Relatively few modern hunters use their smoothbore shotguns and muskets to take game, yet these versatile guns have taken all of the world's game including elephants. In this book the Corresponding Editor for black powder for the Gun Digest Annual uses a variety of single shot, double barrel and bolt-action shotguns and muskets to take game as diversified as dove to deer to wildebeest in the U.S., Canada and South Africa.

The books 9 chapters cover muskets, fowlers, shotguns and blunderbusses and documents their use with candid comments about their successes and failures. Much practical information is given about traditional loads as well as those using modern powders, plastic wads and HeviShot for small game and fowl along with round-ball loads for big game animals.

In order to more completely examine the capabilities of these guns, the author has even used the seldom written about blunderbuss to help take a swan and make a decisive kill on a wild turkey.

This book is intended for those who have a general interest in the historic capabilities of these guns and particularly for those who want to extend their muzzleloading hunting experiences by using historic and replica guns to take game.