I usually avoid these threads because they nearly always degenerate into a childish spat of name calling. But, I feel compelled to respond to several statements. So:


>>>>As far as keeping it primitive goes, HOGWASH.

>The fact of the matter is, it was traditional M/L hunters who got the special seasons established for the specific purpose of using traditional weapons.


>>>>I had to remove my scope and replace the sights that had long ago been removed because of their uselessness.

>That's largely a matter of skill and marksmanship knowledge. True, iron sights require more skill than optics, but that's part of the attraction. My 9 year old son killed his 1st deer this year with a traditional rifle & open sights. My 16 year old daughter has killed deer with a traditional rifle & open sights. And, my 81 year old father-in-law (he's blind in one eye, and we're not sure he can see out the other) is still very competitive in benchrest matches that are restricted to iron sights.


>>>>As far in-lines go, the first ones were around in the early 1700's.

>True, there were some early firearms that could loosely be described as "in-lines". And, I would say if you wanted to build a historically correct replica (or just a reasonable facsimile) of one of those rifles, and use it in a traditional M/L season, more power to you! But, it ain't gonna look like a Rem700 and it ain't gonna have a 3-9X scope.


>>>>PA is a prime example, of the small minority, yet very effective lobbying group, keeping out dated hunting methods as the law of the land.

>I would say PA is a prime example of a state that has preserved the original intent and spirit of the M/L season and should be applauded for having the balls (pun intended) to do so.


>>>>If I had my wishes here in NC, patch & ball would be outlawed. These may be effective at 50yds but anything past that and they are just cripplers and manglers..

>I'm afraid your inexperience is showing. It reminds me of the old lead/steel shot arguements. It took a long time for people to understand that steel was different and assumptions and principles that were valid with lead were not valid with steel. Experience showed us that steel can be effective when the proper assumptions and principles are applied. High velocity, smokeless powder/jacketed bullet principles and assumptions don't apply to blackpowder and M/L, and lead to erroneous conclusions about effectiveness.


>>>>Round balls by their design are not very effeicent at transferring energy into the the game, meaing that they do not expand very much, they do not mushroom, and unless you hit solid bone they don't even deform very much.

>Again, your inexperience is showing.