lavy07

Im looking in to getting a new black powder rifle. Are these black powder rifle kits you see really worth it? You know the ones,like the Traditions one that comes with everyting you need including a scope. Should I go with something alittle more sofisticated. Also, I have never even shot a black powder rifle so I'm wondering what the kick on something like a .50 cal could be compared to.

cayugad

Are the kits worth the money? Thats a hard question. There is nothing wrong with Traditions rifles, they are good. I have a .50 caliber sidelock. But none of my rifles are in lines. A lot of the kits have everything you need to shoot them other then the powder and the caps, so at least you have a working base to start from. I have seen kits that even have a video, so if you have no idea what your doing with a BP rifle, that might be a good idea. As for how much they kick, I don't really think they kick. It is more like a push. And it depends on the load you are shoot, the bullet you are using, whether the barrel is fluted, the type of stock the rifle has, etc... My .50 cal with 80 grains of Pyrodex and a round ball has no kick to really speak of.. One thing I would say is talk to friends that have rifles, and if possible, shoot them, and handle them. See which ones you like.. T/C, Knight, CVA are all good brands too.

driftrider

The all-in-one package guns, like the Thompson/Center Black Diamond, seem to be a good value. They come with everything you need to get started, and most of the kit items are decent quality. I didn't buy kit setup when I first started, but looking back it would have been nice to have had something to get going in the right direction. T/C muzzleloaders are known for their quality and accuracy, and I don't think the Black Diamond is an exception.

I currently own a Traditions Buckhunter .50 and this year "upgraded" to a Knight DISC .50 w/thumbhole stock, which I absolutely love. Looking at all the different brands I liked the Knights the best, and got a really good deal on mine ($330 w/thumbhole).

As far as recoil, that really depends both on the rifle and how you choose to load it. My Traditions only liked to shoot big heavy conicals (460gr Great Plains), and with 100 grains Pyrodex Select and no recoil pad, it bucked like a mule (but hit like a freight train), similar to a 3" Mag shotgun slug gun. With the Knight I'm shooting 235 grain sabots with 100 grains 777 3F, and it kicks with authority, but with the recoil pad it it feels much like a standard 12ga shotgun slug and isn't uncomfortable.

Muzzleloading is a fun and rewarding way to hunt.

Enjoy,

Mike


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