Hectic Heaven

Muzzleloading

I thought I would share a bit about my hobby,  My DH and I are active in our local blackpowder gun club.    We have been  members for about 3 years now... before that I  didnt do much shooting, I didnt like the way modern rifles kicked so my shooting was limited to guns like the 22 and so on...

DH and I usually attend 3-5 rendezvous a year.. these are alot of fun, we go up in the hills somewhere and camp with others,  we dress in period clothing, which usually has me in a long dress,  there are rifle trails, pistols trails, and hawk and knife trails... the first rendezvous we went to  DH had a rifle he  was shooting and I was keeping score.. once I found out how much fun it was... I started shooting... by the time we attended our 3 rendezvous I had my own rifle  a great plains  left handed version.....I shot that gun for about a year, then one day I was over at my folks house and shouldered a gun my brother had built for dad... it was a dream,  although  it was almost as tall as I am.. I could hold it up without it being barrel heavy... I had what they call a swamped barrel  the barrel is bigger at the top and at the bottom making them easier to balance...I wanted one of them in the worse way.. but to have one made would be well over 1500-2000 dollars... so I decided to do it myself... I bought the parts I needed and started working on it... a year later, off my dads back porch,  I shot it.  I dont know who was grinning the biggest   dad or me...

I should add the stain on this gun is made from vinegar and rusted steel wool, It took about 6 weeks for the stain to brew.

and here is a picture of our home away from home.. our primitive camp

we had it set up at the local harvest festival so folks could see what we do... the gun on the table is the one pictured above. 

Oh my gosh!

08:47, 2006-Feb-22 .. Posted by bayleysmom17

Oh wow Trina I bet I saw you at the harvest fair! I went into that whole area because it was so interesting to me. In fact I even remember saying hi to a woman that was in there dressed up! Wow how crazy would that be? Well I'm convinced now that we have probably been in the same place at the same time. Happens a lot in a small area like this. I just wanted to say how fascinated I was about your gun club and the re-inactments (sp?) that you do. How fun!

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09:59, 2006-Feb-22 .. Posted by OurLittleHomestead

HOW ABSOLUTELY NEAT !!!!!!!!!

FUN--we love to target practice--but never done this--too cooL!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

Fantastic!

11:30, 2006-Feb-22 .. Posted by haras

I random blogged and found your site. I love it! You should be so proud of yourself for building your black powder rifle. It's beautiful! A very unusual and interesting hobby.

I want to learn how to make soap. I have a book I bought on Ebay about it that I plan on opening up when I get a chance! But do you have to make it with lye? My skin is so sensitive I don't know if I could handle it.

The weaving sounds interesting also. Please stop by my site sometime and visit. Sarah

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04:49, 2006-Feb-23 .. Posted by kayinpa

Now YOU are a homesteading woman! LOL! That is probably one thing I would not think of trying...was to make my own gun! Good for you. My brothers and nephews are into the muzzle loaders! I have yet to try one. (they live in KY)

Nice gun!

06:45, 2006-Feb-23 .. Posted by spinninggrandma

Good job, there!!! Norm has a couple of muzzle loaders .. a rifle and a pistol. Here in SW Minnesota, you shoot your deer with them, and he had hopes of getting his first deer this last fall, but will have to wait until next year.

I like your camp!!! And love your kitchen!! We have gone to some Rendezvous, but usually demonstrate the 60s and 70s ... I'm more comfortable in that time period. However, we will be doing an inside Rendesvous / tradeshow in March.

Isn't it fun? I'll take pictures of our camp this summer and post them.

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06:56, 2006-Feb-23 .. Posted by justme

sounds like fun
I love your tent