Facebook and Blackpowder guns.

[45 Bravo]

I have been running an ad on some of the local facebook trader groups
Wanting to buy traditional black powder guns.

And they have been coming out of the woodwork.

Since some states have started allowing ANY high power rifle during what used to be muzzle loader season, the .35 caliber and up cartridge guns are going cheap.

And the front stuffers are going even cheaper..

What can you get?
Well, I “rescued” a 1851 .36 caliber asm kit pistol that has not been finished.
In trade for 200 rounds of .22 ammo.
http://i43.tinypic.com/30nk5ud.jpg
I have started the defarb and restoring process.
http://i42.tinypic.com/hx6uz5.jpg

For $60, I got an EIG made Schneider & Glassick .36 caliber
I took it to a local scrap yard, they electrically tested the frame, it is made from bronze, not brass..
Got it, a flask, some caps, balls and conicals.
http://i43.tinypic.com/zvo19l.jpg

For $100 (the most I have spent yet) I bought a Pietta 1862 5.5 inch fluted 1862.
It was Unfired when I got it. (I remedied that soon enough)
http://i43.tinypic.com/alg4tf.jpg

I traded 50 rounds of .45LC ammo I loaded over 25 years ago for the ugly girl that kisses good.
http://i41.tinypic.com/vzggva.jpg

Yesterday I traded 2 555 round bricks of federal bulk .22 ammo ($23.97 each at walmart)
For a Pietta .44 caliber 1860 army.
With balls, flask, and 6 extra nipples.
http://i40.tinypic.com/xbbdqv.jpg

Here are a few more photos.
http://i41.tinypic.com/nvzj28.jpg

1860, 1861, and 1862
http://i44.tinypic.com/2j606f6.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2zsr0np.jpg


This doesn’t even go into the long guns.
A CVA mountain rifle with the made in USA 1 in 66 inch barrel, for $20 (the bore is a little rough, but there is more than $20 in the German silver patch box) I will be lapping the bore in the next few days.

And a Thompson Center renegade for $40 at a yard sale.
Perfect bore.

So, Looking for smoke poles?
Run an ad on your local facebook trader pages, they line up at your inbox..

Have fun.
45 Bravo.

[longranger]

Those Renegades with GreenMountain drop in a 45 cal 1:18 barrel are sweet M/L's.

[Argentino]

WOW! Congratulations. Those are some really sweet deals!

In case you run across with some new ones you are not interested in, please let me know: I live near your area so I´d be interested.

Thanks,
Regards.-

[TheGrimReaper]

MAN!!! You are making out good!

[Whiterabbit]

Do you need a facebook account to take advantage of these deals?

[45 Bravo]

yes you need to sign up with facebook, unfortunately.

but then you must search out and join some of the local trader groups that are available.

In our area you can't throw a rock without hitting 3 or 4. (figuratively speaking)

we live in podunk Mississippi, (not the real name, but less than 2,000 people in our town)
and it seems every county,city, or area has a trader page (newalbany buy sell trade, union county buy sell trade, tupelo traders, union,lee county traders.) and so forth.

once you get into a group, the other members may be able to suggest other trader pages in your area to join.

I am currently a member of 22 of them, focusing within 50 miles of my area.

I just picked up 2 new rifles for $100 total, photos to follow later tonight.

45 Bravo

[Whiterabbit]

yes you need to sign up with facebook, unfortunately.

That's too bad for me.

[45 Bravo]

Ok, here are the 2 newest..
$100 for the pair..

Both are Italian investarms .50 calibers dated 1988

Bores are perfect, 1was missing a nipple and ramrod.
The other has an adapter that screwed into the nipple hole to use modern rifle or pistol primers instead of percussion caps.

The only down side is they both have recoil pads. But that will change shortly..

I think the barrels are a modern steel as they have not aged the same colors as the breech plugs have.
http://i39.tinypic.com/rud1j9.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/dbi7at.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/16061at.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/fe4gtf.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/2pq7y1t.jpg

[45 Bravo]

I decided to adjust them one at a time, so I took the short one out today, started at 50 gr pyrodex rs, under a .490 ball spit patch on .015 pillow ticking.

After going up to 70gr, in 5 gr increments, I went back to 50 gr. as it seemed to shoot the best.
Then tried shooting from a clean bore, vs a fowled bore.
With a Clean bore it shot consistently right 3 inches at 50 yds. with a fowled bore it hit dead on at 50 yds.

With a Fowled bore I got "pony tails" about 2 1/2 inches long, but with a clean bore I got cloverleafs at 50 yds.

I adjusted the point of impact for clean bore shooting, and called it a day as the rain started (actually a deluge).

I fired over 90 shots today, and my arm is tired..
I started at 9am, and left the range after 5pm.
It is a tough job, but someone has to do it...

45 Bravo

[TheGrimReaper]

Ok, here are the 2 newest..
$100 for the pair..

Both are Italian investarms .50 calibers dated 1988

Bores are perfect, 1was missing a nipple and ramrod.
The other has an adapter that screwed into the nipple hole to use modern rifle or pistol primers instead of percussion caps.

The only down side is they both have recoil pads. But that will change shortly..

I think the barrels are a modern steel as they have not aged the same colors as the breech plugs have.
http://i39.tinypic.com/rud1j9.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/dbi7at.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/16061at.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/fe4gtf.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/2pq7y1t.jpg

I wish I could run across a steal of a deal like that!!!!!!!

[Whiterabbit]

me too. Just not enough to sign up for facebook. Golly 45 Bravo, I'll give you $50 for the shortie!:kidding:

[45 Bravo]

Whiterabbit, If you were to Include the $75 Shipping charge, I MIGHT consider it)

Actually I am thinking of starting to sell some of the ones I find that I have no intention of ever using on these forums that I frequent. (plus a little cash for my gas and time cleaning them)

I really enjoy that part, getting an abused or unused weapon that is suffering some degree of neglect, and making it fully functional again.

I have been offered a Ardesa .54 caliber Spanish rifle (think Lyman GPR), and a CVA Hawken .50 and a BUNCH of accessories (pound of FF goex, 150 .54 caliber balls and maxi balls, speed loaders, caps, patches, short starter flask, and horn.

All for $200

this guy was a black powder hunter, and took care of the weapons, he just abandoned the hobby when the cartridge guns were allowed.

I just picked up a Pietta 1851 .44 caliber "navy" (yea right, blow that smoke somewhere else) i have no intention of using, but it came with 200 .433 balls(the store sold him the wrong size) but they will work in my Mountain rifle. a pound of Goex FFF, and 200 caps, and accessories.

I think it will find a new home. it came with a "starter pack" with balls and that was all it has been fired, 18 times.

The reason I got it? for the price, the powder, balls and caps would have cost me more to buy in a store.

IF i don't find a buyer, I will at least have an extra cylinder for my 1860 Army.

http://www.basspro.com/Traditions-1851-Colt-Navy-Revolver-with-Redi-Pak/product/93225/?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT

[Freightman]

Tempting but the hassle of Facebook is too much.

[hatcreek]

How do you run an add on facebook, great score, thanks HC

[45 Bravo]

Hat creek, you have to be a member first of all, then you need to join a trader group.

Then run an ad..
I would suggest while on Facebook search for a group called gun crazy, and another called barter junkies. Then see how they run, and then search for groups in your area.

Craigslist is also a avenue. The people that got into black powder just for hunting, are now (a few years later) looking to open up some gunsafe real estate, and get some cash for ammo.

And you don't have to register on Facebook.

45 Bravo

[hatcreek]

Thanks 45 Bravo, I am a member of face book, I'll look into it, thanks for the heads up, great idea. HC

[John Allen]

45 Bravo, share how to get this setup bud. We want some too!!!

[45 Bravo]

Ok, So you have a Facebook account.
On your home page, there is a search window, click in there and search for what group you want to join.
http://i44.tinypic.com/f9jhnk.jpg

John, I see you are in collegeville, pa. search for things like that in your area.
I am from mississippi, it tends to search in my area.

but i did a search for colliegeville traders and it brought up these.
you are not too far from Philly so i search for something with that in the name.
your search may vary by location.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2dv06dc.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/2rw2c82.jpg

you request to join the group.
they approve you, and you post what you are looking for and start selling & buying.

One of my ads look something like this, and it got overwhelming response.
http://i42.tinypic.com/1z1ckyu.jpg


REMEMBER, you are looking to join trader groups, try searching by county or city names, areas of the state (central Mississippi traders or something matching your area)

Once you find a group, you will most likely have to request to join (found on the right side top of the groups page)
then dont be afraid to ask if they know of any other trader groups in the area. most are happy to share.

gun crazy is a group that is nationwide. start with them.

I hope this may help point you in the right direction..

45 Bravo

[C. Latch]

Wow. I just signed up here 2 days ago....just had to drop in and say I live right down the road from you (Pontotoc) and I've bought a couple of blackpowder firearms the same way, but I sure hate to see you bragging about it here......it's OK, though, I have enough T/C Hawkens to last me a while. FWIW we're probably on some of the same FB trader pages, and you've probably noticed that a few dealers will try to buy stuff locally then sell it to folks who still live in states with real BP seasons.

[45 Bravo]

Yes we are probably on the same pages.

But I have not sold any of the black powder guns I have bought..

I would not say bragging about it, but I want to show the other members, the good deals you can get online from people not wanting to use their traditional black powder guns anymore.

You can never have enough of them (it is an addiction....)

Don't get me wrong, I carry a glock daily.
And did on duty for many years.
I build ar-15's and do light gunsmith work on other guns for my friends.

(45 Bravo is the Army MOS for an armorer, small arms repair) I did that for a number of years, I left just as the m92's came into the inventory.
So working on a 1911 or AR is about as hard as rolling over in my sleep..

Now, a single action revolver is deceptively simple, but getting the timing right is a bi**ch sometimes.

I have been a black powder shooter since the 70's, I started with a cap and ball 1858 Remington kit my dad helped me build.
And I was hooked for life..

I got out of the hobby while raising the kids, but have been back in for about the last 4 years, and have been happy with the 1 rifle and pistol I had, but when I figured out the Facebook/ Craigslist cheap black powder gold mine I just can't stop buying them.
(Just like my wife with her shoes and purses)
She used to gripe saying "but my shoes don't cost $300 each"
But with the prices I have been getting these things, she don't gripe.

And she says she likes the look of them hanging on the wall too.

Now up to 6 revolvers, and 5 rifles.

Each rifle fills a different niche,, as does each handgun, each is different in some way.

We are getting custody of my 15 year old nephew next month, I have picked up a kit 1851 navy in .36, and will let him finish it.

Some skills were just ment to be passed on to others..

45 Bravo

[C. Latch]

We both probably missed the heyday of good deals on muzzleloaders in MS......when they first went to single-shots there were muzzleloaders for sale everywhere. Now they're pretty rare, but, again, I have the ones I want. I shoot them mainly for fun. I hunt in TN but use a savage smokeless muzzleloader. I want to use a Hawken this year but have had very little time for load development.

[45 Bravo]

I used to hunt with a muzzle loader, but now mostly target shoot and for recreation.

When we get my nephew, that will change.

I need a .32 or .36 caliber squirrell rifle now.

[45 Bravo]

Oh and now is the time for them even more so than when the cartridge guns Became legal.
When the laws were passed, I was trolling the boards, there were bunches for sale, but the prices were still high.

Most Pawn shops won't even touch a traditional black powder gun,
and the rifle or pistol has been in tHe closet or safe for a few years and they are tired of seeing it there.
so their only source of buyers for traditional muzzle loaders is the few of us that actually LIKE to shoot them...

[Old Rvr.]

Excellent Thread , Thankyou for sharing your info. I signed up for face book a year ago and never go there as it makes me nervous about privacy or Non Pr. But that sounds like a worthwhile chore. Thank you 45 Bravo , O.R.

[45 Bravo]

Glad I could help,
Facebook trader group just scored me a great deal this last week.
A guy had a pistol listed, black powder revolver , $250 obo.
he sent me photos, it's an honest to goodness second generation colt.,
i ran the serial number it matches.

It it and holster.
Paid $250
http://i60.tinypic.com/142bf2c.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/1zgdtsz.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/16a60b5.jpg