I am getting ready to try out some loads that will be legal in Idaho this fall. I will be shooting a Knight Bighorn with a pivotting hammer....

That said, I have never shot it with anything but sabots/powerbelts and pyrodex pellets. So I have a few questions....

1. Will the lead powerbelt still be legal in Idaho? It meets the diameter requirements and is all lead, with the exception of the plastic "patch" right?

2. What powder do you reccommend since it has to be loose?

3. What other bullets do you reccommend if the power belt is not an option?

4. I will use a percussion cap, do you guys have a reccomended brand?

Any other tips for would be appreciated....

Thanks!

I am not so sure I would call the Knight Bighorn a pivotting hammer unless you made some modifications to the rifle. Don't they work like the Wolverine with a hammer/striker pushed by the hammer spring?

Yoter I do not not have the knowledge to make the judgements of what is legal in Idaho for you. You might want to look further into that Bighorn being legal for their Muzzleloader season.

If the powerbelt does not work but is legal, try some 300 grain Saber Tooth Conicals made by Harvester. They shoot good out of my Disc and my Wolverine.

Powder for that rifle in my opinion would be Triple Se7en 2f or 3f, what ever you can get. It should work good. I'd start them conicals at about 80 grains and see what happens.

Recommended brand of percussion cap is the Dynamite Noble RWS 1075 #11 or the CCI MAGNUM #11. Be sure and do not get the standard CCI. Make sure it says MAGNUMon the tin.

When sighting in, swab between shots if you feel any obstruction or hard loading in the barrel. Swab with alcohol and car windshield washer fluid. Then be sure to dry patch the barrel before loading. If you have any doubts of the barrel condition, pop a cap through the nipple before loading to clear and dry things out in there.

Good luck with your rifle.

I have a bunch (bought an entire case of them to be exact)of 385 grain Buffalo Bullet conicals that would also be legal. I was shooting them today with pretty good accuracy. Actually they got better when I kicked the powder charge way up. I was shooting them with 70 grains of Triple Se7en 3f and just for kicks (and I do mean that literally) I jumped the charge to 110 grains of Pyrodex P. They actually shot a tighter group, recoil was not all that bad, and I sure would not have wanted to be on the other end of that thing.

Yoter

Ok you got me... how do you or the state consider a Bighorn as having a pivoting hammer?

Powder... forgot the length of barrel on a Bighorn - if it is 22/24 I would use T7-3f if it is 26" then T7-2f

Bullets: According to PowderBelt their all lead bullet is legal in Idaho - have got anybody in the State offices to agree with that yet though. If you were going to use a PB - I would go with the 295 for deer/ 348 for elk. But to be honest with you I would skip PB's altogether and use Bull Shop 460 grain Conical on both dere and elk. The Bull Shop is a slip fit just like putting a sabot down - but you have to find the size of your barrel and if it is a newer Bighorn - I am betting a .503 Bll shop is what you need. I also use a shot card .125x.510 under the bullet keeps the T7 from melting the lead + plus helps wipe the barrel in and out...

Caps.... first choice Dynamint Nobles 1075+ these wrok great...
sencond choice CCI #11 mag caps

If you get that bighorn approved - then my remingtons and my white ought to be legal....

My Bighorn has the 26" barrel. What would be the easiest way to find the diameter? Thanks for the tips. It look like the T7-2f is the way to go for powder.

Are these right???


Current Fish and Game rules require that muzzleloaders must:
- Use all-lead bullets within 10/1,000 (.010) inch of the bore diameter. Sabots are not allowed.
- Have open sights.
- Use only loose black or synthetic powder.
- Have an exposed, pivoting hammer.
- Have an exposed ignition using only flint or percussion caps - 209 primers are not allowed.

Could you post a pic of your "Pivot hammer Knight"? I need to go to a toy store and find a toy gun to steal the hammer from and then tape it to my inline stock so my Whites will be legal

Bullets, I've had great service with No Excuse bullets for years. In my 50's I use the 495 grain bullet and 95 grains of T7 ffg, the 460 grainer would work well to for both elk and deer. Bull Shop makes great bullets too I am told, but if you want to try some you need to get your order in soon because he will be shutting down in September for the winter.

RWS 1075+ are the cap of choice.

Don't forget to post a pic of your gun

Yoter

I think I would shove a conical down the barrel - pull it out then mic the lands and grooves inprssions on the bullet... but I'll bet you .503 is what you'll need...

I'll post a PIC once I get that part finished....

Yoter, would like to see a picture of your Knight Bighorn with the "exposed pivoting" hammer. You must have somehow heavily modified this rifle, since in stock form it looks like it has a traditional style of inline hammer. Also, the regs state "...patched round ball or conical non-jacketed projectile comprised "wholly" of lead or lead alloy. No mention of plastic being allowed. You will need to shoot one of the many 100% lead only full bore conicals. I have always had the best luck with Dynamit-Nobel caps. They seemed a little hotter than others on the market. I never had a misfire with these #11 caps. I personally think all these projectile, ignition type, and loose powder requirements are a bunch of hooey, but I don't get to make the rules. This is one of the main reasons I have put away my muzzleloaders, and am jumping into bowhunting. Rules getting more restrictive for muzzleloaders, and less restrictive (now 80% letoff allowed, and 300 grain arrows) for archery equipment. Go figure???