shotgun or muzzleloading
 

If you had to pick one for regulare season what would it be? and whi? (shotgun or muzzleloader)

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

I live in that situation. Where I hunt in Mississippi, a military reservation, the only legal firearms are shotguns and M/Lers. I chose an Encore w/ a 209x50 barrel. With 110 grains of 777 and a 250 grain shockwave it will cleanly take deer to 200 yards.

If I had to make a second choice, I think it would be a 20 gauge semiauto shotgun with a rifled barrel. My kids use this (and a cut down t/c black diamond most of the time) with partition gold sabots. At 100 yards it has solid 2 to 3 inch accuracy and I would feel ok using it to 150 based on the limited shooting we have done with it. If it were my only gun, I think I could practice with it enuff to feel comfortable to 200, maybe, maybe not, only trying would tell.

Hank

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

I would pick a muzzle loader over a shotgun any day. I'm in the same situation as Ahankster when it comes to rifles. I currentlylive in Indiana and hunt a military reservation some. Though I do hunt off post some and usehandgunswhich I prefer over anything. But if I didn't use handguns, I'd opt for a muzzle loader.
By the way, I'm from Mississippi.

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

It would really depend on what terrain that I am hunting. If brushy, wooded, tight conditions where quick shots and possibly more than one shot is appropriate, then I would go with the shotgun. If longer shots are available and terrain not so quite dense, then ML.
I primarily hunt in a shotgun/handgun/ML only zone in Minnesota. I have always used a shotgun, but will be using my savage 10ML-II this next year. I have a few spots that offer longer shots, and since I will be using smokeless powder, I can reach out to 250 yards and little farther without a problem.

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

My choice would be shotgun and the reason why is muzzleloader isn’t my thing at this time...:D

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

Shotgun with rifled barrel!

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

ml if you are commited to working and cleaning your ml if not shotty i like my black diamond

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

Unless you shoot smokeless through a savage 10ML-II, then you can fairly easily achieve excellent accuracy and cleaning is not a big issue.

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

I have both and have been hunting with both for along time. I use my shotgun in Shotgun season and ML in ML season. My shotgun is a Rem 11 in 3 " mag with a Hastings Rif. Barrell scoped with a burris scope on it. It has been on that gun since 1987 and has taken alot of deer out to 130 yards. While my scope is a long eye releif set up( see the attached ) I enjoy shooting it as it hits where I aim.
My ML is a TC Scout in 50 cal I just got a KNinght Revoultion in 50 cal While I shoot the ML in Season I will always pick my REm 1100 during Firearms Season

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

I would go with the muzzleloader. I hunted one yearhere in Wi with a shotgun and I will never do it again (long story). I have 3 muzzleloaders and I love all 3. The cleaning with the new inlines is very easy and with a good load you can shoot 200 yards. As far as follow up shots go muzzleloaders just force you to make the first shot count.

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

Muzzy, why blowing smoke is a blast!;) Range is better, the new gen are reliable and easier to care for. If legal the savage or other approved smokeless take it to the next degree. Follow ups, always viewed the first chance as the best chance the rest are "lead in the air hope in the heart":D!

I am biased though because our ML season is a full month before general gun season so the extension makes it really a no brainer here.

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

A good inline with some work and practice will probably get you better accuracy and range, however they are a bit of a pain to shoot and clean. Also if you need a follow up shot it takes a bit longer.

Shotguns are much more user friendly. Easy to load, easy to clean (if using sabots). However unless you get lucky off the bat it may take some time and money to find something real accurate since you can't tailer the load to your gun. That is the main advantage of the muzzle loader, it's like handloading every shot.

It's a toss up really. If I can find a load my H&R ultra really likes I will probably use my muzzle loader very little in the future, just for the ease of use. At present time though my Remington 700 muzzle loader is much more accurate than my slug gun. Both are capable of taking deer out to 100 yards though.

Paul

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

robm10093,

Does your hunting area allow handguns? The farm I hunt on is split by the county line, North side is shotgun only and south side is rifle. I carry a 7mm-08 Encore pistol with a 3-12X Burris ballplex and a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag with iron sights.With practice the Encorepistol is just as accurate as the smoke pole for long rage shots, while the revolver is great forstalking on the way in and out of your stand.

J

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

I have been using a shotgun for many season now, and as long as the deer are closer than 70 yards it works fine. I shoot a Win 1300 with a fully rifled barrel and it groups like crap past 70 yards!! Yes, a shotgun is much quicker than shooting a BP gun, but I have to say, the accuracy factor is with the in-line BP gun. Next season I'll be buying a T/C Encore BP gun with the 209X50 set-up for this very reason. Shotgun slugs in the Sabot rounds aren't getting any cheaper, and when patterning at the bench, only after a couple of boxes of Slugs, your shoulder is shot!!

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

Muzzleloading's way more fun and not as crowded and hectic in the woods. I will never hunt deer with shotgun.

RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
 

How about a ML that will shoot 1" groups @ 100 yards, easily take game out to 300 yards and you only need to clean once a year after the season?