Got my scope installed, but I have been pondering, Opinions please.

[killadoe]

I got my Nikon Buckmasters Scope installed on my Optima last night and have yet to shoot it. I just got into Muzzleloading this year, I bought my gun back in March. I have been shooting the T7 pellets, but would I be better off using powder? Seems like the powder would last alot longer for the money but I really like the ease of just dropping the pellets down the barrel.

What are some of the pros and cons of Powder versus Pellets?

[TNHagies]

For ME

Pros of loose:
The ability to adjust my load in small increments
CHEAPER
More shots per container

Cons:
Slower to load some argue
You can spill the charge

[rdpettit]

I don't use pellets now-I think I used them last time I MZ hunted back in 97. Now I use the Knight red quickloaders that have a bullet starter on the end of them along with T7 in powder form.

I don't see that using the pellets are any faster.

If you don't swab the bore on a reload it's going to take 30-60 seconds to reload however you do it right? At least it is for me...

[sjsfire]

I use both, the loose for off season shooting and the pellets for the 7 days I deer hunt. The loose is cheaper shooting. My thinking with the pellets for hunting if I have to reload, if I get excited (surely not), and spill some loose, how much did I spill vs how much made into the barrel. It's easier for me to know if I droped 1 or both pellets than how much powder I lost. Just my 2 cents....

[lemoyne]

An interesting question, first off pellets are not faster loading than a quick loader, second [pyrodex]they are easy to get wrong end down and cause a miss or hang fire, exactly what I dont want hunting.
Cost: at about 30 dollars for 5000 grs [50 shot for pellets] loose is 17 dollars for 7000 grs [Pyrodex around here]
And then there is always the need to use the load the gun shoots best in case of a long shot or just for fun if you dont run the powder ladder and try a couple different powders the chances that you are shooting the load that your gun will do its best with are slim and you really need to try a few different bullets to.
It really is fun to shoot a one hole group or out group some ones high power once in a while. Lee

[cayugad]

ORIGINAL: killadoe

I got my Nikon Buckmasters Scope installed on my Optima last night and have yet to shoot it. I just got into Muzzleloading this year, I bought my gun back in March. I have been shooting the T7 pellets, but would I be better off using powder? Seems like the powder would last alot longer for the money but I really like the ease of just dropping the pellets down the barrel.

What are some of the pros and cons of Powder versus Pellets?

Some questions for you..

How many days a year are you actually going to be shooting the rifle? All too often people buy a muzzleloader and they hunt seven days a year with it, maybe shoot it twice or more, not to count sighting in, and clean it and put it away. For them the pellets might be the way to go; Ease of loading. Ease of remembering what load their rifle likes ... two of them and this sabot. Cost does not really come into play because your not shooting much. I have a center fire rifle (for example)and a box of shells for it used to be $28.00 (had to order them from Sweden I think it was). I bought one box of shells. That was over 30 years ago... Sighting in took five shells, I've shot six deer with the rifle and still have I think, nine shells left. So was the purchase cost effective. Yes I guess it was. The same holds true with people that do not shoot much, and shoot pellets. A box of pellets stored properly could last then two even three years. Then you are not messing with measuring scales, although you might still need speed loaders.

But lets say you love to shoot and you get hooked shooting muzzleloader. You find a weekend a month just making smoke, and punching holes in paper at the range, a great way to spend the day. Then you might want to consider loose powder. While you can custom your loads better with loose powder in reality, 95 grains of loose and 100 grains of pellets might not mean the world at 100 yards. Loose powder is cheaper. Plain and simple. Its cost effective to those that shoot a lot, and give us tinkers something to do on the range when we are trying different projectiles, loads, and seeing how we can push the rifle to the absolute accuracy.

Only you know your shooting habits. If you like to shoot, then definitely be loose. If your a once a year zealot, perhaps better off with the pellet.

[bronko22000]

Cayugad - you have a centerfire? That suprised the crap out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[killadoe]

Well I bought a box of pellets in march when I bought my gun, now I am down to maybe 15 shots left. I love to shoot my gun. If I could afford it I would shoot everyday. I will probably go with pellets cause thats what is shooting good right now, I can get a really good group, and now that I changed my scope I shouldnt have to check my zero that often. I mostly bowhunt and picked up the muzzle loader cause a few others had them, but I am telling you this may be my new thing, may have to set the bow aside a lil more often.

I can hunt with it more than 7 days a year, different parts of our state have ml season at different times and I can move around a bit. 2 weeks in Oct. 1 week in Nov. a week in Dec. and 2 weeks in Jan....

Anyways thanks for the help fellas, I thinkI am going to lean towards more pellets...

[caribou_sniper]

Loose for sure. More consistant, that is the biggest reason. Better accuracy = more confidence.

I'm a firm believer in one shot = one kill. I don't worry about follow-up shots.

[cayugad]

ORIGINAL: bronko22000

Cayugad - you have a centerfire? That suprised the crap out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Believe it or not, I own a number of them as well.. I had weakness in my younger years and used to be into long distance gong ringing and that kind of stuff... Not to mention I used to hunt in an area where 300+ yard shots were not all that uncommon.