the Ruger Old Army. "What is that?" he wants to know. "Ask your black powder buddies for me?"
Does that mean conical? Sabot? Corn meal? Tea? Lard sealant? Nitroglycerine-Infused-Pyrodex? Lasers? Napalm? Flechette? I don't know. :lol:
He almost always is packing bigger, badder calibre guns in the field than I do. He does intend to use this as a BP hunter/back up. I know he is hunting deer with a crossbow/ROA back up this season with me. He might have visions of elk or bear dancing in his head later? I really don't know.
Subtlety is not in Spartan's DNA. His philosophy is that 'if parts get blown off when I hit my meal, I won't have to go chase it down as far.' During our last deer hunt together, he used a Springfield Armory M1A with a Hornady 155 GR expanding point and blew a 6.5 inch exit hole. I was using my old .50 CVA Hawken.
So, what advice do you have for my highly entertaining, eccentric, and contradictory old friend?
PS. The short version: He wants to know a hot, super impact, safe (for him) load for his new Ruger Old Army. Suggestions?