The common, uncommon, and sometimes strange world of muzzle loading guns is investigated by author Wm. Hovey Smith from the point of view of critically examining their practical self-defense applications. For a decade Smith wrote the black-powder section of The Gun Digest Annual and had the opportunity to use and hunt with many historic replica firearms as well as occasionally refurbish and use some original guns. These experiences included dispatching wood rats with North American Arms' .22 percussion revolver to taking Cape Buffalo with a .50-caliber muzzle loading double rifle. Rather than slavishly sticking to historical precedents, he modified many of his guns to make them more effective hunting tools. This included things such as rebuilding a Colt Walker revolver to make it functionally reliable and more nearly capable of precise shooting, using nitride finishes to weather proof a variety of guns, and doing serious work with a .54-caliber blunderbuss to determine its actual capabilities. While muzzle loading guns are in no way magical, when employed by a skilled shooter they can be effective in self-defense applications. Keeping in mind their deficiencies, Smith describes tactics where they best employed and stresses the importance of making that first shot count, because that shot may be your only shot.
