I've seen a couple of posts lately where guys are looking for a gun to buy and use for a lifetime. Seems to me the merchandising of America will almost certainly convince you that you must have the latest and greatest muzzleloader long before you run out of life. Probably in just a few years. My question is: how long have you owned a muzzleloader and how many do you own?

I only own one; the same one I've had for 30 years and quite possibly the only one I'll ever own, although the manufacturers may do their best to see that I can't get parts or supplies and drive me to a new one. How about you?

I basically have two.
Mine and my kids.
Started out with an Optima. Kept it for a couple of months and sold it. Bought an Encore 3 years ago and never looked back. I shoot it allot and other than it has a specific diet requirement, have not problems with it at all. The other gun isa modified T/C Black Diamond that we worked up for my kids. Cut and recrowned the barrel, cut back the stock and filled it with a couple ounces of shot. Put a good, bright scope on it and this is the second year they have used it.
Right now, don't really see the need for another M/ler.
Hank

I built and shot my first in 1962, it was an inline 36 cal for small game,I really can not tell how many I have own as I enjoy trading;at this time I have 14 including two inlines and one pistol. Lee

I have 4,

a Tc renagade in54cal. I have bought in the mid 80's and taken a number of deer with. the first 15 or so years I shot patched roundballs and went to maxi's when NY allowed them. Its mostly retired now.

I have a TC new englander shotgun that is my go to squirrel gun. It funny but I use a ML for deer for the extra season,not out of great love for the ML, just forthe extra days outside.But I don't really use a modern shotgun anyorejust the New Englander strange huh?

I have a TC Black Diamond ER in SS with 2-7 Burris Fullfield. My current standard ML. I sort of wish I had waited for the omega but I have no complaints on theBD it shoots well enough and with a breech cover I have used it with no problems in pouring rain. 4 deer so far

Lastly I have a Peterisolikentucky in 50. just in case NY ever has a primitive season. Never hunted with it yet

I still have my first one. I bought it in 1975. It was a left handed Charles Daly flintlock. Since then I have probably been through at least 3 dozen. Isn't that why they make them? Tom.

In the 60's I got my first muzzleloader. For some reason I only shot it on rare occasion. Probably since I had numerous modern center fire rifles and shotguns to use and choose from. I picked up another two riflesin the 70's and for a while played with them. Then in the 80's I really got the disease. A very good friend and I started building Thompson CenterRenegade & HawkinKits in .54 caliber. From there, being impressed with the way they shot I started buying more and more traditional rifles. They ranged from .40 caliber to .62 caliber. In the 90's and 2000's also got into the inline craze.

I have far too many rifles some would say, more then I need and not enough to satisfy my desires. I really do not intend to purchase more rifles but you never know. Something might strike my fancy. I guess the next one will be a custom long rifle in flintlock. Something large. Something I can elk hunt with. Or it might be another White inline. Just never know when you got the disease....

I guess I am fairly new with ML guns.

I have 2-

T/C Encore with Nikon Scope. Modifications include Custom made hinge pin (now its TIGHT), and it has custom trigger rework... this baby shoots awesome. Over 500 shots and getting better with age.

T/C Renegade .54 and just added a new Green Mountain barrel. This gun is sweet.

This is my first year with a Muzzleloader! I have a Lyman GPR .50 Flintlock! I love it. I'll have another BP gun soon, looking into a Shotgun and a .54 cal then I should be good for a lifetime!!!!! NOT!

oh boy. thats a fairly long list.
winchestre x-150
traditions kentucky flintlock .50 rifle
traditions frontier gander .36 rifle
new orleans Ace .44 derringer
2 cva bobcats in .50cal
cableas sporterized hawken
cva mountain stalker
cva hawkens (20 years old)
And im about to add a Winchester Apex to the group.

started about 71 with a TC Hawkens .45, took me about 3 of those to find onethat shot great and I kept that one - serial number 11111 - for about 15 years or so. Can't remember why I got rid of it - might have just been an idiot attack. Guess the oldest one I have now is a White 98 in .451that's about5 years old. Me and iron sights do not get alongthese days so it's scopes for me. Inlines make scoping a lot easier but I think ol' 11111 would have shot just as well as anyof theinlines I own now (and the ones I own are quite accurate).