I was looking for a new muzzleloader for my daughter. Iam trying to find something that doesn't have much recoil at all. Does a .45 caliber have much less recoil then a .50 caliber? Also what is the least amount of powder you can shoot, and still be able to hunt out to 75 yards or so? Also do lighter bullets have less recoil? She is only 12 years old and small. I wanted the least amount of recoil for her at all. Any good recomendations for .45 caliber muzzleloaders?Any info would be great thanks!

Well whether the .45 will kick less I am not sure since I do not shoot one. I personally would get a .50 caliber and load it light. Maybe 80 grains of powder and a 200 grain Shockwave or XTP and that should be a 75 yard rifle. The other alternative is a traditional rifle in .50 caliber with 70 grains of powder and a patched roundball. This might be the extent of this load, but it would not have much recoil at all.

Lighter bullets do have lesss recoil. I would still get a 50cal. There are bullets light enough. You can find a load with around 60gr depending on the rifle and projectile that will have plenty of power but not too much recoil. Are you thinking Traditional or Inline? A traditional 50cal with 70gr FFG and a PRB will be light on the recoil side. I personally think a 50cal will be fine with around 60-70 grains of powder and a light bullet below 350gr. A 45cal would be good to but it is hard to find accessories. When she grows older she might want more power and something to elk hunting with.

I have a t/c encore, and shoot 90 grains of powder, and a 200 grain shockwave. I think that might kick a lil much for her. How much less powder could I use than that? Also what is the lightest bullet that they make? any help would be great!

.45 caliber muzzies are a pain in the butt. What kind of money were you willing to spend for your daughter's gun? That might help narrow down the selection. I wouldn't get anything weighing under 7lbs, either. I think lightweight guns are best reserved for experienced shooters who know how to handle heavy recoil. I'm thinking Omega w/ cut stock or buy the bantam walnut stock for your encore for her to use.

Different rifles have different recoil amounts. For instance, I shoot a Wolverine LK-II with a 22" barrel. With 80 grains of Pyrodex and a 270 grain ballet, I really do not think it has recoil at all, but then I am not a small child either. I really do not know what to tell you then.

I think I'm more jittery over the BOOM a muzzleloader makes than the actual recoil. I'm more leery of my short barreled White Mountain Carbine than my encore, simply because stuff is happening closer to your face, and it's louder. Just something to think about if a carbine is in consideration for this young lady.
I like Cayugad's suggestion of the buffalo ballet. Shockwaves don't do well (lack of expansion) with lighter powder charges.

blondiez24

You know if they are legal in your state Hornady makes a 200 grain 40mm bullet both in a Shockwave (to fit a Thompson Center) and an XTP. If you purchase a box of Hornady 200 grain 40mm XTP's you woul also have to purchase some sabots.... Something like an MMP-40cal/50 cal.

At close range (75 yards and under) I really think 70/80 grains of T7 would work just fine - especially with the XTP - and that really might kick that much... it will still make a lot of noise.

I do not have an Encore - I use the Omega - how much does the Encore weigh?

There is a calculator for that at this site... but you do have to plug in some information....

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/calculators/php/recoil.htm?bw=260&bv=1750&cw=110&w=8

I do not know if this will help or not...

Interesting link, Sabotloader. My current load (240 grain xtp, 80gr triple 7), has 17lb of recoil. Compare that with the 150 gr triple 7 pellet load and a 250 grain shockwave: 41lbs of smack. You look at the the recoil table from http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm and 17lbs is about what you get from a .270, and 41lbs is a tad MORE than a 9lb 375 H&H gun will kick.

Has she shot with the electronic headphones? Some cut back alot of noise and that boom doesnt seem so bad. Could also double up with ear plugs and headphones.

Arent those Buffalo Balletes 240 gr in .50 cal?