Favorite Muzzle Loading Books

What are some of your favorite muzzle loading books to read?

The muzzleloading cap lock rifle is a good one

"The Sporting Rifle And Its Projectiles" (1867) by Lieutenant James Forsyth

The author was a hunter/marksman that killed more elephant than what modern hunters will ever see. He was an advocate of large caliber ball from slow twist rifles for big/dangerous game. So too were many of his contemporaries, their experience was that heavy conicals would go completely through a game animal, taking it's energy with it. The ball would stop inside an animal, dumping it's energy into the targeted game animal.

Lyman Muzzleloader's Handbook (1976)
Lyman Black Powder Handbook
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook
Lyman Reloading Handbook

Get the current and early editions for your reference library.

I will second the Ned Robert’s book. The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle. Of course I’m from NH so I am voting for the local guy.

I’m gonna recommend the Lieutenant James Forsyth book…

It’s a “scientific” ballistics discussion that recommends round ball projectiles and very slow-twist rifled barrels (so that the ball resists skipping the rifling, as with fast twists) and maximum charges of powder.

(a roundball being the lightest projectile for any caliber)

The author observed the finite energy limits of black powder and the diminishing returns when using conicals regarding velocity.
Apparently in real world hunting, he observed maximum velocity roundballs dropping game fast and conical bullets resulting in pass throughs and follow up chases or animals charging the single shot shooter….

Ned Roberts book deals more with shooting/accuracy/marksmanship
and seems to regard the old roundball frontier guns with respect and affection. He deals with false muzzles, paper patched bullets, bullet designs, lubes etc sorta maximizing what was known and available in the benchrest of the day..

Sam Fadala wrote a book in the mid 1980s that is somewhat informative and useful…geared towards the hunter leaning towards roundball and slowtwist barrels…

The Lyman Blackpowder handbook is a must have for muzzleloader shooters…ballistic charts and loading tables with various barrel lengths.

Muzzleloader Magazine's Book of Buckskinning series by William H. Scurlock.

Get the entire series collection for your bookshelf. Also subscribe to Muzzleloader magazine.