Muzzleloader. Is it worth it?
 

Hey everyone, I’m a duck and goose hunter from South Idaho. I’m also a deer and bear hunter. I am posting here because I’m debating on whether I should buy a muzzleloader or not. However, I’m not sure if it’s worth it or not.

I have no experience whatsoever with muzzleloaders, so this is completely new to me.

My goal is to get experience with many different types of firearms, and then figure out what works best for me when I’m in the field hunting. I know how to use shotgun and rifle, but not muzzleloader and archery. These are the two I want to learn

Muzzleloaders are allowed in my state, but they have specific regulations. I’ll have to look into that. Can someone give me advice? Is it worth it to get a muzzleloader? Any help will be appreciated, Jared

well like anything thing is life,. if something is worth the money /time and what not's, will always be a personal thing

there are more steps to shooting a muzzleloader than some want to have, and more safety issue's one should be very careful about, to be safe!
Cost can be a LOT higher IMO< for a muzzleloader than for say archery gear,(although both can be cheaper or more costly pending what and how far you wish to take things) as with archery gear you can re shoot the same arrows over and over, most states have much longer archery season, for more game animals as well!, really good archery hunters can hunt small game and waterfowl even ,(requires different fetching and heads, but can be done with same bow)
and YES blackpowder folks can do the same, but most times, they require a whole different gun(say a blackpowder shotgun over just the rifle)

if your not into reloading, learning how to safely use and store blackpowder and or its substitutes , and being a LOT more diligent on precise loading and powder charges, and making sure you clean gun and items OFTEN , as black powder is highly corrosive, and it has IMO< higher issue's with HOW Its stored and carried(absorbs moisture faster than other powders IMO)
then I wouldn;t suggest getting into Muzzleloaders

Archery gear is also something that takes due diligence in shooting FORM< you have to master form to be proficient when shooting a bow, and to be good at shooting a bow(not crossbows) but them too to a point)
to be good with a vertical bow, form is super important as is a LOT of practice.
so, if your NOT the type of person that wants to spend a LOT of time practicing and learning to be repetitious in your form , to be consistently able to shoot well, then honestly archery isn't the sport to get into, you won;t be doing any wildlife any good , by not making the effort needed to have clean kills!

NOW< other side of BOTH archery and black powder/muzzleloaders is, there like most other sports, they can be very addicting and as such, you can really spend MONEY FAST if you want to, or at times without realizing how deep your getting into any hobby

I have owned many many different muzzle loaders/black powder guns, as well as all sorts of archery gear
I have highly enjoyed all at times, but for me, I liked archery better,
I enjoyed the more quiet of things!
SO< the question you need to maybe ask is, what type of person are you, are you willing to spend the time and do the training needed to be safe and proficient,?
can your budget allow for things?
as being broke to do something can make that SOMETHING< be a lot less fun and enjoyable, than it might be if your budget allowed more freely to enjoy it!

BOTH can be found in used forms,like anything, knowing what to look for before buying helps a ton and will save you $$
due to black powder being highly corrosive, bores and chambers and trigger area's need special looking at
archery gear, limbs and strings cam's all need special attention/ looking over
and archery gear AGE"S. where even well kept items, will age and can become issue's!
Muzzleloaders, well, age alone doesn't have same effects,
but how cared for can!

A muzzleloader is definitely worth it. More time for hunting.

They can be had fairly cheaply. Inlines, if legal, can be had at discount stores without breaking the bank. Used muzzleloaders often do not hold they're value well.

Ain't no reason not to buy a muzzleloader. But bear in mind once you start you may get addicted to shooting them. Like Forkhorn said an inline if legal is a good start. Most states require a .44 cal or larger and .50 cal if you plan to hunt elk or other game bigger than deer. You can buy an inline like a CVA Wolf that won't break your wallet and they are plenty accurate. But as far as price, when it comes to muzzleloaders, the sky's the limit. You can spend over $1000 on one that will knock the gnats off a fly's butt at 100 yards.
You can also get good deals on used ones too but be careful. Check the bores and any areas visually for any rust or pitting. Muzzleloaders need some TLC to keep in good shape.

It's a tough question to answer. I think it will depend on how you want to hunt. When i first started hunting 55 years ago, it was all about the shooting and getting the game. As I got older, I realized I treasured the time in the field more than the amount of game I brought home. I slowed down alot and really got into historical type of hunting. I now hunt almost exclusively with a flint lock for both small game and deer. The nostalgia of hunting like my forefathers and using guns similar to what they used is very rewarding to me. I don't come home with limits of game, but i take my share. Being limited to one shot, and with open sights, really brings out the hunter in you. So, if all you want is more opportunities to take more game, then get yourself a bow and an in-line muzzle loader. But if you are looking for a whole new hunting experience, then go primitive, that is a stick bow or a flint lock muzzleloader.

Thank you all for the advice. I really appreciate it. I’ll post the regulations for muzzleloaders in my state in a little bit. I was able to locate them.

thank you also for the warning that it can be addictive. I don’t want to have an addiction where I have to keep spending money for my muzzleloader.

So if I do get a muzzleloader, I will care for it well, and I will use it sparingly. I will also learn safety with a muzzleloader and how to properly use and clean them.

Maybe there’s a muzzleloader class I can take in my state, I’ll look into it.

Jared

Here are my regulations.

https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/weapons/muzzleloader

if going inline, I HIGHLY recommend 209 blackhorn powder, way less corrosive (very little) and NO huge cloud of smoke at ignition to block sight of game, and not as funky of an odor, costs a tad more, but money well spent IMO!

OK looking at your rules quickly, a in line will be out of the question, as there illegal
now me, and I know many won't agree,
I HATE hunting with a flintlock, version
too many steps and things that can go wrong IMO
I'd WAY rather bow/archery hunt than use one!
but we all have different likes and steps were willing to take to enjoy a hobby or sport!

I was reading your first post, and I was just about to say that 209 primers are illegal where I am at, then you corrected yourself.

A guy at Cabela’s pointed out a gun to me that was legal for muzzleloader and short range weapon seasons. This was a few days ago. I’ll see if I can figure out what model that gun was. All I remember was that it was about $329.00 or something like that.

he said it met all the regulations for muzzle loader and short range weapon seasons. Just to be on the safe side, I’ll double check that.

Jared

The muzzleloader I have my eye on at Cabelas is a “traditions buckstalker northwest” muzzleloader.

This one.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/trad...etimber-kanati

Im biased here. I do most all of my big game hunting with a front stuffer. Have quite a few of them but do use an old TC renegade primarily. These new inline breeds are an amazing feat of technology but out to 100 yards my old rene will shoot with the best of these new pups. Yes cleanup is much more detailed with muzzleloading rifles but it really is worth it. Some try to say shooting them is expensive and, while it can be, so can shooting any center fire. If you don't reload center fires you are in for a chunk for factory ammo nowadays. Out of curiosity, I was looking the other day at some 7mm.08 ammo for the twins rifles and about choked. Glad the old man taught me how to reload. Since you cant use 209 shotgun primers then Blackhorn 209 powder is out of the question. Percussion caps will set it off but not reliably. Thats pretty much the only black powder sub I recommend. If you do go down the Muzzle hole, Check out Swiss powder. It is without a doubt the most consistent powder on the market. There is a lot to learn with front stuffers but thats part of the fun. I've been shooting them for several decades and still learn something new all the time. It's really not about how much money you can sink into one, but how much time you can sink into what you get. Start out with a good intro rifle and you may still be shooting that old girl 40+ years later at whitetail.

If I was getting a Northwest-compliant ML right now, I'd pick up this, a Knight Bighorn Muzzleloader on sale for $270 (ex $650). A very solid gun. The only downside is it is a .52 caliber and not a .50. Finding .52 caliber conicals would definitely be more challenging, but not impossible.

Now that's a deal!

Without knowing your state regulations....
The typical "advantages" to muzzleloader hunting is the extra season opportunities and easier tags to get.

Ex. Here in Ohio we have a late muzzleloader season for four days in January. PA has an early muzzleloader season as well as a late flintlock season. Some states have easier draw tags for muzzleloaders. Earlier seasons, can hunt elk while they're still bugling, deer in the rut, etc.

Some people like to hunt with muzzleloaders during regular firearms season. They either like the gun, like the added challenge, enjoy the traditional aspect of it, many reasons.

I got into muzzleloader hunting for the additional opportunities to be in the woods. And it's gotten me several deer already and my wife got a nice big doe during PAs early season as well. (She likes hunting in the warmer October weather).

-Jake

that is fine muzzleloader & it won't break the bank. there is one other muzzy you should look at & that would the thompson center impact sb which stands for speed breech. i own them both along with 4 other muzzleloader loaders. i use the buckstalker more. but the t/c comes in a close second. i think the t/c is built just a little better. but both have a lifetime warrranty you need to shoulder both & maybe some others to find out which fits you better.muzzleloading is just a blast to get into. i believe i use my muzzleloaders more than i do my center fire rifles. & yes it definetly worth getting into. i'm sorry i looked at your regulations & 209 primers are not allowed. so i would defently go with a bulk stalker with the percussion caps

Also...as with anything... You can do it as casually or as hardcore as you want.

I kept it very simple. Bought a cheap cva wolf $50 at a garage sale. Ended up finding another wolf for $75. These both had useable scopes on them.

I tried one load that gave me 3" groups at 100 yards out of both rifles, and that's what I use. I've taken several deer and my wife has taken 1. These rifles serve their purpose well and I don't have much time or money tied up in it. Just take them into the woods and shoot critters.

Some of our muzzleloader guys have hundreds of hours and lots of $$$$ in their rifles. Just depends how deep into the hole you want to go. When my kids are older I will spend some time and money getting into a good flintlock for PAs late season. But with little kids at home, just no time right now.

-Jake

I am in Southern Idaho. I hunt almost 100% with a muzzleloader for big game. I have been hunting with them for 40 years. I have killed some pretty good animals with mine. That said our state F&G is not doing well with managing our state right now in my opinion.
A great gun to hunt Idaho with is a Knight MK85. I have a couple of them that I use from time to time on certain hunts. This rifle is Idaho legal.



I mostly use a more traditional rifle. Here are my Renegades.




This is my Hawken



Our laws for muzzleloader are not that hard to figure out. If you need help I would be glad to assist you with it.
Here are a few of the animals I have taken with mine.

Wow. I did not expect to run into another Idaho hunter here! It’s a small world! Thanks for the advice on the muzzleloader rifle. I’ll look into the one you recommended. Those are some nice kills! So far in my life, when it comes to big game, I’ve only taken two deer, one Whitetail in North Idaho, and one mule in south Idaho. I have also taken one black bear in South Idaho.

makes me wonder if a muzzleloader can take down a black bear. I honestly don’t know.

thanks for the help.

Jared

The only problem with the BigHorn 52 is finding 52cal conicals. Sabots you can always get from Knight. Its a excellent caliber actually. Parker sells conicals for it and there was a Ebay seller that had a few much cheaper. Dan at Bullshop can also probably come up with something.

You could not give me a Traditions. You can buy a CVA cheaper with a stainless barrel. Not some unknown steel alloy treated with nitride or Cerakote. Chromoly what?...IF you are so proud of the metal, state what kind of CMv it is. There are many chromoly steels. If its 4140 then say so. Knight does with the Vision.

Neither one is all that easy to cleanup in PACNW configuration. The internals that are hard to reach load up with crud from #11 or musket cap blowby. At least the Knight comes totally apart with 2 tools and every part is easy to inspect once you are done cleaning.

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/brand...est-legal.html

Here are my kills, in case you are interested. These were done with rifle, not muzzleloader.

You can see the age difference between kills in me. 2016 was the whitetail deer. 2018 was the mule deer. September 2020 was the black bear.

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them are some awesome mule deer you got , and tghe rest of them critters are nothing to pass on
hats off to you being able to hunt as you do
my eye's have gone down hill past few yrs, open sights cause me struggles now,
I'm glad I can still use a scope

Great job! I think if you do get into muzzleloader hunting you will enjoy it. Make sure to get good equipment that you can trust and practice.

What city are you living in now?

oh, I live in Boise now. I used to live in Nampa, and I used to live in North Idaho.

To me they are worth it. Last year was my first year muzzleloader hunting. About 30 minutes before end of shooting hours I got my first black powder deer(a doe). Ever since then muzzleloader season has become my favorite season. Not as many hunters in the woods, less pressured deer. If your interested in casting your own ammo, get a 50 caliber muzzleloader and shoot round ball. The ball should stop in the deer and you can recover both your deer and ball and re-cast your ball into a new bullet. There are some.that say round ball is inadequate for deer, that is far from the truth. Round ball is a good deer ammo you just have to know your limits and know your gun. A good starter gun would be a inline that is compliant with the regs of your state. Out of an Inline I would shoot sabots or powerbelts. If you want a traditional looking gun (caplock/flintlock) use round ball(some caplock can shoot conical ammo. Check your twist rate in your barrel. Conical ammo shouldnt be shot out of anything with a twist slower than 1:48, round ball should be shot out of a 1:48 and SLOWER twist 1:60 and slower is preferred for roundball, but 1:48 will work provided you find a good load that likes the medium twist). I personally prefer a caplock over an inline but that just my preference. And as previously mentioned Muzzleloading is ADDICTING.

I'm in the Twin Falls area

I think it’s worth it. You get a whole new season to hunt.