Thoughts on the Knight Bighorn ML
 

I am new to this forum and would like some help if possible. I am in the market for my first muzzleloader. I have looked at several over the last month or so. The Knight Bighorn is the one that I am seriously considering. I also like the ultalite model but it is a little out of my price range. For those of you that shoot Knights what are your thoughts on the Bighorn? Thanks for any help.

Old style plunger gun,they shoot well but are a pain to clean. I suggest a sealed breach model like the Triumph which is easy to clean and shoots just as well or better.

What State will you hunt Papabear?

Rules vary by state. The Bighorn is a good plunger style gun but not the most efficient if you can used a closed breech system.

Open breech is required in many Western states.

The Bighorn is an very good reliable and accurate muzzleloader. As mentioned it is an older style rifle using what is commonly called a 'plunger ignition' system. Using an open breech plunger system does result in a very dirty breech area and does take more time to clean. With the Bighorn you can choose the type of ignition source you might want to use, caps #11 or Musket or you can install a shotgun 209 primer system.

IMO the Bighorn is a very good short season gun, in that I mean if you are only interested in shooting a ML a few days a year it will certainly do the job. Even if you choose to shoot it a lot it will work very well. I would also suggest that it probably should not be considered a BH-209 shooting gun because you will need to use shotgun primers for ignition and the is a possibility because of the progressive burning nature of BH that you might push the 209 primer back out of the breech plug and expel out of the breech.

If you are considering the Bighorn, I would also suggest that look one model up to the Knight DISC Extreme. It is a far more versatile gun in the fact that it allows you more choices of types of uses that may meet the needs of all the different ML hunting rules you might encounter.

I have three LK rifles. The LK is a pre Big Horn style rifle from Knight. All of them are great shooters. The only reason I don't own a Big Horn is I don't need one having three just like it. But I want to say, this plunger type rifle is very dependable. If something is wrong, you can normally fix it on the spot. But I have shot countless rounds from my LK's and they just don't jam, and they go off.

Now granted you can't use the new whiz bang powder out there called BlackHorn 209. Ok fine. Use Triple Seven. These are meat and potato rifles meant for hunting. They are easy to carry, easy to care for and just a real work horse.

As for cleaning them... break opens are nice without question. But I do not find the plunger type all that hard to clean and maintain.

I really appreciate the responses. Like I said I am new to the muzzleloader scene. I live and hunt in Nevada. I also hunt Idaho and Montana. And hopefully Colorado soon. I do want a rifle that will meet all the regulations for these states. The Bighorn will meet Nevada's regulations but I have not looked into the other states.

I have looked at several different muzzleloaders. I have a budget of around $500 at this point for the rifle. I want to get the best I can get for that money. I know a lot of it comes to personal preference when it comes to brands. Just like anything else. My plan for this muzzleloader is hunting. Now with that said I am not someone that likes to take a rifle, bow etc out a week before the season and shoot it a couple times. I like to shoot a lot and become very comfortable and familiar with a weapon. So it will be something that I shoot with regularity. So ease of cleaning is a big deal. Will the disc extreme be a better option for me?

Personally and I can only relate my feelings, the Extreme is a better option. Hunting in the PacNorWest states requires an open ignition so it is going to get dirty in the breech area. I do not find it difficult to clean but I also have been doing it for awhile.

These are some pictures of the Knight Western Kit installed in a DISC Extreme.










And this is a DISC setup with a 'bare primer' 209 shotgun primer ignition and scope for rifle hunting.



These are actually both a rugged reliable rifles and in your case if you are going to shoot & shoot for enjoyment step up one notch and get the DISC.

Thanks for the info. Is there any difference in performance between the 209 primer and the #11 percussion cap? Would I have to use different powders?

I have never found a significant difference in performance between cap ignition and 209 ignition using BP and BP subs up to BH-209. With BH you do need to have a very hot ignition source - shotgun primer.

The big difference between the to is cleanliness of the breech area. And the fact that 209 is more trusted because of the sealing of the primer and the fact that a 209 can often over come outside really cold temperatures and even ignite a somewhat damp powder load.

For ML season all I shoot are #11 Mag caps or RWS Dynamit Noble 1075+ caps. I can seal them much tighter on the nipple post than I can Musket caps. And the two caps mentioned above produce the same heat as does a Musket cap, but the Musket cap will burn longer.

Thanks for all the feedback and information. It is greatly appreciated. I'm still not sure what I am going to do. But I have a little time to decide.