Muzzleloading

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What is a muzzleloader?
A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle. The term may also apply to the user of such firearms. The term does not infer whether the barrel is rifled, so there are two broad classifications: rifled muzzleloaders and smoothbore muzzleloaders. Modern muzzleloading firearms range from reproductions of sidelock, flintlock and percussion long guns, to single shot pistols and 5 or 6 shot revolvers. The Henry Krank advertisement in Gun Mart magazine is a good place to research prices. Check the club shop for bargains.

Revolvers
Blackpowder revolvers were only in general use for a short time in the mid-1800s, the American Civil War era. However, most of the pistols you'll see used are reproductions. Italian makers dominate this market, providing good copies of the originals. Whilst .44" is the most popular calibre many are available in .36" too and some in .45".

Longarms
The term longarms covers the use of smoothbore muskets and rifled muskets shooting a single projectile, as well as shotguns. For many the typical muzzleloading rifle is the Hawken rifle of the early American frontier, in either .38” or .45” calibre. While the

most common British muzzleloader is probably the Enfield Rifled Musket in its many variants, in .577” or .451” calibre.

Targets
For 25m competitions we generally use the ‘UIT 25/50 Metre’ target with an outer ring 500mm across and a 200mm black.