So I went to Kokohead today to shoot my ever so accurate 10/22 and ran into a gentleman shooting his black powder rifle.

He asked me if I wanted to shoot it and I did. That old rifle was so damn fun that I think I'm gonna start looking for one.

Damn you, black powder bug. I can feel you coming on.

Seriously though, it makes me happy when people still talk to strangers at the range and offer to share a little knowledge with others.
It's people like that that make me happy to be a gun crank.

 

what was fun about it?   (don't know anything bout them)

That sounds like the guy that's always on the end of the rifle range.. He's usually there with his others pals.. That  guy is super cool! First gives you the run down and history of the rifle then asks you if you wanna shoot it... I think I shot his old vintage Japanese rifle before and his Mauser once.... AWESOME!  I mean, if that's the guy...?..??

Blackpowder is cool. I have a .69cal flintlock tower pistol and a .45 cal percussion cap Philadelphia Derringer. Learning old stuff is good when the new stuff doesn't work anymore.

what was fun about it?   (don't know anything bout them)

When you shoot black powder, you load the powder down the barrel yourself.
Then you put a lead ball in a cotton patch and ram it down the barrel.

You feel like you've entered a time warp back to colonial times.

Then you shoot that big lead ball in a giant puff of smoke.

That lead ball is pretty accurate too.
I was hitting that gong at 50 & 100 yards consistently.

Yes,  I have also met the recruiter!  Very nice guy.

I fired a few rounds, but I had to stop.

I got too many projects as it is, and something that fun is bound to breed into one more toy I need to get!

My buddy asked me if I would CCW a blackpowder handgun lol. 

The best thing about black powder rifles is that they aren't firearms

If you take the hunter's education class, you can learn a little about them.

That sounds like the guy that's always on the end of the rifle range.. He's usually there with his others pals.. That  guy is super cool! First gives you the run down and history of the rifle then asks you if you wanna shoot it... I think I shot his old vintage Japanese rifle before and his Mauser once.... AWESOME!  I mean, if that's the guy...?..??

Shot my first black powder 30+ years ago at Kokohead. I was just a kid hanging at the range with dad. An old guy sitting at the end waved me over, told me the history, then let me load and fire an old Hawken.  Probably not the same guy, he'd have to be in his 80's by now. Maybe his son or a ghost? LOL!

I think everyone should own at least one black powder. They're fairly cheap, loads of fun and the true definition of having a canon in your hands.

My dad had a .50 cal black powder rifle that I LOVED to shoot!  BP really appeals to my meticulous nature.  Plus, when you spend a minute loading every time, you really take the time to do your fundamentals and hit the target!

Don't sell 'em short... a good black powder rifle made with modern engineering can ring that 440 yard gong time and again.  Plus, with the slow rate of fire, a long day of shooting costs a fraction of what you'd spend on a cartridge gun.

I've stayed clear of that bug for a good, long time.  I may relapse soon, though.  Every time I start thinking about shooting black powder again, I feel this idiotic grin start to stretch across my face!

what was fun about it?   (don't know anything bout them)

808, shooting BP is a very different game altogether.

First off, the guns just look so very different from anything else on the line. 

Then, there's the whole process of loading.  Measure the powder. Charge the rifle. Put a ball/bullet in a patch, and seat it on the muzzle.  Get them started with a short ramrod.  Seat them fully with a long ramrod.  Put a percussion cap on the nipple (yes, you get to say nipple!)  Cock the gun.  Aim.

Then, you get to fire!  And it feels completely different than any other gun.  Plus, it belches smoke and fire like a coal-fed steam engine!!  You wait for the smoke to clear so you can see your target, then you start the process all over again.

And, as an added bonus, it is FILTHY!  It's so filthy that you actually have to clean the barrel every handful of shots to maintain accuracy, and you get your hands, face, and clothing a little blacker each time.  After a day of shooting, you'll look like you spent a day in the coal mines. 

There's just nothing not to love!!

   wow, nice descrip... felt like I was at Gettysburg while reading that.

And, as an added bonus, it is FILTHY!  It's so filthy that you actually have to clean the barrel every handful of shots to maintain accuracy, and you get your hands, face, and clothing a little blacker each time.  After a day of shooting, you'll look like you spent a day in the coal mines. 

Yup. Blowing out sooty grey snot is part of the BP experience.

I hunt with a Black powder rifle....if you think shooting modern firearms is costly wait till you shoot Black powder     whole new ball game...atlease its fun and challenging

The best thing about black powder rifles is that they aren't firearms

If you take the hunter's education class, you can learn a little about them.

Thatʻs dangerous territory to be stepping on. They are firearms. They just donʻt need to be registered...

You're right, they fall under the term antique firearm. Just not the normal kine

You're right, they fall under the term antique firearm. Just not the normal kine

What does this mean, as in where can I read these rules? I have heard rumors of these separate rules, but never found them. As I recall, at the NRA sponsored pistol safety class I attended, they explained that all firearms that use an explosive to fire were grouped together (as opposed to airguns) [edit- I mean Hawaii rules, not ATF rules]  and that specifically antique firearms were not exempt.

So..... can we open carry percussion cap revolvers? Because that would be plenty of firepower for me.... maybe 2 of them.   

Okay, I don't want to confuse anybody any more than I already have. Black powder rifles, pistols, and revolvers are considered firearms by the state of Hawaii. So don't go around carrying one, because you can't.

They do enjoy some special privilages though. According to HRS 134-3 they don't need to be registered as other types of firearms do need to. That is probably the biggest perk. It also doesn't fall under many of the BATFE regulations such as shipping.

To recap: no open carrying percussion cap revolvers.

Okay, I don't want to confuse anybody any more than I already have. Black powder rifles, pistols, and revolvers are considered firearms by the state of Hawaii. So don't go around carrying one, because you can't.

They do enjoy some special privilages though. According to HRS 134-3 they don't need to be registered as other types of firearms do need to. That is probably the biggest perk. It also doesn't fall under many of the BATFE regulations such as shipping.

To recap: no open carrying percussion cap revolvers.

Hahahaha, I love this disclaimer.

I can see it now... "officer, the guy from the forum said it was ok for me to carry a black powder pistol without a permit"