From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Questions about Boommers
Date: 6 Nov 92 14:24:44 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

scollins@carson.u.washington.edu (Richard Collins) writes:

#I've got a couple of questions regarding black powder rifles.

	<ahem!> Fire away...  <snicker>

#1.  Who is a good company to order or purchase one from.  Some
#   have pointed me in the way of Thompson Center and also Dixie,
#   are there others?

	For starting out, I would highly recommend the Thompson
Center Renegade model.  It is inexpensive (I got mine for $95 in kit
form about four years ago.  Look for $120-150 these days), durable,
and has no fancy brass or other gunk that requires constant cleaning.
With black powder, you'll clean enough as it is.  It's also accurrate
as can be for black powder, not too heavy, and simple to build.  Think
of it as the M14 of black powder rifles.

#2.  What price range am I looking at?  Is the difference between
#   assembled rifles and kits rather extreme, or are they within $80?

	It depends on the kit.  Start simple, take it slow, and don't
worry so much about the money you'll save.  If the bug bites you, you
can sell the finished rifle for what you paid for the kit and get
yourself something more flashy or whatever.  Also, the first rifle you
build from a kit will have some marring on it.  Maybe you slipped with
the screwdriver and gouged the stock a bit.  Maybe you drilled a hole
1/32" off and the fit isn't exact.  It doesn't hurt the gun any, but
you'll kick yourself should it happen to the $500 gold-plated kit you
bought because of the resale value.  The kits normally run about
60-70% of the finished gun price, retail.  Build it anyway -- it's
good fun and educational.  You won't fear taking it down to the
individual springs for that good cleaning afterwards, which in my
experience is necessary for any black powder weapon.

#And lastly, how long does it take to make on of the sets, using an 
#appropriate amount of care and patience.

	I finished mine in about four hours, and added another five
for sanding the stock to just the perfect shape for me.  The time
goes fast and the familiarity you get by building it yourself is
well worth it.

	Two other things to note: 1) you will have to clean this gun
like you've never cleaned anything before.  That means taking it down
to the bare components and a large bottle of Hoppe's #9.  If you can
live with this, by all means join the fun.  If you're squeamish about
taking a trigger mechanism apart, buy the kit and overcome it.
	2) If you currently shoot handguns, there are a number of
black powder revolvers that are a blast to shoot and readily available.
My personal favorite is the Ruger Old Army in .45 black powder, possibly
because it's the one that I have.  If you get a pistol, please remember
that rifle and pistol ammunition, even though the same nominal caliber,
will not interchange and you will want two different bullet dies unless
you can visually tell the difference (.45 Ruger vs. .50 Thompson).

	Who to contact?  Head to your gun store and ask if there are
any "buckskinner" rendezvous' happening in your area.  These gentlemen
will most likely be happy to teach you black powder fundamentals and
let you try a wide variety of black powder firearms.

< Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu viking@iastate.edu >
<  ISU only censors what I read, not what I say.  Don't blame them.  >
<  "This isn't an answer, it's a pagan dance around a midnight fire  >
<   written in intellectual runes." -- Rich Young                    >