Do You Hunt With A Muzzleloader?

[etisll40]

Are the sharps rifles considered muzzle loaders? i like the looks of them... Does the smokeless stink as much? Thinking about getting a bow and muzzleloader this year. Bought 82 acres of land and want to get a permit to keep the whitetail population down!!! I'm a real conservationist! Live in NY though.

 

[Hops Brewster]

I understand that the new Blackhorn 209 needs no cleaning between shots and you can use Hoppes #9 for cleanup instead of soapy water. I am not really sure if you need to clean at all!

Looks interesting.

edge.

+1 on BH 209. Using sabots I didn't need to clean between shots, 18 rounds. But I did notice a quick swab ever 6-8 shots helped a lot when using patched round ball, as it got a bit tight. Not nearly as bad a Pyro, though.

Easy to clean with normal gun chems.

 

[etisll40]

I want to buy a good quality muzzleloader that easy to clean and doesn't have to be cleaned after 2-3 shots. Accuracy important, for whitetail, 0-200 yards only. Scope mountable but I don't think I will scope it so good iron sights or the ability to replace them with another type important. I may only buy one, so money is not that important. Reliability, looks like a classic and accuracy, simplicity, important.

Any recommendations welcome.

Ed

 

[GDreyer310]

Hi from Montana, whats the best reloading eqpt.

 

[Inpursuit]

Lyman plains rifle in 54 cal. Round ball with patch. I do user a p. cap though.

 

[edge]

etisll40, smokeless does not smell much at all and requires virtually no cleaning either!

It is much cheaper to shoot too.

You could buy a used Savage, a new one, a custom smokeless, convert a centerfire with a custom barrel, etc. It all depends on how much you want to spend.

You can convert a 45-70 Handi rifle to ML for about $125 over the cost of the rifle which makes a very light platform.
Some States do allow single shot rifles to be used during ML season but I do not think that NY is one of them.

If you are interested in converting a rifle or for loads, etc I would recommend Doug's.
Doug's Message Boards - Savage/Smokeless Muzzleloading


edge.

 

[Greyfox]

Are the sharps rifles considered muzzle loaders? i like the looks of them... Does the smokeless stink as much? Thinking about getting a bow and muzzleloader this year. Bought 82 acres of land and want to get a permit to keep the whitetail population down!!! I'm a real conservationist! Live in NY though.

The 1873 Model is not considered a ML(at least in most the states I have hunted) because of the open breech. Too bad, I shoot them, and like them as well. I suppose if someone modified one with a screw in breech plug similar to the TC it would be OK. Loading would then have to be done from the muzzle.

 

[etisll40]

Great forum, you'll make a muzzleloader out of me soon.

Love to hunt and shoot.

I like being like our forefathers.

A modern one! ... maybe, I may get a musket too.

 

[Daveinjax]

The Blackhorn 209 doesn't come in pellets but it is great stuff. I shot 60 rounds last fall without cleaning it. Cleaned up very easy with regular cleaning product ( I think I used 2 n 1 bore solvent? ). I did come back with shotgun solvent to remove the plastic fouling left by the sabots. I can't recommend it more highly. I gave away four boxes of Triple Seven as I will never use it again. Also , if you use the blackhorn you need regular shotgun primers not black powder type.

 

[Cuda]

I also use a Savage 10ML-ll with a 300gr Remington bullet in a Black Crushed Rib Harvester sabot. 69 gr of IMR4198 powder and a Winchester 209 primer. I have a Leopold Ultimate Slam scope one shot one deer. Never missed one yet with one shot. gun)

 

[JDH]

I use both .45 and a .50 cal. My .45 is a CVA Optima I shoot 100 gr of 777 pellets pushing a 170 grain dead center saboted long range bullet. It's a nail driver a 200+ yrds. My .50 is an old CVA inline I have had for years. I also load it with 100 Grains of 777 pellets. I shoot 200 Grn Barnes ballistic tips. I shoots very tight groups @ 100+ yds. I use it mainly for when I'm stalking or scouting because it's so light. My Optima Ways a ton and I use it mainly in a stand or when I really need long range capabilities. Black powder puts me in the woods with a gun. I jump at any chance to be in the woods with a gun.

 

[camdog]

Hello, I am new here and love the muzzleloading sport. I am currently an Omega, Blackhorn 209, Parker jacketed hydra con 300 grain hunter. I am also a big fan of the match hunter 300 and 325 grain bullet as well. I just topped the Omega w/ another scope to try out for curiosity reasons, the redfield revolution 3x9x40 and I am very impressed. Redfield is back once again. I was experimenting before this scope w/ the Toby Bridges Hi-Lux Leatherwood scope for awhile and even though the clarity was nice, held zero and all, the eye relief for me was 3.25 and I scoped the lashes of my eye to close for comfort too many times. I never really connected but just to short of eye relief for me. Now the redfield is at 4" all the time and at any power. 5 star rating and for obvious reasons. Anyways, thanks for being apart of a nice site and I hope to hear more from you muzzleloader fanatics. Thanks alot.

 

[etisll40]

CamDog, I read a fair amount about Savage Muzzleloaders, are you familiar? They are on their 2nd version now?

 

[camdog]

I dont hunt smokeless but have always been intrested in the savage. I do know the savage is a strong constructed firearm that will spit out some fast bullets, much faster than any other muzzleloader. Well, they do have the ultimate muzzleloader and a few other types. The savage to my knowledge is a fan of the Barnes Original 300 grain. You take the two and sight it in and that is a nice set up. Oneday I may look into hunting smokeless myself. I am not against it thats for sure. I guess i am just satisfied right now at 1900 f.p.s. Thanks for asking