A few suggestions?
 

A friend has convinced me to try the black powder hunt with him next year, deer that is. So I need to get a rifle so I can start working with it. What I'm looking for is a few suggestions so that I don't have to research dozens of brands and models. I'm willing to do some research, but would like to narrow it down a bit. I'm looking for something that takes powder pellets, up to 150 grains, probably .50 caliber. If I could find something in the under $300 range that'd be great. If I could get a few suggestions I'd appreciate it.

RE: A few suggestions?
 

dmcal, welcome, and you should be able to find a m/l'er in you budget, shooting 150grs. of powder is o.k. but not required, i have several and two are capable of the 150grs. loads but i don't shoot it in either one, partly for my comfort, and secondly you may not need all that powder, what i'm saying is different barrel lenghts affect how much powder will be burnt, you could be loading 40-60grs of powder that will just go out the end of the barrel in a fireball, shoot whatever you get and work up a decent load, thompson, knight, and others make very reliable m/l'ers and it adds time to most peoples seasons, good luck and enjoy......

again welcome, this is a great site

RE: A few suggestions?
 

I have a T/C Omega and a Traditions Pusuit Lt. Both are 150gr. capable but I shoot 80 to 100gr with a 348gr. Powerbelt and can shoot completely through a 600lb. Elk if it does not hit a lot of bone. I just looked at a CVA Kodiak which is a copy of the Omega and WalMart had one with a camo stock for $269. It looked pretty good to me. The cheaper rifles (Traditions Pursuit for instance) usually have worse triggers and a few other things that you have to deal with. It shoots with accuracy almost as well as the Omega. If you are going to shoot at 100 yards or more I would look for the longer barrel rifles (they usually call them magnums). Personally I don't think you have to buy a $500 rifle to shoot well. Just spend a little time looking at things like the trigger crispness and pull weight and convenience of operation. I don't think the bolt rifles have anything to offer as they use up a lot of length that can be put into the barrel with a falling block or break action rifle.

RE: A few suggestions?
 

The price range is a good place to start... now we need to know what kind of rifle your interested in? In-line or traditional sidelock? Perhaps what kind of ignition your interested in also, such as flintlock, cap lock, or in line 209. Do you like a bolt style, striker style, or break open type? What kind of projectiles do you want to shoot? Roundball, conicals, sabots?

Look at a New England Arms (H&R) Sidekick. They can be had for about $150.00. A scope can be mounted on them and they are easy to clean and maintain. From all the reports I have read on them they are great shooters.

You might also want to look at the CVA and Tradition's line of rifles. CVA Magbolts are on sale right now. They are not a top of the line rifle but are a good shooter. Also sticking with a .50 caliber is a good idea.

You need to look at a lot of the sites and determine what appeals to you. There is someone here that probably uses that rifle and can give you the low down on one that appeals to you.....

RE: A few suggestions?
 

In your price range, I'd look at the Traditions Lightning .50 cal. bolt-action. They are under $200.00, will take up to 150 grains of Pyrodex, and have good, adjustable triggers.

They are simple to maintain, are accurate and light in weight. Drilled & tapped fora standard ML scope bases.

RE: A few suggestions?
 

Knight Disc Rifle $179.95 with rebate

That link will take you to an excellent value in a black powder rifle. A Knight Disc is a rifle which will shoot excellent with sabots. Knight uses Green Mountan Barrels which are a great barrel. Also the strength of design in the rifle is a real comfort to you. Too many rifles are blowing up these days it seems....

The idea of 150 grains is something you might want to get out of your head through. Few rifles shoot excellent groups with that kind of powder charge. The recoil is usually very uncomfortable to your shoulder, and it is a hard to push some projectiles that fast without them flying all over the place. 2 - 50 grain pellets and a sabot in that rifle will take anything you might want to hunt. If I did not own a Wolverine already, I would be getting myself one, but my Knight Wolverine is all the shooter I really need.....

Some other good rifles out there have been mentioned by other posters. I would go with the Knight brand because of their quality, reputation, known shooters, and the factory service and warranty I hear is excellent although I have never had to use it.....

RE: A few suggestions?
 

Thanks for all the responses guys. I'm still looking. I've decided that I prefer the traditional look so am checking out percussion models. I'll probably go with one of the Hawken types. And yes, Cayugad, I've gotten the 150 grain thing out of my head. That was the ignorant me talking. I'm a little better informed now and know I probably won't need anywhere near that. :)

RE: A few suggestions?
 

dmacl ... Traditon Rifles make some real nice traditional looking rifles at a reasonable price. CVA has the Bobcat, the Hawkins, and my favorite the Mountain Rifle. If you want some real traditional, Lyman rifles are excellent quality and shooters but they can get expensive. Of course there is the Thompson Center line which new are getting really out there in cost, but they are a great quality rifle. They make percussion and flintlock. Flintlocks are really a lot of fun but they can also be a real puzzle. Maybe that is why I like them so much. I think I need a new flintlock although others might argue that point.

There are some excellent buys on the different gun auction sites. I was looking at one CVA Hawkins that was going for around $100.00. It said it was in excellent condition and from the pictures it looked great. This is another alternative. I bought two rifles off the auction sites this year and both of them were excellent and great deals. Just another option.

RE: A few suggestions?
 

Cayugad, Great advice as usual. What are some of the gun auction sites you mentioned. Thanks SP

RE: A few suggestions?
 

Striper Phil

Cayugad & I deal with AuctionArms.com alot. There is also GunBroker.com & GunsAmerica.com.