What muzzleloader stuff did you do today?

[Salty]

Received my brand spankin new Lee 20# pot and started casting. So smooth. Casted about 50 RBs.  Takes a little longer to get to temp to cast consistent weights. But 48 out of 50 dropped with +/- .5 grains. Nice!

[Bigsmoke]

Looking at eBay, it appears that the old DuPont cans really demand a premium.
The newer GOEX cans are anywhere from 6.95 to 20.00 or so.  Plus postage.
Maybe I am going to have to dig out what's left of my collection.
John

[KDubs]

Thanks John,
 I'll have to look into cans collectability (sp?)
 Kevin

[No Powder]

Went with a friend who dabbles in making powder horns. I saw 100's of horns that he looked at to see if there were any he would want to buy. The ones I thought had beautiful color he didn't want. When I questioned him he said the ones I liked wouldn't sell. That just shows you what I know about powder horns. Nothin.

[dmarsh]

Starting work on a tomahawk.  Gathering the supplies now.  Actually, two of them.

[Salty]

No powder, I think ALL powder horns are a beautiful work of art just like the old timey imperfect ones. That?s what I know.

[Bigsmoke]

Where'd you go horn shopping, Tom?

Speaking of horns, I worked a bit on my first one in a while today.  I got the horn rough sanded after I devised a dust collector for my belt sander.  I think that is going to really help.  Then I turned a baseplug for it and installed it on the horn.  Geez, I just cannot believe I am so slow now.

[No Powder]

Just looked at horns some guy had accumulated from rondevous throughout the years. He won't be needing very many anymore because of other priorities. I guess you very well know about accumulating horns. IIRC, I even helped you to get rid of some of your stash. Hopefully in a little while I'll be slinging one of those horns over my shoulder and going to the woods for another walk.

[No Powder]

Generally after deer season has ended, I start taking my TC locks off of the rifles I used for deer season and this past summers shoots, to disassemble them for a good cleaning. Today was a good day to start. So started with the lock on the .50 cal. Hawken. Must have been doing a good job of cleaning because there was very little dirt under the bridle and tumbler. I have to do the same thing to the .54 cal. Hawken next. That will be another day.

[Salty]

That?s a great idea. I have had my flinter for almost a year. Time to disassemble, clean and lube.
I spent the day casting more LRBs. Never have too many.

[No Powder]

Not too hard to do Jim. Just don't lose those little parts. Especially the fly. I wish I had a heated shed so I could cast some balls too. Suppose to be about 36 deg. tomorrow.  Maybe I can keep the mold hot enough tomorrow to cast a few.

[No Powder]

Hey Dave. Are those hawks for throwing or looking at? Tell us more about them.

[dmarsh]

Looking and smoking. (I don't smoke as I quit 27 years ago).  One figured cherry handle and one birds eye handle.  Can't get to them as our temperatures here are around 15 degrees down to 5 degrees lately so I don't fire up my propane heater in the shop until it gets warmer.  We heat the house with propane and that bill is big enough. The attached picture is one I made a few years ago. 

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[No Powder]

Wow, that is a really nice looking tomahawk.

[dmarsh]

Thanks.  Had a helluva time pouring the pewter as it was my first time but finally got the hang of it.