by No1Mk3 » 13 Oct 2017, 5:08 am
G'day Conallin24,
If you are considering muzzle loading, which is the BEST thing to do, you can choose from 36 calibre roundball firing rifles, which the Americans refer to as "squirrel guns", for hunting wallaby, goat, feral cat, fox, feral dog, rabbit (head shot or no eat!), through to the 45 calibre which can use ball or bullet, either solid base or minie, to hunt deer, pigs, goats, rabbit ( no eat, head shot or not!), donkey, camel etc, to the 58 cal Hawken or Plains rifle which are good medicine for deer, pigs, horses, camels, buffalo etc. A 58 Hawken has taken all of the African Big 5, as well as hippo, so these things can be loaded to whatever the task you have in mind. There are military replicas available in 60, 64 and 75 cal smoothbore, as well as 58 and 45 cal rifled. For more info, apart from youtube, get along to Eagle Park on the 3rd Saturday of the month and see the Victorian Muzzle Loading Club. For brands, you are pretty much limited to Italian replicas made by the likes of Euroarms of Brescia, Pedersoli, Antonio Zoli etc. VMLC members can advise you for best locations and prices, but I know Centreway in East Keilor is carrying stocks of muzzle loaders now. If you want to hunt birds, like quail, pheasant or duck, muzzle loading shotguns are also avaliable.
If on the other hand, you are interested in breech loading cartridge rifles, well, that is a whole new ballgame. Everything is available from 24 cal up to 58 cal, in styles from the 577 Snider military to 577 3 1/2 Black Powder Express elephant guns, to the insane 4 bore rifle, as well as small break action rook rifles. These can be found as Italian repro, or original makers in prices from around $200 for a small Martini to $75000 + for a Big Game Express. Again, VMLC is a source of info, or if you live North of the city try Seymour Black Powder Club. Whatever way you go, you are welcome on the Dark Side, smoke is your friend.