Muzzleloader recommendation for Washington State
 

Hey All-

I'm looking to buy a rifle to hunt with in Washington, and need some recommendations as I am completely new to black powder. Links to or descriptions of specific models are welcome. I need it to be .50 caliber as that is a minimum for elk in this state. Here are the Washington state Muzzloader regulations:

Muzzleloading firearms are loaded from the muzzle and use black powder or a black powder substitute. Muzzleloading firearms must be wheel lock, matchlock, flintlock, or percussion lock. A percussion lock firearm must use original-style percussion caps that fit on the nipple and are exposed to the weather. “Exposed to the weather” means the percussion cap or the frizzen must be visible and cannot be covered or enclosed by an integral part of the weapon proper. Telescopic sights are not allowed.

Muzzleloading firearms for deer hunting must be at least .40 caliber. However, buckshot, size #1 or larger, may be used in a smoothbore of .60 caliber or larger.

Muzzleloading firearms for other big game (elk) must be at least .50 caliber, or must fire a round ball or bullet of at least 170 grains

As you can see, I am limited to more primitive rifles with open sights. I'm actually fine with this and looking forward to the challenge. I'm looking for one rifle to handle deer through Elk, and want to keep it below $500...

Thanks in advance...
Scott

Check the link I posted near the end of the Inlines thread

http://www.openseasongear.com/Whitet...S_p/000031.htm

Worth a try - you'll like it. It would be set up for musket caps but you can get #11 plugs if desired.

Hey- Thanks for the link! I can't get a larger picture to show, but are you sure that this rifle satisfies these two requirements?

Muzzleloading firearms must be wheel lock, matchlock, flintlock, or percussion lock.

A percussion lock firearm must use original-style percussion caps that fit on the nipple and are exposed to the weather. “Exposed to the weather” means the percussion cap or the frizzen must be visible and cannot be covered or enclosed by an integral part of the weapon proper.

That one looks like it has a modern trigger that protects the caps. Again, the picture is small and I am new to black powder, so maybe I'm wrong. Let me know....

Thanks!

It will qualify. Best hurry, he can't have many. Also check the other post in the inlines thread, some good pictures.

It shoots .504 conicals which you can buy reasonably from Bull Shop.

LOL- Well, with 2 kids and Christmas coming, hurry may not be an option. I did see the better pics you mentioned, and can see that the nipple is exposed. It did answer one question. That being if there are modern options that will qualify.

I am also seriously considering going more traditional. Something like a percussion Hawken type rifle. I want to take my time, get some input and get what I'm sure I want the first time.

Scott

check out the .54cal Lyman Great Plains rifle. With patched round ball, its perfect out to 150 yards.

50 or 54 cal percussion...T/C Hawken would be a good place to start ;)

SDK

Your problem is that most muzzleloaders made today will not qualify in either of the 3 Pacific Northwest States.

When a friend of mine in Kennewick asked me the same question a few years back - my first thought then and the first suggestion now is still the same - "Get a White" Problem they are not being made anymore - but if you can find one get it - Underclocked is your best resource in this task...

My second suggestion would be another rifle no longer being made but you can pick them on the auction sites.... A Remington 700ml

Both the White and the Remington can use all three ignition system and this year in the state of Washington you can even use regular bullets in a sabot - both of these rifles will shoot Conicals and Sabots really well.

There is a rumor that TC is going to build a Pac Northwest compatible gun in the near future, but the way the economy is ????

If you are really thinking that a Traditional rifle will suit your situation them I would make the following suggestion and it is going to sound a lot harder than it is.

But I would suggest that you contact Green Mountain Rifle Barrels and buy a 50 cal GM-LRH barrel (long range hunter). Then off ebay or some other site purchase a TC Renegade or Hawkin stock - put the two together and you would have a great Traditional capable of shooting full bore conicals or sabots. This would make an excellent elk gun to 150 yards - limited only by the open sites that you have to use.

I honestly would not hunt an elk in our hunting situations with a 50 cal patched round ball. If you are wanting to use a round ball use at least a 54 cal. Not that a 50 couldn't do it but you would be terribly limited in range. Plus being a beginner shooter - shooting a PRB accurately is not something that just happens.

Where are you at in Washington? I am across the line next to WSU.

Bronko has a .54 caliber Renegade for sale for $200.00. That is a great rifle and a great deal. I never asked but I am sure the rifle is in good shape. That rifle there will knock down anything you encounter in the State of Washington, it is traditional, it will go off every time once you learn it, and it is a blast to shoot.

You should get a TC Black Diamond inline that has 3 different nipples that can accept #11's, musket caps and 209's.
It has a conventional striker bolt design and the TC "No BS" lifetime warranty.

There's many used ones on Gunbroker but also some new ones.
Here's a beautiful new extended range version in stainless steel.
I think that Cayugad even has a Black Diamond in his gun cabinet and loves it! :)

T/C black diamond 26" .50 cal. sst/hardwoods #8949

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=148882339

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions. I now have much to think about and a better idea of what I'm going to need.

Sabotloader- I'm in Eugene, OR right now, but am relocating to the Seattle area for a new job right after the new year. It's more money and I need to get away from all of the hippies down here ;)

Maybe sometime when I get my BP shooting skills and move all squared away we can hook up for a hunt. Some beautiful country over there in Idaho...

Scott

may also want to check out a Winchester X-150 on an online gun site. Awesome shooters!

SDK

If you are not in a hurry to get a ML wait a bit, when the 2010 ML's come out - you might have a better selection to choose from.

Oregon's rules are the most restrictive of the three PacNorWest states, when you get to WA state you will see they have been relaxed a bit.

My daughter live in the Kennewick area, and if you wanted to set up a meeting down there (closer for both of us) I could bring a couple of ML's over and we could run out and do some shooting.

If you need to purchase now - really look hard at the White, Remington, Knight Wolverine or Bighorn, or even the TC Black Diamond. I would not suggest any of the older style CVA's including the Winchester X-150 - it was not made by Winchester.

http://www.knightrifles.com/catalog.aspx?catid=bighorn

see my post on the tc encore .50. this is illegal in the nw, but i have good info that there is a guy in eugene oregon that will mill your encore to make it legal during muzzle loader season. if this stands to be true the encore is by far the choice in my mind. just too many options to pass up. there is the northwest edition out there now by tc also.

OregonHunter5

If you wait for the 2010 TC muzzleloaders you might find they are going to make a PacNorWest legal ML... Hopefully they will offer something other than on Encore base.

Thanks again to all of you.

I actually found a Muzzleloading specialty shop right around the corner in Springfield that has great pricing on new and used guns and supplies. I'm going to grab a decent .50 Hawken percussion rifle just to have fun with and get out shooting in the next few weeks.

Sabotloader- I'm going to take your advice, start practicing with the Hawken, and wait to see what comes out in 2010 for some serious deer and elk hunting. Hell, for the price of a decent scope I can get two rifles and all of the accessories. Once I get settled up in Washington, I'll send you a PM about getting together for a shoot.

I'll post a pic with specs when I pick up the Hawken. I'll probably have questions on getting started with a good practice load anyway.

Thanks,
Scott

SDK if your in springfield oregon, go to gun works. they have that new NW edition. i didnt get one cause my primary use of the encore was for the centerfire options. sportsman in bend has them also i believe just in case gun works is too expensive.

OH5- Do you recall what gun works was getting for it?

Bi-Mart in Eugene has it for $269 out the door with all of the attachments to make it legal in Oregon, Washington and Idaho...