what muzzleloader to buy
 

i am looking at buying a muzzleloader to give me the extra two weeks to hunt so what kind of muzzleloader should i buy i am 6'6 350 pounds so i am a big guy and a big gun does not hurt me shooting wize
and i am hunting slouth west indiana with some hills

what brand
what gun
what caliber

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

What are you willing to spend. Under $400 I would get a Traditionsplus scope and over $400 an Omega or T/C with scope.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

The calibers the easy part. A 50 caliber is the most popular.

Brand and model depend on how much your willing to spend. Don't skimp on buying a gun. Some people swear by cheaper rifles and others curse them. I'm in the latter group as I've never had any luck with cheaper rifles. I'd shop around a bit before buying. You might be able to find a good rifle at a bargain price.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

What brand will depend on the amount of money you wish to invest into this sport. If I did not own a rifle at this time, and wanted to hunt, it would be a Knight rolling block, Thompson Center Triumph, Savage Smokeless if inlines were my interest. If traditional were the way I wanted to go it would be a .54 caliber Thompson Center Arms Hawkins, Lyman Trade Rifle, or Thompson Center Firestorm.

Caliber is easy.. 50 caliber in the inlines, .54 caliber in the traditional rifles.

If you are permitted the use of optics, and you want to hunt a couple more days a year, and maybe some ocassional range time, an inline would be the way to go. If optics are not allowed, a tradtional rifle will do about anything an inline will. You want a real challenge, get a flintlock. They take some learning to do, but once you master them, they are a lot of fun to shoot and hunt with.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

I agree with Cayugad... .50 inline or .54 for the traditional.

I own the T/C Encore .50 with a scope and I hunt with it during "Standard" gun season and use my T/C Renagade .54 green mountain round ball during muzzleloading season. If you are more budget minded look at the Thompson Triumph... very nice gun for the money.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

This is easy, do exactly as I say and you will be happy...
Muzzleloader: TC Triumph weather shield/black Comp. .50
Load: 3 777 pellets and a 250 grain bonded Shockwave
Scope: Leupold VX III 3.5X10X40
Rings and base: TC/Warne Maxima
Primers: Winchester 777 209's
clean between shots with TC no. 13 and at the end of the day use the no.13 again make sure the gun is good and dry then coat the bore with TC bore butter. This combo should produce around 1 inch groups at 100 yards. This is all true because I know everything... just ask my wife!;)

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Sounded OK to me until you got to Bore Butter...

I think in Indiana you can use smokeless... got with a Savage 10MLII.

But before you do anything check your regs... I even use my 10MLII in sluggun season, much more accurate.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Indiana is extremelyopen in their ML regs. Smokeless powder is legal as is scopes. They even get that last half hour of daylight to hunt.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

I have a Knight Disc (my first inline), a TC Omega (my 2nd inline) and this past May I just bought a Savage 10ML, which of the 3, is more accurate and use can use smokeless in it if you want to, so I would vote the Savage. I have had excellent accuracy with TC Shockwaves 300g and 275g Ballistic extremenes with 44g of 5744 powder, Federal Primer in the Savage. I use the supplied sabots in both. I have not shot deer with these bullets, my usual and customary bullet for my Knight and my TC Omega is the 300g .452 Nosler Partition HG Protected Point bullets,they comein packs of 50 for $50. They are an excellent < 130 to 150 yard bullet. Best wishes on your muzzleloader selection, bullet and sabot.
Chap Gleason

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Traditional or Inline, I would get a 50 caliber. Maybe 54 in traditional, but not .45 in either. I'm a fan of T/C. Omega, Triumph, and Hawken. Have fun, and don't let your size determine what load you will be shooting in your gun. Just because you can shoot a 150gr charge comfortably doesn't matter if it isn't accurate ;)