Both the Impact https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/muzzleloaders/impact

and the Triumph https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/muzzleloaders/triumph
fall within your price range. Both rifles have open sights if required or necessary.

T/C rifles are all capable of shooting black powder or its substitutes, including BH209. There is no requirement to change breech plugs. The T/C rifles have breech plugs which flash channels are cleaned by turning a 1/8" drill bit by HAND.

Very good rifles, with many happy owners.

X2. nice feeling stock and trigger at a very reasonable price.

I've owned Knight and CVA. My personal preference is the CVA Optima V2. Extremely accurate and very well made. I would recommend going to a local dealer and shouldering a couple of rifles and go from there.

Good luck.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations so far.

The nearest store that would have a variety of muzzleloaders for me to check out is 50 miles away, so I wanted a starting point on what to look at.

I think I'll be looking at the CVA Accura v2 (regular and mountain gun version) and the T/C Omega. I will probably try to get my husband to use this gun too. He's all about centerfires right now but if he could get an extra couple of days hunting with a ML, he'd try it. :)

He works at Barnes, so that's why I'd be shooting Barnes bullets. :D

LUCKY !!!!!

I don't work at Barnes, but its the only bullet I hunt with.

Go shoulder a few with your hunting clothes on. You will quickly see size does matter. ;)

What fits in a t-Shirt will likely feel clumsy after a few layers of clothes.

My brother has the Accura V2 and absolutely loves. I shouldered one and didn't think it fit me. So I tried and bought the Optima instead. My favorite powder is White Hots.

I bought the CVA accura v2. :)

I bought an inline as I had a few side hammer rifles. What I was looking for was a used gun so I could conduct my Hunter Ed Classes.
I decided to shoot this a bit.
And I found out they are way more fun than anything I had anticipated. Good luck Christine. You will enjoy the rifle.

You have further questions there is a great group of very knowledgeable people here that will help you out.

JW

Good choice.