Buying used muzzleloaders...

[Adam Helmer]

Today a nearby town had its annual "Mile-long Yard Sale." My significant other drove along in her car while I walked along the mile. I saw lots of kids clothes, toys, puzzles, books and knick-knacks until at last I came to a yard full of shooting and hunting gear. There was a lot of hunting clothes, knives and finally I saw a picnic table loaded with muzzleloaders lying side-by-each. I saw a dozen rifles, about half were flint and the other half caplock, Hawkins and Great Plains arms in .50 and .54 caliber. All were identical with a generous rusty exterior and bores full of rust and corrosion. The prices were in the range of $200 to $300. I asked the seller about the rust and he told me, "Them is huntin' guns." He also acknowledged they got rained on a time or two. He asked me to make an offer and I told him that I did not need any of the arms present.

It is unfortunate that many muzzleloader shooters fail to properly clean fine arms.

Adam