I'm new to muzzleloading (hunted a couple seasons w/ one 20yrs ago). My son just got old enough to apply for a junior tag in nevada. Here the juniors can hunt archery season, then switch to muzzle loader, then switch to rifle. I also have three daughters coming up(4,5,6yrs out, plus, one nephew1yr out, and his sister also 6yrs out). So this gun will get USED,ABUSED, and otherwise get the crap shot out of it. The smokeless sure sounds nice when going to the range w/ 6 kids(less clean up). I'm thinking 45cal, accutrigger. I'll also be useing it for elk if I'm lucky enough to draw the tag. My question is this, will this set up do me right? I usually dont skimp on quality, but cant afford to waste my money either.

I'd contact your Fish and game dept/Dept. Nat resources first. Find out what's legal for use then look for a muzzleloader.

the regs say muzzle loader, which the savage is. No scopes allowed.

What about 209 primers and smokeless powder? Fiber optics? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with Nevada laws. If Smokeless isn't legal then I would likely go with something else other than a Savage. It's just a little more to clean than a regular muzzleloader with Triple Seven or Pyrodex

After years of shooting a muzzleloader I would suggest cutting your teeth on a affordable inline and then seeing if you want to upgrade.

Cleaning the rifle is not that hard and you will know soon after starting to ml whether it is something you want to get deeper into. It is addictive as hell.

Everything you need to know about muzzleloading will apply to the Savage if you get one but I do not think any newby to the sport should spend that type of money with all the great rifles out there. Besides I would rather screw up a $200 rifle than a $500 one. The gun is made for experienced muzzleloaders.

I know you will buy what you want to so have fun be safe and I hope I helped.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/william_ball.htm

The book I have says scopes are not legal but fiberoptic and laser sights are. It says smokeless is legal but I agree the Savage is not in my opinion a starter type of muzzleloader. It is a great gun but one you can really get into trouble with if you are not completely in tune with the powders and loading etc. Since you cannot use a scope the extra distance possible with the Savage would not be of any advantage. I would get a decent US manufactured inline of some type (go check out a few and find one that you like) and set it up with a good peep sight and spend a lot of time shooting until you know what you and the rifle are capable of. Most rifles out there will shoot well enough to hit what you can see with non-scoped sights. Limit your shots to 100 yards and have a lot of fun. And by the way stay away from smokeless powder with any of the other muzzleloaders even though Nevada says it is legal the rifle manufacturers do not want it used in any of the rifles I am familiar with other than the Savage. Very dangerous to use in a muzzleloader not designed for smokeless. It will likely cause barrel rupture with bad results to the shooter like severe head wounds etc.

Savage is a great ML no worries their and if you can use smokeless why the heck not pick the Savage. I agree that not being able to use a scope does make it's potential mooted some but the fact you can use any powder is a big plus! Also not sure I agree that a Savage isn't a newbie gun, as I have seen newbie's/vets double load and make mistakes with the regular inlines, etc. I also wonder if not having any or limited previous knowledge of ML wouldn't be a better thing in some cases as when starting out fresh you learn how to load it, buy/use the right tools and begin the familarity process. However if you had a inline and where use to measuring volume loads of 100,110,120..etc their may be cause for some intial concern of loading the savage improperly, either by method or amount of the smokeless powder charge. I don't even own a savage but hunt with a few guys who do and really see no safety issues if you follow Savages guidelines, really no different than if you buy a Knight, TC or whatever their is a learning curve and the manual/guidelines laid out for the user, it should be followed.

Good point about smokeless it is meant for the Savage only, so if you really want this in your ML - Savage is the only option. As to cleaning regular inlines, they are not nearly as difficult as some make them appear, especially with todays advancements/choice of cleaner propellants for the front stuffers...to me it really isn't a huge issue b/c I still clean my CF's and such regularily.

Also if elk are a possibilty I would go with a 50 cal, not only will it prove better all around usage for various game. Finding accessories/bullets is much easier as it is the standard or most popular with inline users.

The Savage is a fine ML no doubt. But only has a year warranty.

I also suggest a lower line model to start with. But you can get a base ML that will provide many years of excellent service if properly maintained.

I would recommend a T/C Omega or Knight Elite. These new can be had for $325-450 depending on the model and are superb shooting ML's. Go with a .50 cal.

For lifetime warranty, service and quality, you really cannot go wrong with Thompson/Center or Knight. I'd give the edge to T/C overall.

So what if you can't shoot smokeless powder. There are substitute powders that are very clean (Black Mag'3, 777, Pinnacle, APP).

I'd also suggest not taking the kids to the range for the first few trips until you get the hang of shooting an ML and have some base loads developed.

My .02.

I'm attracted to a Savage muzzleloader - I've owned to savages (110E and 111f) and got a chance to squeeze off an Accu-trigger and thought it was great.

Looks to me though, that getting a Savage ML only buys you another fifty yards and easier cleanup, over a humble CVA. A friend of mine who I took shooting asked me, the other day, what spending an extra 200 over the cost of a $100 CVA Staghorn/buckhorn would get him, and.. I didn't have a ready answer.

What does one gain, by getting an expensive muzzleloader? Ability to use stouter loads? Are Savages/Knights/Whites substantially more accurate than, say, a CVA inline?