Componants range from to loose to impossable to load with a clean barrel,some people are just looking for a little help and dont understand whats available. I really dont mind swabing on the range but I dispise doing it when hunting and being lazy has nothing to do with it. Lee

Wanting to be able to reload a ML rifle three or four times before having to swab the bore is not laziness. It is so you can reload quickly while hunting, since once in a while you may be requiredto take a second shot right away!

Exactly, it took a bit of tinkering but I eventually found a bullet that loads well without me popping a vein in the process. Now, if someone is complaining about hard loading and then not wanting to take the time to tinker to find what works best for their barrel, yes that's laziness.

Years ago i got a two inch wood furniture knob at Hobby Lobby. Drilled a hole in it to accept the ramrod: It makes loading much easier. Have always been able to seat the sabot.

No offense, but I'm of the belief that neccessity of the quick reload is a myth. The one time I needed a fast reload, I couldn't load fast enough with pellets and a powerbelt. That's about the fastest combo there is and it's still not fast enough. The only quicker second shot with a muzzleloader is having a second rifle.

I really don't like to consider myself lazy...........efficient is a better word.

yes very true., my first ml was and is a cva., i had a real hard time loading that gun .(with the sabots),i even sent the barrle into the comp., and they sent me a new one back., still hard ., but i went to a different bullet ., (powerbelt) and it loads much better.,but tight! now my t/c muzzleloaderloads the t/c mag sabots very nice ., ., with learning and trying new things has got me where i want to be! t/c shoots the t/c mag sabots 240gr. ., and the cva shoot the powerbelts! and neither one has conected on a deer yet!!lol., good luck hunbting all

Responding to Wolfhound76: No myth about it.

The very first deer I had a shot at with my ML ---> I missed.
A doe, at about 30yds, I shot over her because I set my trigger (mistake at 30yds) and shot right over her using my gloved finger!!! To my amazement she ran a circle and ended up straight out in front of me now about 40yds out, she had no idea where I was and in the mean time (3) more deer come walking up to where she was when I shot at her.
I poured my loose powder down the tube and attempted to seat my 300 grain/ TC break-away combo, the load hung up half way down the barrel. I about drove the ramrod thru my hand trying to get the bullet seated. I was in a softwood cover, none of the deer could see me, frustrated to no end. Finally seated the bullet, went to load a no.11 cap and the doe I shot at finally spotted me and off she went, taking the whole herd with her.
Shortly after that a good friend intro'd me to buffalo bullet's BALLETS: 1/2 bullet and 1/2 ball 245 grain design. They loaded very easy and proved to be extremely accurate to boot.

Gun = CVA St.Louis Hawken, 50 Cal. side-lock with set trigger.

Now shooting a T/C omega 45 Cal.

I believe in shooting real live black powder---GOEX FFF. If the cap fires the gun shoots everytime. Gotta Love that smell!!!

Next time do it slowly. If you move slow enough they won't spot you. This deer let me swab the barrel and reload (including cap) before I put my rifle down and picked up my camera. She knew I was there as I'd just shot the deer she was with. It's a yearling but I've never gotten a second chance at an adult deer. They're gone soon after the shot.

I have actually shot a deer many years back, knocked him down, and could see him trying to get his feet under him. I reloaded a roundball and shot again this time planting him. It should be noted, the rifle does not load hard or unreasonable with roundball, and friends and I used to practice speed drills in some of the matches we used to hold.

One thing I want to state.. be careful loading fast. This is where mistakes can be made. Practice it a couple times. You will be surprised how if you move at just a normal pace and do things in a set order, the rifle will get loaded rather quickly. You rush, you make mistakes.

I still hate swabbing though!!