Looking to buy my first blackpowder rifle for deer hunting and would like everyones opinion as to the most accurate and trouble free given proper maintenance for $300 or less(minus scope and supplies). Probably will wait until early 2003 but wanted to start my research now.

Thanks for the feedback!....Back40

Any of the Knight or Thompson Center rifles are good. Watch for after season sales. I wouldn't worry about if it uses 209 caps or not.
CVA and Traditions are OK rifles too. Just make sure you clean them
after every day of shooting. Also, 100 grains of powder is enough to take any deer out to 125 yards. Good luck.

I got my Remington 700 ML for right in the $300 price range and I love it. I got the matte black finish with synthetic black stock...very easy to take care of and very easy to clean. You can also empty it without having to fire it...just pop out the breech plug and shove the sabot on through. Nothing worse than having to clean a gun you had to dirty up without even seeing a deer. I've found that it likes Barnes sabots with 80 gr of Pyrodex the best, but every gun is different. I'm very comfortable with it out to 100 yards...could probably go further...I just havent tried it.

I got my Remington 700 ML for right in the $300 price range and I love it. I got the matte black finish with synthetic black stock...very easy to take care of and very easy to clean. You can also empty it without having to fire it...just pop out the breech plug and shove the sabot on through. Nothing worse than having to clean a gun you had to dirty up without even seeing a deer. I've found that it likes Barnes sabots with 80 gr of Pyrodex the best, but every gun is different. I'm very comfortable with it out to 100 yards...could probably go further...I just havent tried it.

Check out Whiterifles.com . Doc has some White Whitetails that can be bought for very reasonable prices.

Knight and TC both make excellent rifles, but I feel when you're talking about affordability and performance Traditions makes the best. You can get one of their bolt action 209 rifles with all the same features as a $500 Knight for well under $300, and it will shoot just as straight.

i too, did alot of research before i shelled out that hard earned money. i talked to about 5 different dealers before i decided on the thompson black diamond stainless in 50 cal. i never knew muzzleloaders could be this much fun to shoot. it cost exactly $300 before taxes. watch for after chistmas sales and you might be able to get one cheaper.

jeff greene

Look at WalMart's Thompson Center rifles. Actually WalMart has a CVA
inline for about $100 that's pretty decent. If you do routine maintenance, it will last a long time. All the inlines are basically the same. A barrel and a trigger. I have a Traditions youth rifle I bought for my daughter for under $100. It shoots great out to 100 yards. However I have a really good scope on it. Don't be cheap when you buy a scope.

You can't go wrong by purchasing a T/C Black Diamond especially if it is the new 26" barrel variety. I have owned one of these for 3 years and had 3 kills. The rifle will actually shoot better than I can hold it at 50 or 100 yards with saboted bullets and 2 Pyrodex pellets. It is easy to clean and to load. I would not feel restricted if I had to hunt with it during the modern rifle season at all.

Cant go wrong with a Knight!!!!!