[MATT/WISC]

Hello all!

With great interest, I read messages posted by new blackpowder enthusiasts requesting help in selecting a muzzleloader, and the suggestions given to them. A few of the styles that are usually mentioned are the Great Plains, Hawken, and Kentucky; all good muzzleloaders. The one that I rarely see mentioned is the [/color]Underhammer[/color]. My question to all who wish to respond; why do you think the Underhammer muzzleloader is not as popular as the other styles, and would you own one? All comments, good/bad appreciated.

 

[DannoBoone]

Cap + underhammer + gravity = ???????

Always wondered about that! :shock:

 

[Loozinit]

Good question. I agree that gravity might play a role. The "mule-ear" sidehammer is also kind of an anomoly in ML circles.

 

[savageT]

Hello all!

With great interest, I read messages posted by new blackpowder enthusiasts requesting help in selecting a muzzleloader, and the suggestions given to them. A few of the styles that are usually mentioned are the Great Plains, Hawken, and Kentucky; all good muzzleloaders. The one that I rarely see mentioned is the [/color]Underhammer[/color]. My question to all who wish to respond; why do you think the Underhammer muzzleloader is not as popular as the other styles, and would you own one?

Great question Mister Matt! I saw your question posted on Black Powder Shooters.com as well.......... :?
I am of the opinion that the underhammer is just not appreciated and deserves many more accolades than it receives. I've seen but a couple at my gun club and find information on them scarce. I for one would be more than willing to listen to your opinions and knowledge of the subject??....I just don't know why they aren't more popular. Seems as though only the custom builders (watch this statement catch ****!) or kit builders make them......???? I don't buy that stuff about gravity and perc. caps. They just look a little strange.

savageT

 

[KING]

MATT/WISC!!!. The underhammer is a very under appreciated type of action on muzzle loaders. Numrich arems made one called a BUGGY RIFLE,and i believe it was in .45 caliber,and .50 caliber. I also think DGS has a couple along with OLYMPIC,and OCTOBER COUNTRY. They also made a side hammer or MULE EAR like SAVAGE T was advising you about. They dont seem to be as popular because of looks,cause it sure aint the reliability of it. The have a good advantage over the more common Hawken type because the flame from the cap goes directly into the main powder charge instead of having to bounce around a little. I had one for awhile in .50 cal and liked it a lot for hunting with,but ended up trading it for a spur of the moment type item (another gun). The ignition is much faster that the " normal " type that you would usually see. I would say that if you have a chance to purchase one,go for it,you wont regret it any. Also They are a little more weather proof becasue of the hammer location. I used to weather proof mine with a little tape over the cap. Hope this helped...KING

 

[MATT/WISC]

Cap + underhammer + gravity = ???????

Always wondered about that! :shock:

Hello all,

Cap lose, not a problem from my experiences. Tension of the cap on the nipple is sufficient to keep it from falling off.

 

[KING]

MATT/WISC. Which one ya gots. Im dying to know,cause I wanna order one of the new ones in 8 bore. Dont aske me what for,cause I really dont know. Probably cause Im starting to think that I enjoy lotsa recoil!!!!! King

 

[Charlie Detroit]

Hi, Matt!

I think we heard from you on the old Forums...good to have you back.
My club (Daniel Boone Cons. League in Washington County) just had its annual Sight-In Clinic for the deer hunters...we had a pretty good turnout, despite the CWD scare. BUT, we had one guy (ONE!) come in with his underhammer...it was a H&A (by Numrich) "Heritage" model, and he shot it extremely well...5 of 5 in the center of the bull at 110 yd. (20 rods, for you Ned Roberts fans). He was using something like 110 gr. FFg, as I remember, behind a patched ball. Open sights. I haven't seen one of these rifles since the early '70s; it was good to see one again.

 

[MATT/WISC]

Hello all!

King,

I am the proud owner of a NUMRICH ARMS, H&A underhammer with three (3) extra barrels. The extra barrels are of different calibers; allowing me to switch barrels for hunting or competition.

MATT/WISC
Bottom Slappers Forever!

 

[Underclocked]

This fellow specializes in underhammers. http://bluegrouseblackpowder.intranets.com/default.asp?link=

 

[fredj]

Matt I'm from Wisconsin myself, I got my first Underhammer a few years back, I bought it because it was dirt cheap it was an old .45 chunk gun with a very rusty bore, I swamped out all the rust and actually got it
shooting pretty well, I spent several very enjoyable days shooting it
and came to the conclusion that underhammers are incredible, I think the reason you don't see many is that to the unitiated they're considered pretty ugly (I sure thought so) and they are unique or different which seldom results in wide acceptance, but to me form follows function.
I ended up re-barreling mine with a .40 cal. Grn. Mtn. and I absolutely love this gun, it's still ugly, but then again so is my main Dog, but
when I want to spend a nice day alone burning some BP it's invariably
the rifle I grab. Instantaneous ignition, my sight picture isn't disturbed by getting cap debris in my face, and I can re-barrel in a matter of minutes
almost no moving parts. I think if breech loader were never invented Underhammers would definately have become the norm. Regards fredj

 

[Charlie Detroit]

You're probably right...

All the really good, late-produced target rifles in Ned Roberts' book seem to my somewhat leaky memory to have been underhammers.

 

[wallynut]

Matt,

I think that the main reason most shooters don't think about underhammers is because they are ugly. Don't take it wrong, I've met quite a few people who love them, but not for their looks. There is a place called "blue grouse black powder" that still sells both completed and kits of underhammers, and they are priced VERY reasonable!!!! For the guy (or Gal) that wants to experiment without spening much, this is the place. Try this address:

www.muzzleloader.biz/muzzleloaderkits.htm

 

[KING]

:-D :-D I hope you guys realize that yer talking me into spending some more of my retirement money on more toys....Dontcha. Ya autto be ashamed about it...... :-D King

 

[MATT/WISC]

Hello all!

Here is a picture of an underhammer pistol that some of you may find interesting.

http://www.lx.net/wadeingrham/40.jpg

 

[wallynut]

Matt,

Now there is a underhammer that would interest me! Do you know if that rock chucker fires reliablely? Most of my BP guns are flint, once I tried flint, I never looked back at percussion. So maybe you can see why I might be interested in a pistol like that. Someday I may build a slug gun with a underhammer ignition, first I got to finish up my other current projects.

Wallynut

 

[KING]

That is the first time that I have seen anyting that looks like that using flint. Really interesting. How does it shoot ????? King 8)

 

[MATT/WISC]

Hello all!

King,

The pistol in the picture belongs to an individual that I have been in contact with, to create a custom underhammer for me.

 

[Grump]

fredj I also am interested in the under hammer. You mentioned a quick change of the barrels, how are the barrel attached to the action?(threaded, pined,hooked breach). what green mountain barrel style did you select, did you have to modify it to fit a under hammer action?

 

[beowulf]

underhammer rifles

I`ve owned everything but an inline , and found underhammers to be really fine shooters ! plus they tend to get some odd looks at rendezvous , I think the main reason s they aren`t all that popular is , 1. the fact that you just dont see them in films , the general public has no idea they even exist , 2. the resemblance to a canoe paddle ! I`m quite fond of them , they are accurate and reliable , and if you shop right , affordable ! although I recently found a site for the ( zephyr rifle ), it`s an underrhammer of the hopkins & allen type with a price tag well over the grand mark ! sorry , but I just cant see paying those kinda prices ! and I`ve never had trouble with caps falling off , guess it does happen , but I`ve yet to experience it . I`d reccomend one to anybody looking for a decent historically accurate , reasonably priced percussion rifle !