Final one for the freezer.

[BlackPowderLove]

Windy as heck last night on the last night of the "normal" season. I had two big goals. 1.) get another deer to finish our meat needs for the year 2.) use the “new” muzzleloader. I ended up seeing 6 doe and no buck. All way far away. A few finally wandered within 100yd. I took a quick 92yd poke, and I made a double lung shot and filled an anterless tag to finish our freezer needs. I am done for the year! It was not a huge buck that most folks yearn for, but then... I have frequently shown I prefer good meat to a “trophy” rack. I did see 6 buck this year, but the only two shooters were not where I could shoot. Oh well. 3 deer in the freezer added to my daughter's buck and a bear. Life is good.

Rifle is an old Investarms "Hawken Carabine" that I did a full rebuild of to make it into something the cross between a German hunting gun and Schuetzen. The scope is an old Tasco "1860 replica." 75 gr. of 3fg, a felt wad, and a .503 cast boolet weighing 480 grains.

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[rtyler8140]

Beautiful muzzleloader & a great shot! Thanks for sharing!

[versa-06]

Sporty Rifle, Sporty Animal, Good Times, & the Freezer Full to Boot!!!! Equals Blessed! Any Photo's on the Bear? & Story would be good too. Or did I miss that in a previous post?

[ChristopherO]

Glad for your successful season and the fun filling your tags.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Sweet rifle! Good shooting!

[BlackPowderLove]

Sporty Rifle, Sporty Animal, Good Times, & the Freezer Full to Boot!!!! Equals Blessed! Any Photo's on the Bear? & Story would be good too. Or did I miss that in a previous post?

It was in a previous post but could resurrect it

[Hamish]

That’s killing them with style!

[koger]

Great job! I would love to see some more pics of the rifle, and find out what mold that is that you are using?

[BlackPowderLove]

Great job! I would love to see some more pics of the rifle, and find out what mold that is that you are using?

I am no gunsmith or gunbuilder but I am pleased overall and the whole project was inexpensive and great learning... it also should be a heck of a shooter as a long range muzzleloader for hunting. After 20 years of muzzleloader hunting with a smoothbore flinter (and a matchlock), I wanted something with some more longe range potential but with some historical flair yet (not one of those modern rifles that get loaded from the muzzle and are called "muzzleloaders" today) What I did...
Barrel- Nothing done other than remove the sights
Stock- Worked down and refinished. I removed the cheesy machined checking and then did my own checking as well as some relief carving. I also added a cattle horn inlay that I made and scrimshawed to look like a scroll with the word “Waidmannsheil” The cheap, black metal nose cap got tossed and I made an elk antler replacement.
Lock and triggers – nothing done other than I removed the fake case blueing from the lock and polished it.
Triggerguard- replaced with a Schuetzen style guard.
Buttplate- replaced with a Schuetzen style buttplate
Thimble- replaced with brass
“Sideplate”/lock bolt washer- tossed and replaced with antler.
Sling Swivels- Removed and replaced with historical jaeger rifle swivel and stud.
Others: I built an elk antler riser for the rear scope mount and then added this “1860 replica” scope. It is a bit longer than I would like (or actually the barrel is a bit too short). It appears to not be a huge issue but the end gets blackened with the blackpowder smoke, especially with many shots. With the minimal shooting for hunting, not target competition, I am thinking this will be okay.
The mold is from accurate. It is their 50-488M

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[Markopolo]

very very cool gun and great shooting... with a 5 deer limit for each member of the family here, i take several young does every year. good eaten and not as smelly..

[Thumbcocker]

Cool rifle and good meat. Thanks for sharing.

[missionary5155]

Good morning and Congratulations !!
That is a fine looking rifle to pop corn crunchers and whatever with !!!
We stopped trying to eat antlers years ago not even fitting for soup.

[namsag]

Nice going sir. I haven't even started yet. My 18-year old daughter won't hunt with me, but she has let me know she is ready to eat!