I want to look into getting a musket, specifically looking at a India Pattern Brown Bess but unlike the resources available for modern firearms, I'm having a hard time finding any information to get into blackpowder muzzle loaders.
Anyone here comfortable with recommending vendors or manufacturers?
What are some thing I "must have" as opposed to things that are convient or beneficial down the line but not needed as a novice?
Are there some mistakes that you have made, that are common issues, and should be avoided?
Welcome to my wheelhouse. I've been into black powder and muzzleloading for a long time and still compete with Civil War arms (including artillery) and do instruction with youth orgs.
This is going to be a bit long, but I want to answer as thoroughly as possible-
"musket, specifically looking at a India Pattern Brown Bess"- There aren't many repros of Bess around. One of the best is by Pedersoli. There are cheap ones from India that can have serious QC and safety issues and like anything else, there are a number of people who vigorously support that product. But know this, you often get what you pay for and for a working Bess from India, first it must be made functional, meaning drilling the touchhole and second, the locks and barrels can be iffy and need quite a bit of attention ($$) and third, wood isn't the best. Now I will say this about your choice, flintlocks are not exactly beginner propositions. That's not to say you shouldn't but know the learning curve is a bit steeper than with percussion. That said, I don't want you to shy away from Bess, I like to shoot one. The added complication is the ignition system of flint and steel.
I'm having a hard time finding any information to get into blackpowder muzzle loaders.- You're hanging around in the wrong places. Most firearms forums are oriented towards either the black rifle pew pew crowd or the ones the black rifle guys call "fudds" and they both look at us black powder types as the crazy uncle best kept locked in the attic. One of my favorite internet forums, and I'm on it quite frequently, is muzzleloadingforum.com. It has everybody from matchlocks, to flintlocks to percussion but no modern inlines. As for getting into it, we run a class periodically- NRA Basic Muzzleloading because it's mandatory for anyone wanting to become an instructor. It's a basic course, but if you hang around other "crazy uncle" types like me and my crew, you'll learn everything in that course in short order and then some.
What are some thing I "must have" as opposed to things that are convient or beneficial down the line but not needed as a novice?- That depends on if you get a flint or anything else. I'll speak to flint since that was the first choice. First off- FORGET any black powder substitute as they do not play nice in flintlocks. Get only real black powder and just like gasoline for your car, there are grades of the "holy black". Not to be scary but there are only a few reliable sources and depending on where you live, who you know, or who you hang out with, you might be looking at absorbing shipping and hazmat fees. Since I'm a competition shooter and I go to our Nationals twice a year and there is one of the largest distributors of the holy black right next to our range, I have no issues getting powder nor do any of my fellow competitors. If you know a reenactment group, pool your black powder order with them to amortize the costs. Or join a NMLRA Charter Club and get your powder through them. Next, get good flints. Synthetic ones are rubbish. There's a huge argument over French v English Black, but I prefer English. Past powder- get a couple good range rods for cleaning and loading. Leave your stock ramrod in the channel or at home. Bullets, or round ball for Bess, you'll probably have to get into casting, that's not hard and molds are readily available if you know where to look. If you do any amount of shooting, getting into casting becomes more and more worthwhile especially since you can cast for your modern guns as well. As for "down the line" that's up to you as you get deeper down the rabbit hole. Some folks like to do the "rondy" thing and reenact the fur trade era while others get into reenacting the Revolution, some dig competition shooting (me!) and others just enjoy shooting the thing and/or hunting with it. Make no mistake, a pokey, slow, heavy chunk of lead will put bambi in the freezer with the same authority as a modern rifle.
Are there some mistakes that you have made, that are common issues, and should be avoided?- Very common mistake- assuming that you can load any amount of black powder and be safe. No, hell no. Keep it sane and don't risk tickling the dragon. Make cleaning almost a religion. Real black powder fouling is hygroscopic and when combined with moisture creates an acidic substance that will rust things. Many clean with Dawn and warm water and that works, but I've found a short cut in Windex. It cuts fouling and also neutralizes the acid. Just wipe the bore thoroughly clean, oil and done. I am NOT a fan of black powder substitutes, especially Pyrodex. The fouling from Pdex is not only more corrosive that real black but abrasive as well. If you ever get into shooting originals even from as late as the 1890s, you'll see it. Every gun I've seen ruined was a pyrodex gun that, even though "cleaned", had enough residual salts in the pores of the metal to destroy the rifling when stored for a couple years. I've personally seen a replica Remington 1858 revolver ruined that way. One piece of advice I can't stress enough, get into a black powder shooting group. There are several around like NMLRA Charter Clubs or the North South Skirmish Association (us). Reenactors are usually awful sources of information since their focus is on the events of the past and not the weapon and ammunition. One other thing to be cognizant of when shooting or being around flintlocks- do not stand on the side of the lock and if you're shooting don't let anyone stand to your right! Getting showered with the flash from the touch hole isn't pleasant. Eyes and ears go without saying.
Welcome to the addiction, it's a completely different world from modern shooting. It's also very addicting and can be quite fun.
