Hey guys I'm new to this area of the board. I was at Bass Pro Shops yesterday and held an Omega the laminated onewith the thumhole stock. What a b!tchen rifle.

What are the pros of black powder hunting? I have a 30-30 and .308, are there really that many advantages to the ML season?

I can't speak for your area but the muzzleloader extends our season by one week.I just started muzzy hunting this year and that is all I used this year.I might as well get rid if the shot gun beceause the M/Ler hunting is addictive might even pick up another one.

Although I dont own an Omega I know people who do. Its a very nice ML and you will like it. Its a good choice and as long as you take care of it with proper cleaning, etc it will be with you a long time. The included video will show you everything you need to know and do to be able to get accurate fairly quick.

You usually get a few more days to hunt. Whether it's worth it or not is up to you to decide.

Ours is 3 days plus the second half of the firearm season. I got into it originally just to try it and ended up getting hooked. Now I only hunt with muzzleloaders even during our firearms season (Slug guns, handguns, or muzzleloaders only). We also have a late firearms season in January for counties with too many deer and everything legal in the firearms season is legal then plus that is the only season ML handguns are legal since it was originally pistol season. I got a ML handgun last year specifically to hunt that 3 day season with. I didn't get anything with it last year but I'm sure gonna try again this year.

One thing with a muzzleloader you need to consider is your range is pretty limited. 100-150 yd shots are normal. Some guys can push it to 200, but that requires a lot of dicipline and practice. Further than that is beyond 99.9% of the hunters out there. There's just too many things that can go wrong.

The big advantage for us in VA is that the peak of the rut hits during early ML season... Don't know where you're at but you might want to take that into consideration.

If your serious about making a purchase, you have made a fine choice as far as I'm concerned. I'm brand new at the ML sport and just bought an Omega z5 early in November. Our ML seasonfollows the regular firearms season and lasts about 8 days. I hunted three days and was able to take a doe and a real nice 8pt. The Omega is absolutelysimple to use and maintain. It also is as accurate as a centerfire out to 200yds. I'm shooting mine with 2-777 pellets and a 250gr T/C ShockWaveand getting moa groups at 100. I've been very impressed with it.

Good Luck, s6

If you want a muzzleloader, that would be an excellent one to purchase. It would be all you would ever need.

What is a standard load for say out to 150 yards, I have an old CVA Hawkins rifle my dad and I put together from a kit when I was a kid. I remember shooting up to 150 grains, a standard load was 100 or so and I remember my dad saying 100 would take a deer out to 100 yards I think.

For that kind of distance I would do three pellets and a 250 grain Shockwave. It should be all the deer medicine you would ever need.

You're lucky the rifle did not blow up in your face.The rifle was never made for more then 110 grains of powder I believe it is.

A standard load of 80 grains would take a deer out to 100 yards if you do your part and put the ball or conical in the right place. The question is not always as much about power as it is placement. Just my opinion of course.