PikeHunter1868

I am thinking of getting a TC Triumph but was wondering if any body else had a favorite smoke pole they would recommend. I have never wanted to hunt with black powder before but the two weeks between bow and rifle season are painful and I need to fill that time with hunting. This is open to any advice about brand/model to types of powder and slugs you use.

Thanks!
PikeHunter

Buck Hunter 1

Anthing TC is fine. Triumph or Omega is being talked high on another forum . Priced right as well.

WYObowfisher

I love my Omega and it wasnt to pricey.

claydee

Get one that is easy to clean and disassemble w/o a gazillion parts!

CamoCop

i love my Traditions Pursuit Pro. i flawlessly harvested 2 bucks with it this year.

PikeHunter1868

Claydee....what do you consider too many parts? The triumph seems like it is pretty easy but I don't want to spend and arm and a leg because muzzle loading season is only about two weeks in South Carolina and I doubt I'll shoot it much outside of hunting. For those of you with the value minded black powder guns what has been your experience with the less expensive models?

nksmfamjp

If your interest is just adding to hunting season, take the easy way as much as possible. Get an inline with a good cleaning system. Use a 209 primer or another modern primer system. Use Pyrodex pellets and sabot rounds. Get a good "quickload" system.

There are many more traditional approaches, but they are much harder. For example I shoot a Lyman Great Plains with Minie's, FFg black powder, a tube type quick shot, etc. Sure it is faster than what our founding father's used, but it is much harder than a slick modern smokepole.

A good multiline scope is also a good idea when going modern.

TurkeyT

I like my Omega, shoots great,easy an fast to load and easy to clean.

MichiganBowbender

Knight KRB Rolling Block. Good as it gets for $300.Take a look in the blackpowder forum here.Many people have them and are very satisfied. And you don't need to mortgage the farm to buy one.

kevin1

Traditions and CVA both make acceptable quality MLs for very low prices, my personal favorite rifle is a .54 caliber Traditions Buckhunter pro my wife bought me for Xmas in '99. I use plain ol' patched roundballs in it even though it's 1 in 48" twist will accomodate sabots, and ordinary and easy to find Pyrodex RS loose powder. The pellets are nice, but they're expensive andmay not create a charge that your ML likes compared to a customized load with loose powder.You don't need a $400-700 ML just to hunt two weeks a year, start with something inexpensive and then decide if you want to invest in a higher grade rifle later. I've also found that when it comes to inlines a 209 primer is usually overkill, and can even push your charge and bullet a bit before full ignition is acheived, which can create hazardous pressure in the barrel. A #11 or musket cap is plenty in an inline, and you can easily seal the cap from the weather with a drop of candle wax before going out. Keeping your nipple and flame channel cleanensures that ordinary caps will be all you'll ever need. If you must go with a 209 primer because the models you're considering require themuse the ones for .410 shotguns, their pressure is lower and they will ignite any powder easily.