Introduction Post

Bleak Ridge is a family-run business, selling country clothing and workwear
MightyPlank

MightyPlank

Member
Hi All,

I've been getting into recreational shooting recently and wanted to at some point do a deer stalk so thought it would be a good idea to join a Forum like this to get a lay of the land so to speak. I am from the North West around the Forest of Bowland. Currently working towards my FAC though its not looking like I'll be getting one for at least another 6 months to a year. My main interest is historical firearms but an interest in historical hunting rifles will lead to an interest in hunting or it has for me at least. My goal is to one day do a hunt with my 1833 24 bore percussion rifle Made by Purdey (currently owned as an antique but hopefully it will be the first thing on my FAC). I would be interested to know if there are any users here who have hunted with a muzzle loader as I have only seen Americans and Hungarians doing so online.

Cheers.
 
Dude, getting a muzzleloader rifle granted for hunting is difficult. It is openly deterred in the guidance to the police on firearms licencing.
Some though have managed it @palmer_mike and @Bavarianbrit
Smoothbores with shot no problem but they don't like one using ball, don't ask how I know...!
You will also soon run into the lead ban that is going to be tricky for us muzzleloaders and no one gives a schit to give us an exemption.

Best of luck though.
IMG_20230107_155110.webp
 
Yes, it’s possible in the UK but not necessarily easy……
You’ll have to prove that (theoretically at least) your firearm will produce deer legal energy.
I currently have a .50 flintlock rifle that shoots heavy conical bullets (fast twist barrel) that makes large deer legal energy. I also have a slot on my ticket for a Baker rifle which is also conditioned for all U.K. deer!
Feel free to PM me if you want any more detail on how I went about it
 
palmer_mike said:
Yes, it’s possible in the UK but not necessarily easy……
You’ll have to prove that (theoretically at least) your firearm will produce deer legal energy.
I currently have a .50 flintlock rifle that shoots heavy conical bullets (fast twist barrel) that makes large deer legal energy. I also have a slot on my ticket for a Baker rifle which is also conditioned for all U.K. deer!
Feel free to PM me if you want any more detail on how I went about it
Click to expand...
I mean if it isn't good enough for hunting I wouldn't want to use it anyway but I'm pretty sure it should be. Its a 24 bore so I think .577 and I think it would fire conical bullets. If the engravings on the gun are anything to go by I think this was designed as a tiger hunting gun. The guy who bought it originally was a army officer so he could have potentially been deployed in India and wanted a tiger rifle. That seems a big enough to me but I really have no idea if I'm honest. The rifle may also not even be safe to shoot its very old and I do not know how hell kept it has been its visually okay but may not be up to standard. I have attached a photo of the bore. As for the lead ban is there no lead alternative for muzzle loading? An alloy of bismuth and tin etc?
 

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MightyPlank said:
I mean if it isn't good enough for hunting I wouldn't want to use it anyway but I'm pretty sure it should be. Its a 24 bore so I think .577 and I think it would fire conical bullets. If the engravings on the gun are anything to go by I think this was designed as a tiger hunting gun. The guy who bought it originally was a army officer so he could have potentially been deployed in India and wanted a tiger rifle. That seems a big enough to me but I really have no idea if I'm honest. The rifle may also not even be safe to shoot its very old and I do not know how hell kept it has been its visually okay but may not be up to standard. I have attached a photo of the bore. As for the lead ban is there no lead alternative for muzzle loading? An alloy of bismuth and tin etc?
Click to expand...
That looks a slow twist and deep cut rifling. I'm thinking patches ball. Needs measuring.
 
That makes sense, I checked online just now and it said conical bullets didn't become widespread until 1844 so this rifle is a decade to early for it. I'm not too fussed if I never use this for deer stalking, I'm sure I can still do some target shooting on a range.
 
MightyPlank said:
That makes sense, I checked online just now and it said conical bullets didn't become widespread until 1844 so this rifle is a decade to early for it. I'm not too fussed if I never use this for deer stalking, I'm sure I can still do some target shooting on a range.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with patched ball. Just our dumb legislators don't know what they are on about.

I was looking at an original 1884 Springfield in 4570 earlier. Soooo tempted.
 
MightyPlank said:
Hi All,

I've been getting into recreational shooting recently and wanted to at some point do a deer stalk so thought it would be a good idea to join a Forum like this to get a lay of the land so to speak. I am from the North West around the Forest of Bowland. Currently working towards my FAC though its not looking like I'll be getting one for at least another 6 months to a year. My main interest is historical firearms but an interest in historical hunting rifles will lead to an interest in hunting or it has for me at least. My goal is to one day do a hunt with my 1833 24 bore percussion rifle Made by Purdey (currently owned as an antique but hopefully it will be the first thing on my FAC). I would be interested to know if there are any users here who have hunted with a muzzle loader as I have only seen Americans and Hungarians doing so online.

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Not old school, but an idea what modern front stuffer can do.
Ken.
 

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