I picked up the muzzle loading hobby back in the mid 1990's. It very well may be my favorite discipline in the shooting sports. I started out with a modern In-line ignition rifle but in time my love of history drew me to the traditional style side lock longrifles carried by my American forefathers in the 1700-1800's.
A black powder shooter is both a rifleman and a re-loader. I like bringing the components and tools required out to the range and having the ability to adjust the power of my loads right on the spot. I find the step by step process of loading the gun almost as satisfying as pulling the trigger; touching off the charge and sending the ball flying downrange. The round shown in the picture above was cast by myself from lead wheel weights I pick up along the road while riding my bicycle.
Of the black powder guns I have this one is my favorite. It is a reproduction great plains style rifle made famous by the Hawken Brothers of St. Louis, Missouri. Made by Pedersoli of Italy my rifle has a .54 caliber barrel that is 34" long and 1.00" across the flats. It is fired by percussion cap and the furniture is all steel. (Which I prefer over the brass pieces more commonly seen.) This rifle is very close in specifications to what an adventure seeking individual would have purchased on his way west to work trap lines, hunt or carve himself out a little piece of the frontier in the mid 1800's.