I used to live in Oklahoma long ago but moved to Florida. I have just started to hunt again over the years and have added a centerfire rifle(Tikka T3 Deluxe), Bow (08 Drenaline), Shotgun (Benelli Montafeltro silver), Rimfire(Tricked out 22 mag). There is just one glaring hole in my ability to hunt all seasons and that would be a muzzleloader. I usually will read up on whatever purchase I am planning for usually hundreds of hours before comitting to anything (yes I am anal retentive). From what I have beeen able to gather on this site you all seem pretty much in the know for the blackpowder and do not mind sharing it. You guys seem also not to pick each others choices apart like the Bowhunting section does so I am going to ask a few questions and see where this leads.

1. I am considering 2 guns: Thompson, Triumph.....or....Knight,KRB. The knight is a lot less expensive and it seems to me that the guns in effect are very similar. Which would you choose and please qualify why?

2. I like my Trijicon TR22 scope. I am thinking of mounting one of these on the rifle I buy. Do BP rifles have that much more of a kick than say a 30-06?

3. There seems to be a lot of back and forth between 100 grains and 150 grains. If 100 grains does the job then what benefit would I derive from 150 grains? Flatter shooting? More kenetic enrgy? etc.

4. There are so many bullets out there to choose from but I just want to get the same performance that I get from my Hornady ammo in my 30-06. Is this possible or do the BP guns just punch a hole and go on through. On that note why do BP guns use such huge ammo? Would not a smaller, lighter, yet faster flying round be favorable?

5. Any other BP rifles out there that you feel I overlooked? Money is not really an issue in purchase but I would like to keep it under 2000 dollars for the complete set up.