Muzzle loaders, powder, cap ball etc... some questions

[mehulkamdar]

Contrary to what is believed, most Indian made muzzleloaders are post 1857 guns though there still are many old ML service arms knocking about with various tribal groups. CC's de.scription of Naga tribals is not at all a surprise to me as tribals in the South also carry ML guns, many of which are worn out old British service firearms.

There are also some royal armouries that have many old muzzleloaders. I know of a couple from the South and was offered some of the guns on sale but realised that their export might have been more than a little dicey for legal reasons and gave the idea up.

At a certain palace in the South, the owners found a decorative use for some of these old guns and used them as restraints on a staircase, welding railings on top of the guns which were embedded into the steps below. Members from the South of Tamilnadu would be aware of exactly who I am talking about and would have seen what I just described. These particular royals, now in bad days like many others, still have a charm and hospitality that many in that part of India have enjoyed.

My purpose in posting this is that MLs, even foreign ones, are not at all rare in India - Nari Kuravas carry Brown Bess muskets in the South. Whoever wants a wall hanger would be served well with one of these guns. But if you want to get 308 levels of performance out of an ML then a modern rifle shooting saboted ammunition would be the best way to go. The old guns just cannot do it.

[jimhog]

eljefe...we like the same things...I wish someone in India actually made really nice muskets.

Mark,

Some more info I promised:

This is all I know, since my friend's shop been dealing with these for some years :

Two manufacturers - both from Udaipur Rajasthan,
1) M/S Abdul Hakim Usta(D)
2) MK Sikligar

As I found muzzle loaders are available in the following permutations;

Single Barrel Muzzle loaders:
32", 36", 39" Barrels , Half stock, Full stock, teen bandi (three bands?), full pahaldar (Dunno what this is)
All are available in 12, 14, 16, 20, 24 Bore

Double Barrel Muzzle Loaders:

32" barrels, half stock, full pahaldar, 12, 14, 16,20 bores.

Prices are pretty low starting at around Rs.2700! This is why they are really popular with the rural folk.

Hope this info is useful.

I'm sure there are other makers, but I'm pretty limited in my coverage so if anyone has more info to contribute, it'll be most welcome.

I have a double barrel 12ga shot gun that has this on the side Narain Jagahnath Sikliger Udaipur 1/63 1974 on one side. It also has 14633 made in India export.

My problem is finding nipples to fit the gun, in the USA. The nipple threads seem to be larger in diameter than the US made nipples. Also the nipples are to small to use caps made in the US.

Could anyone help me find a source for any nipple that will work? Thanks

[goodboy_mentor]

Either you may contact any local iron-smith or gunsmith who will make the nipples of desired fit or you may try contacting http://www.curioushouse.com/contact_us.htm

[jimhog]

Either you may contact any local iron-smith or gunsmith who will make the nipples of desired fit or you may try contacting http://www.curioushouse.com/contact_us.htm

Thank you. I was able to finally find the correct nipples from Thompson center.

[hari]

hi mehul
hi cottage cheese,udaipur ML guns are of no way good quality,no one is using EN-19 steel (minimum requirement),yes they are proof tested and safe load are marked on barrels,regarding MV & other data not available.most people load ML guns in excess of suggested load,but still having a indian ML is better than having nothing.
hari

[TwoRivers]

Hmmm! Dried cow dung for the wad. Wonder how moose nuggets would do, already in the perfect size, and form of an elliptical pellet. Could be an opportunity to be the first in an as yet untapped market!
BTW, truck steering columns make excellent and strong muzzle loading shotgun barrels. I am surprised they are not being used for that purpose by the rural blacksmith in India.

[kartik8]

I have a silly question
do i need an arms licence to buy a musket/Muzzle loader?

[to_saptarshi]

I have a silly question
do i need an arms licence to buy a musket/Muzzle loader?

YES, Though they are Muzzle Loaders , but they still fall under the classification of firearms, and hence you need a license

[sudhaiob]

Hmmm! Dried cow dung for the wad. Wonder how moose nuggets would do, already in the perfect size, and form of an elliptical pellet. Could be an opportunity to be the first in an as yet untapped market!
BTW, truck steering columns make excellent and strong muzzle loading shotgun barrels. I am surprised they are not being used for that purpose by the rural blacksmith in India.

The majority of the illegal country made weapons use steering columns of old ambassador cars for making barrels of muzzle loaders
regs
sudhaiob

[kartik8]

Another silly one do i need a licence to buy a .22 cal bullet only.
i am talking about a real bullet.

[Vikram]

Another silly one do i need a licence to buy a .22 cal bullet only.
i am talking about a real bullet.

Yes. You cannot buy a cartridge alone.You must have a license for a particular firearm and the allowance of ammunition for that firearm gives the right to buy ammunition.