First muzzleloader season, first muzzleloader deer x2

[torridone]

First year w/muzzleloader and filled out opening weekend. Shot a doe on Fri. night and this guy on Saturday morning. Biggest buck yet and first w/muzzleloader.

[Snook]

Congrats. Great pic. What are you shooting? And where are your hunting?

[wabi]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice looking buck there!

[cayugad]

Great deer there...

What rifle were you shooting and with what load? How far was the deer from you? Did you get complete pass through on the deer? How far did they run after being shot?

[BigDaddy12t]

Very nice buck!! Congrats.

[torridone]

Thanks guys, he's at the local taxidermist and is going on the wall.

I got them both in Northern MN not far south of Duluth. I was shooting a CVA kodiak magnum that I got for Christmas last year. The doe was a pass through on both lungs at 30yds. from a stand. She went about 15ft. and fell down taking her last breath within a minute. The buck was about the same distance quartering away, there was no exit hole and I did not find the bullet (powerbelt platinum w/150grns. of 777) he went about 60yds. and fell, shoulder was broken and both lungs were shredded. I don't know if the bullet was lodged in the opposite shoulder or fragmented as some others have experienced. Either way they worked for me two days in a row. I did actually have a missfire on the buck. I was using 777 primers and click. I wasn't sure what happened and knew I only had a second to try again. I opened up the breach and noted a nice dent in the primer. I pulled back the hammer and struck it again, apparently that is what it took.

Now I am hooked on muzzleloaders. I am a big bow hunter and rifle hunt just for the family (my dad and I)now I think I may hang up the rifle and just bow/muzzleloader hunt.

[Buckhunter46755]

Nice Buck! Good job, congrats!

chris

[BowHuntingFool]

Nice buck, congrats!!!!!

[lemoyne]

Congrats on the deer and the fine shooting. Better check the length on that firing pin. I would also look and see if their is any lube on the fire ing pin the hammer or hammer spring the temp. where you are is to low to have any lube other than powdered graphite it can cause all kind of problems and the first to show would be a misfire. If you had taken ALK. and warshed any lube off then make sure your firing pin is the proper length and not bent. Lee

[torridone]

Thanks Lee, do you know how to check the firing pin length on that rifle? I'm not sure how to take apart the lower breack mechanism (trigger etc.) but may have to look into it.