I am looking for anyone with first-hand information on actually using a breech-muzzle loading schuetzen rifle. I have been offered an opportunity to purchase a nice Winchester 1885 in 32-40Win. so equipped with all the needed accessories. I do not know anything about them other than what I have read but understand they may only work properly with black powder (unless only breech seated or fixed ammo) which is not a problem on my part. This makes me very nervous. I am not shy about more experimentation but the price is substantially more than I am willing to write off as a mistake on my part if it does not work out. Are they worth playing with or should I pass and just continue playing with my current breech loaders and forget about extra aggravation? It sure sounds like an interesting journey though.

Thanks Much In Advance:

Flatlander

Who made the barrel?

I should have mentioned it is a Ron Long built Winchester 1885 from the 1980's Coors Schuetzenfest era. 31 Inch #3 full octagon barrel, dst, Helm lever, and Rifle smith sights but do not know any other specs as of yet as it is not mine yet.

Zack T:

Did you use black or smokeless in yours?

Flatlander - Consider this, is the barrel leade still set up for muzzle-loading or has it been modified for breech seating or fixed ammunition. With muzzle-loading you will be using either a fixed length ramrod or a plugged case to place the bullet exactly relative to the face of the chamber. A looser modified leade might be detrimental to keeping the seated bullet firmly in place and concentric to the bore. Recently mentioned in another thread, I think here, was Dr. Hudson’s plug case with a feeler wire undoubtedly used to verify consistency of bullet placement.

Another consideration - Fatigue.  Have you shot a muzzle-loading rifle before? With muzzle-loading you will experience a great deal more handling of the rifle and perhaps movement to and from the loading position. If you are shooting bench rest you will be standing up to reload and then sitting down for every shot, as well as handling the rifle between. Shooting offhand you will have somewhat less up and down, but every bit as much rifle handling. Also, does the rifle you are considering have a mechanical bullet starter? A palm pressure starter will require more arm movement and motion.

With regard to black powder, one of the benefits of muzzle-loading is that the loading of the bullet in fact wipes the bore if you are shooting dirty. The use of duplex loading is also beneficial in this respect. For me shooting my paper cross patch muzzle breech loading .38-55 Brisien/Ballard with duplex black using original tools is a competition with myself just get everything as right as I can and see that on the paper. 

Of course, in the final analysis if muzzle-loading truely can provide a competitive edge we would be seeing a whole lot more of it going on. 

Bob

Anytime my friend I am biased that muzzleloading adds a lot of work and trouble and the only gain is the coolness factor. The sets sure look neat in a case together. My false muzzle and starter are in a box...somewhere around here...

old7groove:

It has a straight grip stock with very plain wood, not figured. 
Is that the way Ron made them for the match? All in all is does have the "Cool" factor going for it. May still have to spring for it. I saw it first at the Colorado Gun Collectors Show this last May. Still on the fence.

Flatlander

Flatlander - I do have a photo of Dave and Chuck holding their highwalls after they were awarded by Bill Coor's. It may take me while to find it in my 100's of photos I took during the 70's & 80's.
7~

I think/hope that everyone knew I was being sarcastic regarding Ron Long guns being duds. If the price on the gun was reasonable and I liked it I would buy it but not with the thought that the BM system would give an advantage. I have a nickel that says your starter and false muzzle will end up in a cigar box just like mine but I bet it shoots fine as a breech loader. One of my best shooting rifles has a 40-65 Ron Long barrel.