I am new to muzzleloading and when I went to pick up my powder, the sells clerk helped and said that pellets where the best for a first timer.

I will be using an Knight American Knight ($40 can't beat that deal) with a very short barrel (22 to 24 inch ((I don't know where to end on lenght on muzzleloader)). and read in another forum where someone had a very (8in drop from 50 to 100 yrds) bullet drop with a 24 in barrel.

Should just use the pellet or go on and get the loose powder?

Thanks for any help you can give me

The pellets are a bit easier to deal with for a beginner and with the short barrel may burn more completely than loose. If you all ready have them then I would suggest you start with 2 pellets and whatever bullet you prefer and start out just shooting and getting use to the gun. It may or may not take some time to break in/smooth out the barrel so I wouldn't get in too much of a hurry to tweak out the most accuracy from it. As you get use to it and the way it shoots you can start fine tuning your load by looking for the best shooting bullet and powder combinations. Most importantly, get out and have some fun making smoke with your new toy.

I have an older Knight Disc (22 inch barrel) and one of my hunting buddies has that American Knight.
We both use 90gr Pyrodex with a 250 T/C Shockwave...
Sight in 2 1/2 inches high at 100 yards and you will be about 2 1/2 inches low at 150.

I prefer loose...You are handloading...

If you already have the pellets - use them. I'd use a two pellet load and like was already said, just learn how to load & shoot & have fun.

The store sales clerks in many cases wouldn't know how to load or fire a muzzleloader, let alone what is best or easiest for them. All a lot of them are nothing more then parrots.They listen to knowledgeable people discuss their black powder guns, and BOOM!! instant expert.

I was once in a Wal Mart where a woman was about to purchase a CVA Bobcat sidelock .50 caliber as a gift for her husband. The clerk was telling her she needed some pellets, #11 caps,sabots, and loading jags, etc.. I then interrupted and explained to her about the rifle (since I own one of them too). Needless to say the clerk kinds of stood back and listened for a while. Now I am not saying some of the things the clerk said would not have worked or went off in that Bobcat. I just think her husband might have been a little disappoint on his first trip to the range and they could have got better performance and accuracy other (and cheaper) ways.

Since you have an American Knight USA and you got such a good deal on it, I am guessing it is an older model. Many of the older models would have a 22" barrel and a #11 percussion cap ignition (check that aspect of your rifle). Unless it has been converted over to the 209 primers. Either way, that little Knight is a great shooter. If it is a #11 ignition, while it will fire pellets, it will not fire them consistently in all kinds of weather. People with 209 ignitions have learned the hard way, that certain primers work better then others. Some 209 primers failed in certain weather. A 209 primer has much more ignition power then a #11 cap. For that reason alone, if this is a #11 ignition then use loose powder. That is an easy question there. If it is a 209 primer ignition, I'd still use the loose powder.

Also I have a Knight Wolverine LK-93 which is the next step up from the Knight American. Mine also has the 22" barrel and the #11 ignition. One of the favorite loads out of the rifle is 80 grains of Pyrodex RS and a 240 grain XTP. Try making a 80 grain charge out of 2 fifty grain pellets or even 30 grain pellets. Now you ask, what's easier, dumping a little powder into a measure and then down the barrel or sifting throughdifferent pellet sizes to make up the load you want?

Get some loose powder like Pyrodex RS or Triple Se7en 2f, a see through plastic powder measure with a cut off funnel at the top, the right kind of caps or primers, a short starter, a capper, and some T/C Mag Express XTP's in 240 & 300 grain. Also the 250 grain Shockwaves. One of those three should produce good groups out to 100 yards. Start your testing and learning your rifle with 80 grains of powder and a projectile at 25 yards. Shoot a three shot group, and basically work your load up from there.

You have a great rifle there. And you stole it. You should be ashamed of yourself (an very happy at the same time.. ) That little rifle is one of the best meat and potatoes rifles out there. It will do it all once you learn it. They work great in tree stands, stalking, and don't let that 22" barrel fool you. With practice, it will shoot just as far as the 28" barrels most the time.

Also welcome to the forum. Keep us posted as to how your rifle works for you, and if you have any questions, these guys here are great about helping you out.

Thanks for the advise. I figured it was a steal when I saw it, I ask at the price was wrong with it.

What if I go with the musket cap ignition. Would that help anything or will I be wasting my money?

It is #11. What about the CCI #11 mag ignition?

I am thinking of just using the pellets this year and next going to powder. it will be cheaper in the long run and I do a little reloading, so playing with powder is nothing new, and like to adjust to what feels wright to me.

If you're shooting loose powder the #11 cap will do just fine. If you are going to shoot pellets, then the musket cap might be an advantage in the ignition over the #11 although the #11 really are hotter then people think. Personally I would just get a jug of Pyrodex RS loose powder, and use the CCI Magnum caps. Those magnum caps will give you good ignition. I would forget the pellets. If you have the pellets already, well then you can try them but do not be surprised if you have misfires.

And since you reload, remember that only black powder or their equal goes into these rifle. No smokeless powders into the muzzlelaoders unless they are specifically made for them.

Thanks again cayugad.
To make sure I don't mix them up, I to 2 tool boxs, with my reloading gear and one for blackpowder.

quike up date.
I went on got some #11 (Remington). shot 4 off, learned a good bit. But at I was going to the back deck I saw a nice 4 pointer (to bad it was not hunting season) give me nice shot.
I think am going to try both loose powder and pellets see which I would like better. I also pick up some loose power.
I gotta ask one more thing, is it safe to mix the loose powder and pellets like 30 grs loose and 1 50 gr pellet?
I don't really think it is but i am 100% new to ML.

If you mix them you might not get the kind ofaccuracy from that you want, but can sure try.That is a duplex load. They do it in flintlocks that shoot pellets, so I do not see why it should not work in yours. Normally though they drop maybe 10 grains of loose and then two pellets...

But I see no reason why it would not be safe, as long as every thing is seated as one unit... good and snug. I am sure if you look at the Hodgdon's web site the do not recommend it.