Here's what I showed my step brother last year when he bought his first muzzleloader. Has some good information but not all the information you'll need.

CVA Black Powder 101
Intro to Blackpowder Hunting [*]Types of Muzzleloaders[*]Muzzleloader Calibers[*]Types of Propellants[*]Ignition Systems[*]Accessories[*]Muzzleloader Safety[*]Loading & Shooting a Muzzleloader[*]Cleaning Your Muzzleloader[*]"Blackpowder Guns & Hunting" TV Highlights

Wow!! This info is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for all the help, I think I got some reading to do now

Exocet77:

The book suggestions that have been made are all very good, so I won't repeat them.

This site will probably be your biggest help. I have learned a great deal from the people here. And no one has ever made me feel like I was asking a dumb question.

Hopefully you will take up muzzleloading, it is a fine club to be a member of.

I would like to add a sidebar or two on how NOT to shoot a flintlock. Some topics would include:

1. Your flintlock will fire upside-down, so don't do this with short sleeves (I still have some 4F under my skin from that little stunt)
2. Firing your flintlock at night:Enjoy the bright pretty light, it will be the last thing you see for a few minutes.
3.Pyrodex 2F in the pan and the origin of the expression "flash in the pan."

~Robert

Exocet77,Welcome to our group, there are three general groups, the traditional, the inline muzzleloaders and the smokeless, so, call muzzle loader groups. all are represented here and if you chose any one of the in a good brand you will gather a lot of info just reading the operators manual, if you are interested in any particular group and say so there are people here who will respond, to get the best idea of where to start, for hunting always check your state laws first[I recognize your tag from the x-bowgroup but dont kow which state you are from. I use a exocet myself] the laws may limit which groups you are interested in.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/muzzleloaders.php
after you have an idea of whats legal in you state look these pages over to get a rough idea whats available then you can ask some more questions. Lee

Exocet 77, the savage ML2 is an excellent choice for the beginning muzzleloader. It saves you much of the fuss and bother of black powder. Also:
1. It is a very accurate gun- Myself and many others report load combinations that are MOA or better.
2. It can shoot loads in excess of 2500 fps although the Savage recommended loads range 2000-2300 fps.
3. No cloud of smoke obscuring the game's reaction to the shot.
4. You can leave this gun loaded at the end of the day(primer out of course). Some have left it loaded for months and it still goes bang.
5. There is a website with friendly, knowledgible and helpful guys who have gotten myself and many others on the road to success with this rifle. http://dougva.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=Savage