I stumbled on this forum and have been binging on all the trad bp threads. I recall back in middle school when in-lines first came out. My friends and my dad all bought one. All I wanted was a traditional muzzleloader, but I was broke and didn't really know where to start.

I remember one of my friend's dad had a beautiful traditional bp rifle that I was in awe of. He was the only one who kind of grinned at all the in-line mania and said, "I enjoy mine just like it is." I guess I have always had a bend toward the old and beautiful.

Well, since nobody in my hunting community or family hunted with traditional bp equipment, I eventually went the modern in-line route as well. Now I'm nearing 40, and have switched to traditional archery and LOVE it. I figure it is time to start the journey towards traditional side of muzzleloading as well. To be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed with all the options even on the trad side of things. Can you veterans give me a few simple getting started list of questions or decisions I need to make to get going in the right direction? I can say that whatever I end up with, it will be a hunting rifle used for 100 yard or less shots. I would prefer something easier to maneuver to start with. Lastly, I am raising 3 kids in private school, so my hobby purchases are always budget/value conscious. Ok, that is about the only things I would say as guidelines.

Recommendations and Opinions Welcomed!

Do your interests lie in flintlock or percussion? Patched round ball or Minie or Maxi ball? (yes there are differences between Minie and Maxi). Some like to sling big conical bullets out of their sidelocks. I am one of them on occasion. Are you looking at .45, .50, .54, or .58 caliber? These questions are pointing to what type of rifling twist and depth as some will perform well for one but not well for others. Like with Maxi and Minie, you want a shallower groove depth for a Minie than you want for a Maxi. And when you want to sling a big conical, you will want to have enough twist rate to handle the length and weight. As you have obviously noted so far, there are tons of options and variations out there for the traditional shooter. Kind of deciding where your interests may lay will help us figure out what would be best for you. I am a Lyman and Thompson Center fan when it comes to traditional style Muzz but they can be a little up there in the prices. But you pay for quality. I also have a few European made sidelocks but you don't even want to imagine the cost of those. But I've been into traditional shooting since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

Thanks for the response and great questions. I am leaning toward starting with what I am more familiar with. So, I am thinking percussion cap. I would like to shoot a conical like the Hornady Great Plains or even larger. .45 cal or .50 cal, prefer .50 unless there is some compelling reason to go .45. I have been looking on Midway and Gun Broker and I really like the Hawken style. I would prefer a 28 inch barrel or shorter.

I've kind of always been told to shy away from Traditions, but it looks like they are the most available and by far the cheapest new.

Cheapest is the key word when it comes to Traditions rifles. Based on every one I have seen, and that is quite a few, they are bottom of the barrel in quality. Most of my sidelocks are .50cal but I have a couple of .45's that I would sooner part with my right arm than them. About the best starter BP rifle I could recommend for you would be to search the net or papers for a used Thompson Center Renegade in .50cal. I've taken many whitetail and black bear with mine and a few caribou and a couple of elk as well. Some with patched round ball and others with maxi ball. Not to mention I don't know how many hogs. It's one of my more accurate BP rifles, carries very well, highly maneuverable, and quite versatile in loads. My dads old TC Hawkin that he had green mountain barrels cut a custom 1:28 twist for is just about as accurate but not quite as versatile in loads. What it will shoot, it shoots very well.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been reading but haven't really found a great answer to this question yet: what is the main difference between the TC Hawken and the TC Renegade?

The stock is different. The Renegade is more of a straight stock while the Hawken has more of a raised comb. The Hawken also has a bit longer barrel. 2 inches I believe. Then you have the looks stuff like brass. The Hawken is more dressed up with a patch box and all the works are brass. In my opinion, the renegade is the workhorse that you won't mind taking out in the field and getting a ding or 2 on. Both are accurate and well built.

You can buy either one pretty reasonable used now. Everybody wants the the inlines.

I like the Hawkens. I've got a 45 I've owned for 40 years an a 50 I bought two years ago.

Bring a pocket full of patches if you go to look at used ones. Run a dry patch down the barrel and you'll know right a way if it was taken care of.

the renagade is a very nice gun i have the hawkens too the renagade stock fits my shoulder better

get yourself a bore light that slides down the bore and check out gun store near you some times you can find the side locks around 200 bucks

My wife is going to be upset if that is true, because if I find one in good shape for $200 it is coming home. Great suggestion on the bore light.