What was your first and how did ya get started????

[txcookie]

What was your first rifle and how did ya get started!

Mine is a CVA Idea of what a Hawkins should be! I like it got it dirt cheap and EVERYTHING I have for it came from the Great people on this site! Got started from someone on this site as well, Was on another web site and was snoopin around about INLINES when SIR ROARING BULL gave me a link here and asked if I had ever considered Trad rifles. Now I am hooked and cant wait to get me a deer or hog with it! So how did yall get started??

[Roaring Bull]

Took a black powder shooting course for Royal Rangers given by the NRA in Feb of this year.  Bought my flintlock Kentucky .50 and my son's Traditions .50 Hawkens in March.  Now I got a bunch of them thangs.

[BossHoss]

Just got started a couple months ago-
Seen a TC White Mountian Carbine FS 50cal fer $100 shipped 'n all so i figgered i'd give it a try, been shootin C&B pistolas for yrs but never a rifle 

Dun moved up to a Lymans GPR 54 & havin a ball 
Hello, I'm Hoss 'n I'm a muzzelloadin addict 

[Chaffa Hosa]

My first was a TC Hawken 50 cal kit.

The state had started a primitive weapon season and I wanted to hunt the extra two weekends before Christmas. The kit was assembled in 1986 and still is a decent shooter for having such a rough life.

txcookie your first M/L deer is one you will remember a long time. Mine was a big doe at 25 yards, happened so fast it was a blur

[Dryball]

My first was a trade musket being made for the central American Indians at that time. Was in 1969 if I remember correctly....imported and sold by Dixie Gun Works...about a .41 caliber piece of junk. Stock had a head carved on it as the pistol grip. In spite of this "gun" I kept on shooting black and my next rifle was one I made for myself....reworked Dixie flintlock,hunk of maple, Numrich .36 barrel, half stock, carved behind and under the cheek piece, hunters star on cheekpiece...and a patchbox with a few inlays. Sure miss that little rifle. As of then I was hooked! Went on to hunting and rendezvous as well as making rifles for others.

Ned

[Ironwood]

An internet friend of mine and I were talking about muzzleloaders back in 2001.  One day a package arrived from New Hampshire.  Inside was a little CVA Frontier rifle in .50 caliber.  Along with the rifle were some Hornady .490 roundballs, a few patches, a cleaning jag, and a short starter.  I picked up some Elephant black powder from a pawn shop in Nacogdoches, Texas.  Some #11 primers and a powder measure from a shop here in town.  From the very first shot I was hooked!  Still have the rifle and will have it until they cart me off to the cemetery.  I've added some other rifles and lots more gear, but the little Frontier still holds a big place in my heart.       

[Dryball]

One heck of a good friend Gene.

Ned

[bull frog]

Hey ned, was that little.36 the one I'm thinking it is? If so I do remember it well. my first flint!  Never should have traded that one off.  Couldn't hit anything with it, my falt not the rifles.  Hard for a new convert to shoot a flint, hard to get used to that flash in your face (probably at least 10 grains of powder).  Didn't do so bad with the cap locks though.

[Dryball]

Yup, same one

Ned

[R.M.]

In about 1965 my dad retrieved the old musket that hung in a shed on the family homestead. It was a mess to say the least. We completely refinished it, and when it was finished, I got to shoot it. It was an original 1860 Austrian Lorenz from the Civil War. This is the gun in my signature line.
This gun now hangs proudly in my living-room.

[Roaring Bull]

She's a beauty Bob!!

[R.M.]

She's a beauty Bob!!

Thanks Bull. Yes it is. It's too bad, but by refinishing it, it destroyed a lot of it's value, but back then, it was the thing to do.

[Roaring Bull]

I believe that sentimental value is the most important on something like that.  I would imagine that there are a lot of memories attached to that shooting iron.

[FrankG]

She's a beauty Bob!!

Thanks Bull. Yes it is. It's too bad, but by refinishing it, it destroyed a lot of it's value, but back then, it was the thing to do.

Bob ,in refinishing it for your use and passing on to family members to keep it in the family you only enhanced its value 

[chuck w.]

My first was and is a Cabelas "Hawken Hunter" in .54. I bought this about 20 years ago give or take. It still shoots great but I did have to fix and tune a couple of things to make it work right. Now I am in the market for for a '51 navy in .36. And a smooth bore barrel for either the Cabelas or my Renegade. And a smaller bore rifle in .36 or .40. Once you get bitten by the bug there is no cure! I may have to cull the herd of modern stuff in the safe to make room for new ones.