Look here young feller, there is no reason to ever have a stuck ram-rod. The trick is understanding that the jag does most of its cleaning on the up-stroke. If you run your jag all the way down the jag will slide past a lot of fouling , then when you pull up on the rod, the jag starts cleaning. But Soon there is so much stuck fouling in front of the jag and patch that the rod is stuck. Instead run your rod and patch down about 6 or 8 inches then pull up on the rod. Feel the fouling break free. Then go another 6 or 8 inches down and pull up again. Repeat until you hit the breach plug. Then pull out the patch, flip it over to the clean side and run it all the way down and out again. Now your bore is clean and ready to load. Don't forget to pick your vent. You can carry those plyers to help somebody else but you will never need them. Thanks for the video.

Hey Ethan! I really enjoy seeing what other folks in this great hobby carry "in the bag" to keep their ol' Smokepole shooting! Thank you for sharing this with us!

I’m in north Idaho and have made three different powder horns. One for 2F for my .54 Lyman and one for my .45 traditions kit I built 30 years ago. I also enjoy making my own bags and formed water soaked leather over a wooden form for a ball bag. I also made my powder measure out of deer antler. Enjoy watching your videos!

Great Videos Ethan , Thank you from Canada 🇨🇦

Hello Ethan, thanks for the video! I've been doing this for 20+ years and it is still fun to see what other people carry. I have 5 different caliber guns and have 5 different bag/horn setups. I've gotten frustrated at the range when I reach for something, and that thing is for a different caliber gun. So I have set up a bag for each gun. That way when I grab a gun, the bag/horn has all the stuff for that gun. A lot of work and expense, but a lot less frustration. I am a really old geezer, and seldom run anywhere much, so I carry my bag low enough to curl my fingers under the bottom of the bag. Your way is more period correct. I like Larry Callahan. He makes very good stuff at a reasonable price. For me, he is local and I also like to support my local people. I have coned all of my rifles, and threw away my short starter. I've been known to short start a load and forget to ram the load to the bottom! I decided to cone my rifles to prevent that from happening. It is safer for me, it means one less thing to lose, and eliminates a step in loading. I've noticed no loss of accuracy, and makes my life much easier. I think I got one of my coning tools from Joe Wood out of Texas. I don't remember where I got the other one. I have heard that many of the original guns from the period were coned. I like your cane measure, mine is a reworked brass cartridge. Yours is more period correct. I carry cleaning patches or tow in the bag in case I need to swab fowling accumulation during a shoot. The brass ends on the ramrod that you screw the jag into, there are two standard screw sizes, 8/32 or 10/32. All my wooden ramrods have one size on one end and the other size on the other end. I carry my jags and flints in a wallet that I keep in the bag. But if I get myself in a pickle and need to borrow an attachment, the attachment will fit on one end of the ramrod or the other. Larry Callahan has 8/32 to 10/32 adapters that will serve this purpose also. I carry a ball bag attached with a strong leather thong on the strap outside of my bag, I use a strip of greased patching attached to the strap. I cut the patching at the muzzle with my main belt knife(I carry a folding knife in the bag). I seldom need to reach into my bag during a shoot. This may not be the best or most period setup, but it works for me.

I only use my rifle for hunting so I only carry enough for 2-3 shots at a time in a small leather belt pouch. And when I am target shooting I lay it on my bench. However I really enjoy the cool traditional bags and gear. I am thinking strongly on getting a bag now. Thank you for all the great videos you do for us muzzlers!!

Excellent video Ethan. I have 3 bag. 1 for fowling, 1 for cap guns and and one for my sacred flintlock. Thanks for sharing.

All "I Know?" is the ART and Science of Muzzle Loaders is a Test! a Test of every aspect of your Abilities! I just took a few young shooters for a Safety and Introductory shooting Black Powder session. Every Single thing that Could go Wrong DID!!!! so either "I suck?" or this was a golden opportunity to see every wrong, or sideways scenario, and how to deal with them as Safe as Possible at the time with the equipment available in real time on site in the field? We all came Home Safe Sound and Hungry for More! I went so far as to Ballistol a charged and loaded barrel through the pulled nipple threads, to come home safely for a safe Un Loading on a work bench. Keep Your Smoke Poles SMOKING! It's the JOURNY that Makes US Smarter, Better, and Ready.

Ethan today I was fortunate enough to experience a cornfield goose hunt with my Pedirsol 10 ga percussion double. 85 T shot pellets over 110 gn of ff Goex. I hammered them. Even scored 2 banded canooks. I love muzzleloading! Any way maybe you could explore some scatter guns. Turkey season isn't that far away.

Great video Ethan.

Good looking accoutrements!

Love all the leatherwork! Great kit as well and appears to be well thought out. For me, I think leather and traditional firearms were made for each other.

Thanks for the video and information to buy something’s. I always look forward to your videos.

Nice kit. Thanks for the video

14:00 that is a cool tool, I use my tiny modern made version all the time for taking jags off my rods.

Thanks for sharing the contents of your bags and the how you carry them for the specific muzzleloader. It's always inspiring to see what others carry and how their equipment is set up. Appreciate all you do for the hobby and industry.

Thanks Ethan. You simply things so much. Don't need anymore. Great video.

Great video Ethan. I should dump out my bag and see what’s in there. I always seem to add something but never seem to run out of anything.

Great video Ethan, Merry Christmas and Hapy New Year!

I started making my own bags this year and have made a pair, one for my smoothbore, one for my rifles. I am constantly redoing these bags, I am on my third powder measure, just finished up one for the smoothbore that I made from the leg bone of a deer I shot in October, have a couple antler measures. I picked up a shot measure from an Akwesasne Mohawk Native this summer and being part Akwesasne myself, it goes well with the shot bag for the smoothbore because that bag is more Native American than something you would see a Colonial with. My bag for the rifles is more of a Lyman style bag I made not that long ago and that's going to have another measure, tools etc. I also made a longhunter style cloth haversack that carries all my day gear, first aid kit, etc. in but it looks very traditional and I beaded it on the edge and did a pattern on the front. It's really fun to do these things and it's also not as hard as you think it would be, if I can do it and make something presentable, than anyone can.

i purchased one of the Gerry Rice priming horns... several years back. Super nice craftsman ship... Love the channel... Thx for posting videos...

Great video as usual. I am hunting this year straight flintlock with the kibler colonial rifle. 50.I have hunted many years with a backpack and climbers and rifle. I have learned to just have a haversack and possible bag to hunt with. I have a lot of necessary things for my flintlock but still feels like less than before. There are basic things to have and there are things that are important to us. Muzzleloading is great. Thanks again.

Great video. Nice to see how you set things up. I carry a very small bag of just the necessities as well. It's usually all I need for a small game hunt. I like to keep a shot bag and horn for each gun if I can.

Good video.... thanks for the info!

Nice video, I have several bags, set up for the different rifles in my collection, plus cartridge boxes set up for my military / militia muskets and fowlers... again great job...

DUDE LOVE IT!

That multi tool is really cool.

Thank you for the information. I'm glad I found your channel I love shooting black powder but I hate cleaning it up . Can you show us how you clean your firearms please.

You think alot like me. Scary isn't it😆😅? I have a small heart shaped pouch like you. Eric VanAlstine was my mentor . Learning the craft is good. As always thanks for the video. 👍

Cool man cool

Hey Eathen, would you use that 40 cal rifle for deer hunting ?

My sets are real similar I would tell anyone getting in to this to have a bag per gun Cant give enough praise to Larry Callahan and Cabin Creek, #1 people to do business with

Can you tell me how to get in touch with Larry Callahan. I would love to have that type of mold for my Traditions 50 caliber Flintlock. I have a square one that is a .490 but I would love to have one like you've got there. I haven't been into muzzleloading all that long but I plan on doing a lot this summer, more practicing than anything else or I guess it would be plinking. I really would appreciate it if you could send a link to Larry Callahan's page. Thanks in advance and always remember keep ye powder dry.

👍

Realy like your channel. I hunt with a 50 cal Encore 209 in line. I like my Indian trades rifle better, 62 cal. I am looking for a 54 cal Filntlock planes rifle. I have several Colt( Uberti) revolvers. All way more fun then modern guns. Lately powder and primers prices are way up, if youn can find them. Keedp up the good fight. Keep your powder dry, cheers.

Ethan. I have always used precut and lubed patches. How or what do you use to cut the patches you had in your bag? It was at the 10 min make on your video. Thank you.

Anyone have a link to the mold at 14:48 ?

Hi Ethan! I got my first flintlock and only have 2F powder. Question being, would 2F work well in a plunger style priming flask or would the grains plug up the little spout during use? I want to purchase one and would like to know beforehand. TIA!

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Ethan where did you get that pouch

I'm getting interested in buying a flintlock rifle . This will be My last ditch can't buy modern rifles or ammo rifle . At this point, this very well may have to put meat on the table sort of rifle . I hope it doesn't come to that . ( but it's better to have it even if You never need it ) What rifle do You recommend ? Nothing fancy or too expensive ( as it would probably be in the safe for the rest of it's life )

Where do I find Mr. Callahan's contact info? I do not have any "Social Media" except YT. I am Currently stationed in San Diego, CA and just starting to get the flintlock/muzzleloading itch, I have been unable to find anyone in my area. I have not Joined NMLRA yet but plan on it by end of summer. I don't even have a long rifle yet, trying to decide, cost is a factor, plus I don't want to "mess up" carving a Kibler or Chambers and think I want to test carving on a traditions at first.

Proper bag size is entirely dependent on needs. Honestly, anything beyond shot, powder, wadding and cleaning your on a trip

Where can a guy pickup a decent flintlock at

So, you have a ball mold but, how are you going to melt your lead and pour it into the ball mold?? They make small ladles that you can add to your kit to be able to do this...Also, you are carrying 3 screwdrivers and 2 sets of cleaning jags and worms for cleaning with tow....But, I don't see any cleaning patches or tow? Also, that ball bag is really bulky for those .395 balls, a small, deer skin pouch will do just as well and take up less room, I keep 4-5 extra flints in there too, takes the place of the flint wallet..One last thing...I work up 2 loads, one for small game and double it for large game, this lets you carry just one powder measure...Good luck!!

First to view, what do I win?

Horn ear plugs? 🤫

Sir, could you show us the process of resharpening a dull flint?