.444 rifle
 

I hunt in Fla and thru talkin with other hunters, realized that you can use a rifle during muzzleloader season but the rules state it has to be a single shot that is over a .40 cal bullet. Alot of guys are using a .444 cal rifle which i have heard of and is new to me. Have any of yall had any experience with a .444 huntin deer? Is it hard to find ammo for and what make/model do yall suggest for the rifle. Thanks guys

I would strongly suggest speaking with the DNR\game wardens about this before doing it. Make sure its legal. Check with the law first.

Yes sir I will. I have a cva optima but would rather use a rifle if i could. Less dirty and more power

Get a 45-70 in single shot.

I have heard of states that allow certain centerfire cartridges, in singleshot rifles to be used in muzzleloader seasons. Make sure it's legal there. I am sure it is limited by .40+ and in straight-wall cartridges only. BTW, .444 is pretty much available, whereas my 6MM Rem. and .300 Savage are impossible to find here if you don't reload!

Whoever told you that nonsense doesn't have your best interest at heart FlaBoy18...No cartridge, center fire, or even breech loaded firearm is legal during the ML season in Florida.

Well guess i got confused because of the part stating the single shot guns as long as its a 40 cal or larger

Must have missed this part: Muzzleloading guns firing single bullets. Good thing Super_hunt checked the regulations.

Always check officially before listening to word of mouth... In Pa this year I heard through several people that the statewide bear season was extended due to poor harvest numbers in the regular season... Now, there are areas that the extended season did exist, but only in specific units... Word of mouth, especially when it's false, can be dangerous.
-Jake

Mind finding those states? Because I sure haven't ever heard of a center fire being legal in ANY state during MLer season. Not even old black powder cartridge rifles are allowed. If you don't stuff it from the front, it aint allowed in ANY state during MLer season. I have heard of a couple of states testing out a new season for antique BP cartridge rifles such as the 1873 Sharps .45-70 along with front stuffers. But it isn't a MLer season. It's a whole other season.

Me neither and I went through every state and could not find any that allow other than a muzzleloader during that special season in their state.

My understanding is that Mississippi is one of those states, actually.

Sure enough:
https://www.mdwfp.com/law-enforcemen...ules-regs.aspx
"Weapons legal for use during the Primitive Weapons season are all archery equipment and primitive firearms."Primitive firearms," for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber; OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reproductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single or double-barreled muzzleloading shotguns, with single ball or slug."

That's what I was talking about earlier younggun. Primitive weapons, not specifically MLer season. There are a couple of states coming out with that season within the last 5 or so years. It's one I would really enjoy taking my old sharps out on.

Ya'll are saying the same thing, just using different words.... Some states have a primitive weapons season, which is not a true muzzleloader season........ In ohio they've recently allowed straight walled rifles to be used instead of just slugs.... 90% of hunter still refer to it as "shotgun season" or "slug season" even though it encompasses more than that....
-Jake

Why not switch to BH209 powder in your Optima if you want "less dirty"?

Certainly you did mention that, the only thing I was adding was that Mississippi at least does allow the use of smokeless, modern rifles (not just BP) as long as they're single-shot breech-loaders. You could use your old Sharps, or a T/C Encore.

Its still dirtier than a rifle and less fps and energy than a rifle

Actually, your cva is a rifle and muzzle loading rifles have been putting venison on the table for centuries. Your season is what it is, just like the rest of us have to comply with the seasons in our states. We all have the option, comply with the regulations or pass on the season.

Cleans up a lot easier than the other muzzleloader propellants and has more energy than a .30-30 for one example.

You planning on shooting past 200 yards? If not, then your less FPS and energy argument is moot. My daughter just dropped a 245# field dressed buck at 211 yards with a 90gr BH and 220gr Lehigh CF (controlled fracturing) bullet load out of a little TC Impact. That optima, with the proper load, has more than enough energy to drop anything walking on this continent, or any other continent, at proper ranges respective to the animal hunted. My personal load for my TC Pro Hunter .50cal barrel gives me plenty of energy out to 300 for whitetail and out to 250 for Elk. 120gr BH under a 220gr Bloodline would put the hammer of thor on ANYTHING walking this planet. Today's inlines such as your's are 100000000 miles away from the old sidelocks and such. Cleanup of that Optima isn't much more difficult (with BH anyway) than a bolt action and actually EASIER than a lever gun!

I hear ya. I was shooting 100 grains of triple seven with 245 grain power belts and last year i double lunged a buck and had zero blood for 100 yards. Only reason i found him was the lord. Then this year i shot a buck with the same setup and never found it. Zero blood. Thats mainly why i was lookin into other ideas. I am switching to Hornady XTP mags for my optima. Heard they leave great trails compared to PB

LOL...I'm one of them guys that will tell you straight up that powerbelt bullets are about the best fishing weights made :D They are accurate out of most rifles but their terminal performance on game is horrendous for everyone except the people advertising for them!! I'm not a CVA fan at all so I don't know if I'm correct in this but I THINK you will have to get a different breech plug to make the switch to BH209. Now if you are currently using loose powder and aren't having any problems with ignition then you probably already have the right BP. The factory QRBP functions adequately but not exceptionally well with BH209. CVA and Western got together and designed a BP specifically for loose powders that the flash hole doesn't get clogged up every shot and gets a more reliable ignition with BH209.

Your bullet choice to switch too is a functional bullet and has taken a lot of game. I would recommend you take a look at the Bloodline bullets from Knight (made by Lehigh Defense) or the Lehigh lines of CF's (Controlled Fracturing) Both have amazing terminal performance on Whitetail and Elk and with the right sabot, powder load, and weight, have very good accuracy. They aren't high BC tipped bullets for long range paper punching but they are very capable of holding 1 MOA accuracy @100 yards. I hold just over an inch at 150 yard 5 shot groups with the 220gr Bloodlines with my .50cal barrel. So they are plenty accurate for hunting. At least from my rig and my daughters little TC shoots the 220's around the same.

Pretty much my experiences w/ the PBs also. Also made the switch to XTPs & you'll love 'em. Reminds me of the "old" Knight Swift sabots I used to shoot before the quit making 'em :(

Thanks for the advice. I will look into switching bp and using the diff powder. Anything knight makes i love. If xtps dont work ill look into gettin the ammo made by knight.

Yea its insane how many ppl have issues with PB. So this year when i shot that buck with PB, i called this very experienced dog blood trailer named Kenny. He told me that on opening weekend he trailed 8 bucks with his dog, all 8 were shot with PB AND all 8 were shot in the lungs. NONE had a blood trail. Kennys dog found 6 of the 8 just trailing the scent of the deer released after its shot.