I used to own a WHite Super 91 50 cal laminated muzzle loader...It was a great shooting rifle and i used it for Western Hunting ..specifically Colorado deer and Elk. They banned inlines for a full season and went back to the traditional percussion designs. In the interim the company went out of business and I ended up selling the rifle. This was extremely dumb on my part to even think of doing it being it was one of the most accurate good killing rifles I have owned 480 grain Colorado bullet ...it would crumple animals.

My Question is this new Splitfire any good ? Anyone have experience with both a White and this new Gun? I appreciate any feedback

I own a White M98 in .451 caliber and IT is the rifle I would most recommend from Splitfire's current offerings. The Model 98 is a tried and proven design. They have had a few problems with the Thunderbolt rifle (fires 209 primers) but I think those have mostly been resolved. Were I to buy another rifle from them today, it would be the 98. The 209 simply isn't at all necessary for loose powder and if you want a bit of extra fire you can get it with the musket cap primer-plug assembly. Should you encounter any problems, the folks at SplitFire will bend over backwards to make you a happy camper.

The rifle that I got is in a synthetic stock from a Super91 because I prefer that to the laminate. You could contact [email protected] and I'm sure he could fix you up with a very nice 98 at considerably less than the posted price. The Warne QD rings and bases are also very nice if you intend to scope the rifle.

If you would like to try to get another 91, I believe Doc White may still have a few at [email protected] www.whiterifles.com - click on custom, new and used. Doc will also work with you. I know he did have one in a thumbhole laminate that was gorgeous.

I truly like my White 98 and would have to recommend it as a superb choice. Below is a group I fired out of mine with bullets of my own making. I had a larger audience for that third shot (the one by itself)and that may have kept the group from being even better, I would like to think so anyway :

If you want to see the bullets - http://home.mchsi.com/~rltsr/457to451.jpg or the rifle as I have it set up - http://home.mchsi.com/~rltsr/My98-Best.jpg

Great Info Thanks...I have a question though at the current website there is no mention of the 98...I am guessing that is just an upgraded 91 like I had before. That is some group size did you have to pound those bullets down the bore or are they as easy to seat as the White Bullets? Again thanks for the info.

They cast at .457 and I then use a rubber hammer and dowel to drive them base-first through a Lee .451 sizing die. They go down slick as a whistle and stay put. EASY to load, no short starter required.

The 98 is listed on the site under the online catalog category for Rifles. It is called the Elite Hunter.
http://www.splitfireguns.com/store/m...m?Product_ID=2
I believe it is something of a modification to the 91 but cannot say for sure since I've not owned that model. I did briefly own a Thunderbolt and was one of the first owners to help with some design changes. I hope they are all resolved as that could be a very fine rifle. The 209 is not required though. Another fellow that could help you out with great detail is Tom Lodge [email protected]. Tom is something of an expert on the White rifles as well as an extremely helpful and personable guy. He is also a White dealer and came make you a pretty fair deal.

Best of luck and let me know if you get one. I'll teach you how to make these bullets if you get a .45 .

They Whites were the Rolls Royce of blackpowder rifles and these Splitfires are the same but upgraded. I refuse to buy anything that I have to use brute force ramming a bullet down the barrel and abhor Sabots. Most Centerfire rifles cannot get groups like that. I have to check into Regulations there and see whether a 45 is allowed or not if not I'll have to get a 50 and play with that not that it would be a bad option to contemplate. Man I am betting that 45 at that bullet weight would be a serious penetrator.

Firearms deer season starts here tomorrow morning. I think I'm ready. I know my White is. Hope to find out just how well those bullets perform on a game animal. My guess is they will do very well.

I currently own the White, a Knight Disc, a T/C Encore, and just got a T/C Omega - haven't even fired the Omega yet and it is an interesting looking rifle. My choice for tomorrow could be anything from a .223 to a ?? CF or any of those BP guns, but it will be the White.

Good Luck tomorrow and hunt safe

<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Thanks. Must have worked. Back in for the morning. Will snooze around and get back out this evening. Saw a 7 pointer and an 8 pointer this morning, 8 pointer was too smart (or lucky).