I have to crow a bit, as I finally became a deer hunter last month. Took my first-ever during a late antlerless season on my buddy's farm in northern Kansas. The best part was that I did it with my 84-year-old Win. 86 Lightweight in .45-70. What a rush, and what a pleasure to use this great old rifle for the purpose it was created! Most of us share the same philosophy about scatterguns, of course. An acquaintance says he thinks there's a group made up of vintage (only) riflemen ... anybody know anything about it? Thanks, and happy hunting.

I'm not old enough yet to be a vintage rifleman.

I'm not old enough to be vintage yet either.

But I killed my antelope this year at 180 yds using a restored 1885 Winchester (vintage 1887), iron sights and traditional blackpowder loads. In fact, ALL my hunting is done pretty much like this.

I hunted deer this year with an 1820's muzzleloader (double), but fired no shots. Later, I killed a deer with an underhammer, but that gun was younger than me (I made it as a matter of fact).

Brent

Two Triggers,
I guess we are a dying breed or something like it....

Brent

Brent: I predict a boom (pun intended) in old rifle hunting interest, much like the big surge in interest in old shotguns. The only hitch is that accuracy is a much more critical issue with rifles than with scatterguns. I've bought and sold many a neat old rifle that was good only for shooting around corners. I thought I knew quite a bit about guns, but I have to admit I don't know what an underhammer is. Please educate me.

TT:
The group you may have in mind is called 'The Vintagers', aka 'The Order of Edwardian Gunners'.

VintagersWebsite

I have been a member of the Vintagers Down Under (Australian Chapter) for several years, though I am unable to attend regular shoots due to distance (>3500km)!

Vintagers Down Under

The emphasis is on shooting period-pieces from the Golden Years of the British shotgun. Most popular here are top-lever hammer-guns in SxS configuration. Vintage rifles are also used at some meets, or in conjunction with the Big Game Rifle Club.

BGRC

Many of us are members of both organizations.

Many of us hunt with our vintage doubles too, so we know first-hand the immense satisfaction gained from bagging game with these marvellous old guns. Congratulations on your deer, TT. Nice work! ...and first of many I trust!

Two Triggers,
I resurrect lots of old guns. Sometimes they can be rebarreled and the old barrel saved for posterity, sometimes they can be relined. There are a of folks hunting with old Sharps and Rolling Blocks and Ballards in the larger calibers. I use an early 1890 Winchester on squirrels and rabbits if not an 1885 original.

The underhammer is the world's simplest (and perhaps ugliest) action. Used for muzzleloaders, it has a mainspring that is often also the mainspring, and a hammer and trigger - nothing else is required although sometimes a sear spring is used as well. These are muzzleloaders and have direct ignition from the nipple into the bottom of the powder chamber(barrel). They are highly reliable, simple and ugly. There are underhammer flint locks but most are percussion rifles.

Brent

the main spring is also the main spring?i think the trigger guard is the main spring.i shot and built muzzle loaders for a long time. i have a 45-70 hiwall and a 40-70 ss rolling block.the RB is to heavy to carry hunting but the hiwall is light enough to take out. mabe next year. Mark Cooper

Dear old Dad has got a .32-40 winchester High Wall, I'm not really sure what that is, but if he should send it out to me, would it be sufficient to shoot at antelope ?

Thunderstick - YES! I'll be happy to coach you. It's not the most powerful, but it is close the most accurate cartridge of all time (in the old bpcr lines). That's a hell of a rifle if in good condition. If you ever want to find a home for it, let me know. But I'll be happy to help you take an antelope with it. I took one with my .38-55.

Off the net for a week now however.

Brent

My all time favorite non-double is a Whitney No.1 Sporting Rifle I found at a gun show many years ago that I suspect was used as a toy in many a game of Cowboys 'n Indians. It was battered and abused.

Originally a .38/40 Remington Hepburn, the barrel flat marked .38 CF, the chamber & bore were corroded beyond repair. I had her relined to .38/55 Winchester for convience, recased, reblued and refinished the wood.

I shot BPCR Silhouette with it some years back but at 7.25 lb. with the original carbine butt
plate it was absolutely brutal to shoot prone, she'd leave me black 'n blue for weeks! Nowadays it' my 200 yd. offhand rifle.

Craig

2triggers:

You might be referring to the group here:

http://www.rooseveltbrowninghunt.com

Norm, that's an interesting bunch of pictures they have on display. BTW it was nice to see one Savage among all the Winchesters!

I may have to join that group, just so I can shoot a deer with my old Marlin .38 WCF and send them a picture of it. Although I'd have about as much success with a shotgun, I imagine.