Are there black powder competitions? If so what kind of classes are there? Traditional, Inline? I was just wondering. I really want to try black powder and if I like it maybe see if there are any competitions in my area. Would a Thompson traditional 54cal be good? Is it a good hunting rifle to for big mule deer? It is my grandpa's muzzle loader but he said I could have it.

There are of course different competitions. They range from local shoots at clubs to national levels. It is all a matter of how involved you want to get. Local club shoots that are informal, such as a woods walk shoot are in my opinion one of the best ways to spend an afternoon there is.

The traditional .54 caliber rifle is one of the best hunting rifles out there. Never under estimate the power of a roundball for taking game. It has been doing it for hundreds of years. There is a report of a person shooting a moose at over 160 yards with a T/C Renegade in .54 caliber with 80 grains of PyrodexI believe it was,and a roundball. Not that I would recommend shooting under that range condition, but it does demonstrate the killing power of a roundball. Shot placement is always important.

Give the rifle a try on the range. I think you will see how accurate the rifle is. When hunting, put that roundball in the right place and the roundball will do the rest.

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