what would you use...
 

Time for some fun around here...

It's crunch time. You have one day left to hunt the hardwoods area of some prime property just across the road from your place. The neighbor just called you on the telephone and told you he was headed home because of the storm moving in. And he happened to see a monster buck cross the road and move into the trees near your place. It is the same one you'd seen many times and you know his habits.

You will encounter thickets, fallen trees, brush in some areas, and some areas of hardwoods will be open somewhat to about 100 yards in a few spots. The property lies on a slight grade, with no major hills to encounter, but some gentle slopes.

The rotten weather man just gave the bad news.. It will be 31 degrees and he's predicting freezing sleet and later in the afternoon heavy snows.

Any kind of muzzleloader is legal here. Scopes are legal. Any ignition is legal. Any bullet is legal. SO... FROM WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN YOUR GUN RACK/SAFE/ CLOSET/ WHAT EVER... What are you going to take for a rifle, powder, ignition system, and bullet?

What do you feel are the important things to consider in your selection?

I would use my White G-Series Whitetail. It is a nice size for being in the brush. It has open sights which should be fine in the range I would most likely be shooting. I would use a heavy 495 grain conical that could cut through a few twigs if it had to. The powder would be 70 grains of 3f Goex and I'd put a rubber over the muzzle so I needn't worry about the moisture.
BOOM!
Important things:
Quick handling rifle
Accurate as anything I've got
fast, dependable ignition
Hard hitting bullet

I really want that buck !!! I will be using my TC Omega.. with a Nikon Omega non bdc scope mounted on it. 100 grain volume charge of BH209 powder..with a 300 gr Gold dot on top of that also using a win 209 primer. Got my flip up see thru scope caps on the scope too. 3x9 scope. This combo has Never let me down. I want that buck !!!!!!!!! Gonna get him too . forgot this..I am using crush rib sabot too. gonna get him yup

at the moment it'd be the optima with 100gr bh209 and 250gr Aerolite. She shoots purdy.

And there aint no deer outside! I scared them all off when i was testing the aerolites out! :D

Easy one. Omega X7 with its 4x ProDiamond loaded with a 250 Deep Curl in a H5045SB sabot over 95 grains GOEX. Stay out of the woods you guys - that buck is MINE!

whatever your the most comfortable with.

My Hoyt Alphamax 32 and a ghille suit.:D

Savage 10ML11 with the Bushnell Elite 4200 3x9 on top.
Barnes Original Spitzer 300gr, Harvester Black Crushed Rib Sabot
43grns IMR-SR-4759
CCi-209M primer

GMB54-120 w/Lehigh NFPJ
Redfield Rev. 2x7x33
Barnes 458-300gr SOCOM in Harvester 54x45 sabot
120gr BH209
Win209 Primer

I'd take my Knight Disc, 80grs FFF Goex and a .300gr Hornady XTP .430 bullet...

The X7 with a 4x Leupold mounted. The scope has flip up lens covers that allow me to hunt in snow, sleet, and rain. The powder will be 105g BH. It is sighted in for 300g Deep Curl bullets in H15045BF sabot, when the primer is STS.

I guess my Triumph will have to do, seeing it is the only muzzy in the safe!

Barnes 250gr TEZ, 100gr BH209. The Triumph is topped with a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4x32. Dead on at 100 yards.

Balloon over the muzzle with a wrap of electrical tape to keep out the moisture.

No scope cover... I'll keep it tucked under my arm or slip a mitt over it, while sitting.

cayugad

I would probably grab my Knight DISC MHC with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9x40 600 DOA with a 120 grains of T7 and Lehigh .458/275 grain DOA in a MMP Orange sabot.

And I would be totally happy....

For That situation I would take the 54 Renegade. with a 2 power scope.
Its going to be close I want some thing that will get on him fast the weather is going to be bad for waiting and following a blood trail I want him down on the spot The only thing that has done that for me besides a 54 PRB with 120 gr of powder is a 250 Deep Curl with that amount of powder but the Triumph and the Endeavor have 3X9 scopes which are slower, the 1.5X 4.5 on the Renegade is fast.

right now,it would have to be the triumph with a 2-7 nikon prostaff.loaded with a 250 sst sitting in a harvester short black on top of 110g BH209 lit with a W209.this gun is an easy carry.plus it just fits me and comes up quick on target, and has never failed me.....karl

I would be shooting my White Model 97 .451 with a Bushnell 3200 2-7x32mm scope. It would have 80 grains of Triple Seven 2f, a 460 grain Bull Shop .451 conical bullet, and a RWS 1075 cap.

The tight fitting RWS cap would make the rifle near water proof. And that model 97 always goes off. That White has a 22 inch barrel and it would be a fast to get on target brush rifle, and hard hitting. The only draw back might be the laminate stock as it can get slippery when wet, but with my gloves it would work just fine.

In the woods that Bushnell with the rain-guard lens would shed snow perfect. And if it started to get dusk I could firefly the cross hairs to make sure they stick out like a sore thumb. I'd be on 2x and when I got on a hardwood ridge where I could see a little, I would kick it up to 5x or 7x. With that storm coming in, I want to plant that monster fast. No tracking for me. So when I got my chance I would plow that big conical bullet into a high shoulder shot if possible and break him down. After that it would be a matter of dragging.

cayugad

Second thoughts..... the MK-85 but the same load...



But with a peep sight....

I'll bring my Trusty ACCURA packed with 110gr's of Pyro RS and a 240gr XTP inside a HPH-24 Harvestor Sabot and a Win W209 Primer. My Muzzle will be covered with a Piece of Masking Tape to keep out any Moisture. I'll sneak over to the place the Buck was last seen taking into account the way the Wind is blowing and wait untill it's about a Hour from Dark, Im not gonna push him, Im gonna let him do his thing.
Since I know the area good I'll have a good idea where he may be, and when I see him it'll be Venison Tenderloins Tonight for Dinner!
(BP)

I would grab my Lyman Great Plains Hunter loaded with 110 gr triple 7 , 425 gr hornady great plains bullet, Remington #11 cap lyman peep sight and a thumbcot over the barrel. Don't think I would have to worry about the shot. My GPR hasn't failed in 30 years. If I had to have a backup though it would be the White super 91 with 100 gr triple 7,260 gr dead center sabot and it also has a Lyman peep sight. I know it will drop one at 138 yards as it did just that earlier this year. I saw 2 big beautiful Mulie bucks today, Now I can hardly wait til next year to find them . In the mean time only 4 days left for does. I better go hunting. let me get my Lyman. Talk to you later.

Given the conditions described probably my 30-06 from the warmth of my heated, dry pick-up truck. But being that that isn't legal, the choice would have to go to my Nikon scoped Knight (209 ignition), 80 gr of Pyrodex RS, 300 gr Hornady XTP/Harvester Green CR sabot = 1 buck DOA.

cva apex with 3-9 nikon prostaff with flip up covers turned down to 4 power. 90 gr 777 and 300 gr sst touched off by a win 209 If I get him in my sights he's not gonna like it...

IF legal my browning Abolt in 270wsm but if not then my Remington 700ml 50cal with a 3x9x40 bushnell banner loaded with 110gr of 777 and a 295gr powerbelt aerotip with a piece of tape at the muzzel.if I see it inside of 140yards it'll die unless I get the shakes lol

Easy answer, White g-series whitetail with a 370gr TC Maxi ball over 100grs of pryo P and RWS caps. This load is super accurate at 100 yards and very depenable in damp weather.

Traditions Hawken, 70g T7. 275g maxi, with a 1075 primer. a ballon over the end barrel. Hand and foot warmers. And the Artisc Sheild outer wear!

Normally I would break out my .45 Hunterbolt loaded with 80 grains T7 and a 200 Shockwave. But given the wet conditions, I would feel better with my Wolf. Load is 80 grains T7 and a 250 grain Deep Curl in a Harvestor CR sabot. Scoped with Simmons ProDiamond 4X.

I would take my trusty old Wolf, loaded with 80 grains of 777 loose powder, and a 295 grain HP. Why? It is short, and easy to cary in the thick stuff. And it is sleeting, and raining. Out of the 4 muzzleloaders i have, the wolf is the cheepest, and if it gets a little banged up and wet, thats ok. I ould be using my Williams peep on it.

I would be using my Traditions Lightning bolt with 28" barrel that is topped with a Bushnell Banner 3-9X40 scope. The gun shoots the 300gr Shockwave Bonded bullts well with 100 gr Loose of Pyrodex RS using a 209 Remington Kleenbore primer. I have taken many deer with this gun and I feel good with this one.

Key factors in choosing
1. You know you have one shot so use your best trouble-free gun.
2. You said you have timber and a clear area to shoot so pick one that can shoot through it.

This gun does it so I picked this one.

I would take my Knight Disc Extreme .50 with a Barnes Expander 300gr.with 80gr.T-7 loose powder.
Taureau noir

White Lightning .504 with Leupold 2-7x32 shooting 70grs of Swiss 3F, RWS 1075 cap and Bat's 496gr Trashcan.

No problem here I would take my Sidekick loaded up with 95 grs. of BH209 and a 300 gr. XTP Hornaday and take that trophy!!!