Well this will be my first year with a smokepole. I was at walmart and there was a ML in a kit. It was a traditions, with a scope, bullets, everything to get started. It was for 175 dollars. Is this a good gun? I don't want to spend more than 200.

Second, There is also a kit with a Thompson/Center inline. There is no scope on this one and the gun is camo. They want 225 dollars.

any advice .

thanks guys/girls.
RBBH

The Thompson Center Kit your looking at is a T/C Black Diamond. I don't remember if it was the XR model in kits but that does not mean they are not out there. I have a Black Diamond XR and it is a great shooting rifle without a doubt. Also you have the Thompson Center Service Warranty behind you should there EVER be any problem. The Diamond has a free floating barrel and two locking lug stations for better support. They also come with 209, musket, and #11 ignition systems.

Some of the Tradition inlines had minor problems I read about but I really can't remember what they were. Maybe they were that minor. As for the scope, be careful. The scope I am sure would be a very low end model. I am not saying it would not work, I am just saying you might be more happy with a better scope.

I personally would get the Black Diamond and then throw a sightron S-1 scope on it. The whole thing would run you around $350.00. In fact Bass Pro Shop on line has a T/C Black Diamond XR (xtended range) for $199.00. The Sightron Scope is $120.00 and IO think the mounts were around $23.00 for the Ouick Kee mounts which have worked just fine.

There are also other rifles out there to choose from. So figure out what kind of money you can spend and what kind of projectile you want to shoot with what kind of powder and plan your rifle around that....

good luck.

RiverBottem,

The kits are nice in that they give you a lot of what you need to start MLing. What they don't include is the gun powder, 2f for the barrel. The oil for rust prevention, breech plug grease, and Black Powder cleaner.
The bullets are not necessarily the best ones, and you will shot them out quickly. The scope is definately the low end but they do work. Also, regarding Traditions, the only problems I had with my flint, was the sights, the lite optics are garbage. I switched mine to Tru-Glow and it's a nice shooting gun.

I don't know the regs for Ill versus PA, but I do know in PA there is a season where you can use an in-line and another for flint.

I purchased my first ML via a kit at Gander Mountain, the Traditions Deerhunter. I use everything from the kit.

T

I'd buy the Black Diamond. I can give you a link for the same gun for only 199.99 but it is no kit and you'd have to add shipping which would bring you back close to the same price. While the kits really don't add much accessories, I can't see paying about the same money for the same gun with no kit. As for the difference between the Traditions kit with scope (I believe they are just relabled Tasco scopes and cheap aluminum bases and rings) and the Black Diamond without is that the Black Diamonds are far better guns. Traditions rifles (the bolt versions anyway) have known trigger problems. The lightning/Ebolt (cock on close) style can sometimes discharge when closing the bolt. The other style, Evolution (cock on open), also has trigger problems but I can't remember what they are. I owned one of the pull style traditions and I would not reccomend one to anybody.

Man! you guys are good.

thanks alot for the advice.

keep it coming if you have anymore.

My experience is only with T/C. In fact I spoke to them a few days ago. I requested they send me a screw, as I had broken one, and they called just to be sure they were getting me the right one. Anyway, I would go with T/C. Hunt without a scope for the first year if your budget is that tight. Get the kit if you want to, but I would go with a gun, then get the extras I want, in larger quantities than they give you in the kits.

The Walmart kit is the shorter 22" barrel Black Diamond. I'd buy the longer 26" for $199 at Bass Pro... then the Sightron SI scope at ultout.com.