Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

I am currently thinking about purchasing a muzzleloader for upcoming season next fall, and am kinda stuck as to what I should consider as I have several problems. First I live in PA so it must be a flintlock so I can use it for late-season muzzeloader, second I am on a tight budget so I can't really spend much more than $300 on the gun alone if I can help it.
I was looking around and noticed 2 possiblities, one was the Traditions PA Pellet flintlock, second was Traditions Deerhunter flintlock. Any advice or recomendations from anyone with some knowledge of these or other applicable muzzleloaders would be extremely helpful.

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

check out www.dnrsports.com lyman 50 cal. flinter $324.00 if they still have them for that price.
I would also look at a use t/c flinter there are many out there for sale for around $225.00 and they have a lifetime warranty.
Next there is a paper in PA called the paper shop on the news stands lots of great deal in the hunting section

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

got a CVA from cabela's last year for $100 .......no problems with it.

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

Hi and welcome to the board.

When I wanted to get into Muzzleloading, I picked up the traditions Deerhunter rifle. I have the black synthetic stock, 50 cal, and I changed the sights since they were cheap to Tru-glow fibre optics. The only problem I have had with that rifle was the sights. I now have an in-line as well, CVA Firebolt.

I picked it up at Gander Mountain in Scranton, for about $225. This included the accessories, which helps when you are just getting started. Some of the other guys on this board have the PA Pellet. I can tell you that shooting pellets out of a flint is not an easy task, plus it's more expensive than loose powder. I use pellets in my in-line which I use in the early ML season and my flint in the late.

If you do get the Deerhunter, you may want to change the sights like I did, they call them light optics and they are crap. I use black powder 4f for the pan powder and Triple 7 for the barrel, 80 grains. I was shooting round balls but recently switched to the powerbelt, 295 grains aero tip, and it loads so easy and shoots very well. The last deer I shot on Jan 1st, 2004 was runniung away from me at an angle and when I shot, the bullet went right though her spine. I than had to dispatch her but she was a nice size doe. I was so surprised I got that doe since she must have picked up my scent and took off.

When you do get it, you should have a friend show you what the extra tools are for and go with that friend to the range. It is a little different shooting it versus a regular rifle and it takes time to get you shooting straight.

Good luck....

T

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

I too live in PA. I just bought a Traditions PA Pellet and have not shot it yet. I bought at d&r sports online. Got the camo/nickel for $230. It has the new improved super lock. Check out my earlier posts for more info.
From advice I've got use loose powder for best results and dont start with 150 grains. Start at about 75 and work up till good grouping. A real nice gun for the money.

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

The Deerhunter I purchased was the Deerhunter Redi-Pak 50Cal Flintlock.

The reason I liked it was because it came with everything you needed to start ML, except for flints, powder, and better bullets. If you just buy the gun, you will also have to purchase, powder, bullets, flints, powder flasks, speed loaders, powder measure, jigs (bullet puller and cleaning cloth).

T

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

I believe that the Tradition's PA Pellet is the one with the removable breech plug. For that reason, that would be my choice. It makes it much easier to make sure it is clean and well cared for. It also comes in handy for mistakes and unloading without firing the rifle at the end of the day.

I have read some other posts about the PA Pellet and all the comments about the flintlock quality and the rifle accuracy were very good. If that is in my price range, then that would be my choice of the two you mentioned.

Otherwise look at some of the Lyman Rifles like the Deerstalker, Trade Rifle, and Great Plains. All of them are top of the line shooters. Welcome to the sport. You are about to be hooked.....

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.m...8.694435350116
I don't know if it still f/s but here is a flinter t/c ,not a bad price

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

I've been looking around some, and I think it will be either the deerhunter in one of those redi-pack things, or a PA pellet in a redi-pack, thanks for advice. Also Tomster, you said you had a deerhunter, what range do you think that the gun would be limited to, to adequately put down a deer, 50,75, 100 yards?, I have no clue myself on muzzeloader terminal performance so any advice would be helpful, Also, have you tried sabots, are they capable of a degree of accuracy in a deerhunter with 1-48" twist, or are they just a waste of time,(I reload 44mag bullets, and so if I can get away with putting some in a sabot and saving some cash I will, but only if they are reasonably accurate)

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

Well, as with most ML's flints, there are some limitations. Usually, they are your limitations, not necessarily the guns. Having said that, I usually have killed deer with that rifle a max of 50 yards or less. Why, because I normally don't see deer out to 100 yards or more in the woods I hunt.

I do shoot at the range out to 100 yards and sight it in at that yardage at the range. My only issue with the gun is that holding it steady for a few seconds when I pull the trigger is hard, but I can do it successfully. Also, when I shoot at the range, I use a tool box to hold all my ML stuf. I place a towel over the box and use that as a rest. This gun I shoot more than an other gun because it takes time to get use to. I recently swithched to Powerbelt bullets from round ball. They are very easy to load and I find more acurate than a round ball. They also work well with the 1:48 twist. Also, the gun is very light and the local gun shop sells mostly any replacement parts. I replaced the sights with True-glo fibre optics and a better ram rod.

This is a good gun to start with and can be used in both ML seasons, early and late.

I would like to get another or better flint lock rifle like a Hawken when funds allow.

I have been ML hunting with it for several years, and the last 3, I have shot 1 doe a year with that rifle, so it does work and I know of other guys that use the same gun.

T

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

Reference sabots out of your 1:48 twist, that will depend on the rifle and the sabots. Some rifles with that twist will shoot sabots just fine. Others, not good at all. I have tried a number of different sabots in my 1:48 twist rifles. All I can say is they shoot all right. I would shoot a deer out to 50 yards with them but I never could tune them for further out.

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

The Deerhunter has shallower grooves than the T/C traditionals so lighter sabots generally shoot well to 100 yards. Mine likes the Precision Sabot/Bullets best. I'm shooting 3" groups at 100 yards with 40/50 240 grain QTs or Dead Centers. My Deerhunter shoots 295 grain Powerbelts just as well. The cheapest place for Powerbelts is Midsouth.com. Here's the link for the Precisions.

http://www.prbullet.com

RE: Muzzleloader for Budget-minded newbie
 

i got a cva optima pro for a little over 300 dollars (with tax) it is a 50 cal. and after a little tinkering is a sweet shooting gun.