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 ;)

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

If you only want a muzzleloader for the extra hunting opportinities, go with a modern inline in .50 cal. Probably a break-open action or something like the Knight rolling block for ease of cleaning and good ignition. The .50 allows a wide choice of powder & projectiles, and they are readily available.
If you want more fun and a chance to "slip back (mentally)" in history a little you might want to look at a more "traditional" styled caplock or flintlock. There are models available to shoot modern bullets, conicals, or patched round ball available - new or used.
I, personally, have both types and I enjoy shooting both. For a hurry up before or after work hunt I take the inline (Lyman Mustang) so I can get to hunting quickly. For a more leisurely, relaxed hunt I will take my T/C (caplock)NewEnglander. It requires a little more care & attention to small details, and I'll have to slip a little closer before I pull the trigger, but it's by far more fun. (and I consider cleaning part of the fun)

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

The current, SEptember 2007 issue of Outdoor life has a comparison of ML in it (TC, CVA and Traditions), the Triumph came out on top. It is a great rifle from all reports I have read.
Chap Gleason

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

My options would be either the Triumph, Omega or the Knight Rolling Block. The primer extractor in the Rolling Block seems like a big plus for hunting as the primer would not require a tool to pull out when sticking. I have not had a lot of problem with my Omega but it is a positive feature none the less. Also the Knight would probably shoot conicals better than any of the T/C guns as the QLA seems to be the feature on the T/C guns that makes conical shooting a questionable thing at best. Personally I would go with the Rolling Block.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Well if I had my choice I would get the new Knight Rolling block with the wood stock,followed closly by the TC Triumph as my second choice.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

If I was in the market for another ML, I'd go with the Knight Rolling Block as well. However, I just recently acquired a CVA Optima Elite. If you are looking for something to have that has interchangeable barrels (centerfire), then the Optima Elite should be a consideration.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

That is an easy answer and I give the same one to everyone.

.50 caliber is the best and TC makes the best Ml's in the country, without question. I would look into their Omega, which is reasonably cheap right now, due to the new Triumph coming out. If that doesn't suit you, try the Triumph. It'sthe best on the market now.

I would also look into the KP-1 by Knight, which came out this year, and Knight's lineup(as a second choice lol);). Knight is an excellent brand on the market as well and though I haven't owned one, I'm impressed with their guns.

Whatever you do, don't settle for the chaeper gun.You can either buy the best, be happy with it, take good care of it, and have it for life....or you can buy low quality and complain and moan and end up ditching it after a few years.

good hunting, have fun, and good luck!!

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

yep, if you bought a high quality tc you'd get a life time warranty, you'd put that warranty to use as most tc owners have had to do, as long as you shoot sabots u'd be ok. As for em being the best,:D:D:D No

TC has many flaws out there and clearly are not the best. The best muzzleloader made is one that is custom made to fit you and your needs. There is no such thing as " the best" Every product has their flaws and TC is one of them.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Knight rolling block looks to be a winner when it comes to shooting conicals. Take a look at shots 1-3 that were shot with an omega and a powerbelt "conical"
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforu...ID14/1554.html

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Get the Savage 10ML-II. Put a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9 on it, with Warne or Weaver Grand Slam bases, and Warned rings. Load it with 44-45 grains of Accurate Arms 5744, eithera Hornady .452 250gr or 300gr XTPs, withMMP HP24 (short petal)sabots. This comboshouldgive you sub 2" accuracy right from the get go,2,050-2,200 FPS depending on thecharge and bullet, and depending on how you sight it in will give you anapproximateMPBR of 175-190yds.

And it is legal in Indiana.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

What he said... can't go wrong with the Savage in IN... I took mine out Fri and shot under MOA with 300gn XTP and 65gn of IMR 4198. Went out again Sat and shot even better with 300gn XTP and 44gn of IMR SR4759 and under 1 1/2" with a 250gn XTP and 47gn of 4759...

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Best is in someone's opinion. That's mine. At least it has a good warranty to back it up. It's alright if something breaks as long as it has insurance. Furthermore, I don't hardly believe that TC has had half as many problems as BPI. You can check the records....

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

check out the owners with the encore and stuff triggers, "wedge" pin problems. to make it short, Its pretty bad when you have to turn away from TC when someone asks what is a good rifle that will shoot conicals.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

FG I couldswear you are anti-T/C. I will go ahead and admit it that I've never had to use my warranty on either of my T/C Rifles, and, actually, none of my guns at all. You may think everyone has problems with their T/Cs because of all the miracle stories about customer service you wouldn't hear about with other companies...whatever it is, my experience with T/C rifles is great, and I will recommend them so long as it remains so. I'm not one to hold a grudge against a product I'm not familiar with, or one that doesn't have features that I've found problematic.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

Is the sky blue? Does a bear **** in the woods?

FG is the expert on TC because he has owned.......how many????

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

one and there wasnt one thing wrong with it. From your last post with pics, i'd be doing some tinkering with the stock. What happened with those 3/4" groups @ 100? I'd be going back to that load asap.

As for TC's customer service, they have to offer you an excellent service when such is needed with their products.

Quite a few guys on here have some excellent shooting TC sidelocks. Most with GM barrels on them too.

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

I would be using that load but all I've got is the damn Pyrodex and I'm not spending any more money....

RE: what muzzleloader to buy
 

:D:D i know the feeling lol. I've been using triple 7 in my flintlocks and its getting to the point where i am about to just make the drive and go pick up a few lbs of goex. Need to get some pyrodex rs for the winchester and resight that one in.