Hey Guys,

I'm looking to buy a muzzleloader in October. I want to get one that will shoot well, and be easy to use and to clean. My goal in getting one is to extend the seasons that I am able to hunt deer in Ohio. The Reg book for muzzleloader season says this

"muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger, or muzzleloading shotgun of 10-gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel."

So, that is the guidelines I need to follow. I'm looking for a few suggestions on what I should buy. Like I said, I'm just trying to extend my season into the late season. I'm not looking for added challenge, or the prettiest gun. Just another tool to expand my deer hunting.

Assuming I know nothing about muzzleloading, walk me through the process of getting one. What are some good models I should look at, what do I need to buy in order to begin shooting? I am an avid rifle, shotgun, and bow hunter. But I am completely new to this stuff, as I never had anyone to teach me.
Thank you,
-Jake

First off, welcome to the sport of muzzleloading. It is very addictive mind you and you will hear a lot of different opinions, but that is what makes it interesting to say the least. Just getting started, I would suggest an inline, my opinion only, they seem to be a little easier to learn and work with. There are a number of very good brands out there, Knight, Thompson Center, CVA, Traditions, just to name a few. I'm very partial to the Knight line myself. To me, I just like the feel and the way the gun balances in my hands better, not to mention that I feel they shoot very well to boot. Good luck in your quest for this new and exciting venture into muzzleloading!!

welcome to the world of muzzleloading.

need to know more about the rules for your state, do they allow optics, what ignition systems they allow, what powders they allow so on and so on.

brand wise, i look like an cva guy.but I like all brand but tc. reason I don't shoulder well for me, other then there traditions.

go to an gun shop or an big box sporting goods store, handle as many makes and models as you can. find what shoulders well for you.

For a good solid entry level rifle you can hardly beat the Optima in Cabala's bargain cave. It includes a scope mount (with fifty cent shipping if you order by 9/26).

Here's a link.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoot...3Bcat104533380

That is a good deal. But this one isn't bad either. I have one just like it and it is a good rifle.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/CVA17...le/706433.uts?

What is your total budget? I mean total for gun, all accessories, and components (powder, primer and bullets)? How accurate do you need to be and what is the longest shot you anticipate presenting itself that you would take? Will you mount a scope?

Sportsman's Guide still have Knight Visions for under $200.00. Which I think would last you a life time and give you excellent service.

I like my Thompson Center Z5 Omega .50 thumbhole. Got it on sale for $300 and it came with a basic starter pack. It is crazy accurate. I have 2 other TC's that are side locks and they are great rifles too. The CVA's are nice too. You can get a CVA Wolf pretty cheap and they have the break-barrel design. I just sold one awhile back that was already scoped for $160.

First of all, welcome to the forum! I hunt in Ohio, so I know you are allowed to use pretty much whatever you want as long as it loads from the muzzle. I would suggest a decent quality "starter" muzzleloader with a scope.

Both the rifles suggested (CVA Optima and Wolf) are good choices to start IMO. I own a Wolf and can vouch for it. The Optima is a more full-sized muzzy, as where the Wolf is a shorter carbine that is nice for tree stand hunting. It is accurate, but I would not necessarily call it a "long range" shooter. Both are very easy to use and easy to clean. Both should provide good hunting accuracy out to at least 150 yards which is probably about as far as you would want to shoot with a muzzy unless you practice shooting at longer range.

There are other good choices out there (TC, Knight), but most of them will cost you more (I don't know if price is an issue- for most people I know it is ). If you can find a used Omega, Triumph or Disc rifle in good condition, that would be another good lower-priced option. Some of my hunting buddies in Ohio use Traditions, but I'm not a huge fan- I think CVA's quality is better and the price the same.

Other than the rifle and scope, you'll need a few more things. Here's a list to get started (by no means a complete list):
1. 209 primers (any regular 209 shotgun primer will work)

2. Powder- I would suggest loose powder, although if you are dead set on making it as easy as possible, you can use pellets. As for powder, I would personally recommend Triple Seven- it is powerful, accurate and cleans up easy. Pyrodex is also a good choice, but it is dirtier. BH209 has a strong following, but it is expensive, hard to find sometimes, and if you get a CVA your breech plug MAY need modifications for it to be 100% reliable. That's why I would not recommend it to a beginner.

3. Powder measure

4. Cloth patches for swabbing and cleaning, and .50 cal wire cleaning brush attachment for your ramrod

5. Cleaning agent - if you use Triple Seven, I just use a bottle of plain Windex, or sometimes I'll mix the Windex 50/50 with rubbing alcohol.

6. Projectiles- Since you are new, I would stick with a pre-packaged bullet/sabot combo. In any hunting store (or online at Cabelas or other online stores) you can find a good selection to use. To start out, I would personally recommend the Hornady XTP (either 240, 250 or 300 grain) Barnes Expander or TMZ/TEZ in 250, 290 or 300 grain. Any of these are easy to find and generally shoot well in most guns.

That's pretty much all you need to get started. A complete cleaning kit is nice, but as long as you have a cleaning jag & wire brush attachments for your ramrod, that's all you really need. I use brake cleaner and a toothbrush to clean my breechplugs.

Any other questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!

I too would check out the T/C Omega. It's the way to go imo. The other gun I'd consider is the Savage if you can find one as they can shoot smokeless powder.

One thing that I really like on muzzle loaders, that some other guys love, and some don't is a stainless steel barrel. I've had both, and the stainless just cleans up so much easier, and doesn't corrode nearly as fast. That being said, I still recommend you clean it the same day you shoot it if using anything but BH209, but the stainless seems to hold up quite a bit better imo. I wouldn't buy another one without a SS barrel.

For bullets, I'd try some Speer Deep Curls in either 250 grain (Is it 250 or 245?) or 300 grain. I've always used the 300 grain ones and have been highly impressed, plus they are reasonably priced. For sabots I like the Harvester Crush Rib sabots, but that's just what my gun shoots well, you really need to match them to your gun. Some guys like the short black sabots better.

There are also XTP's that seem to be good and reasonably priced.

I'd stay away from the Powerbelts for hunting. Many of us on here have tried them, and they perform poorly on game. They are accurate, but perform lousy, and are about double the price of the deep curls. The only person on here that really seems to like them is MountainDevil, who is getting them for free, so you have to realize that when reading his reviews. He also even admits that you really need to modify them with an insert to make them perform correctly. Other than those, I've not seen any bullets that I'd say to stay away from. I think some are better that others, and some are better at a cheaper price, but there are lots of good choices out there.

For primers, I'm assuming you will pick one with a 209 ignition system. It's really just a lot of good choices here. I've used the Winchester W209 primers and they worked fine, but I currently use the Fusion 209 muzzle loading primers. I mean there really are just a lot of good choices and I've not had a problem with any of them. If you use BH209, I know they say not to use muzzle loader specific primers, so that that into consideration.

For powder, it really just depends on what you plan to do with it. BH209 seems to be the way to go and many guys on here use it. It is a lot cleaner so you don't have to swab the bore between shots, nor worry about cleaning the rifle right away. If you want a loose powder this is probably what I'd try.

If you don't want that or want to try pellets there are pellets made by Triple 7 and Pyrodex, as well as them having their own loose powders. I personally use Pyrodex pellets or loose powder. I use the loose powder on the range, and pellets when hunting, and I like this setup. I use it as the muzzle loader I have right now can't shoot BH209, but if I ever get another one I may try it. The other muzzle loader I had wouldn't shoot the Pyrodex loose powder worth a crap, but it shot great groups with the pellets, so you really just have to try and see what it likes. I really like the pellets in the field as they are so easy to handle, but you get about half the amount for about $10 more than a pound of powder, so the price is way on up there on them, which imo is the biggest draw back.

So overall, to pick a powder and primer really just depends on what you want to do with it.

As for cleaning, with Pyrodex I use soapy water, and get the bore clean, then I run a patch of rubbing alcohol through to dry it out, and then I oil the bore. I do this the same day I shoot it or else rust problems will start.

To swab between shots, I use rubbing alcohol, but Windex is another good choice, and spit patches even work.

With BH209, you'd want to use something like Hoppes 9, or something you'd use to clean a centerfire rifle instead of water.

If you have any specific questions, I can try to answer them for you.