Going to pick up a muzzy, had to give up archery. Advice needed

[COhntr]

So after 30 yrs of archery hunting, i have been told by my dr that i will have to give it up due to having has both shoulders fixed on 3 separate occasions. So my question is where to start? Gun, powder, projectiles, etc. This will be next year, as the current season is quickly approaching and i don't have a tag either. Looking for advice on what works, what doesn't and i realize that each person is different, so this is for notes and research. Thanks in advance

 

[Sam4886]

I'm guessing COhntr means you'll be in Colorado. I'm in Washington, so our laws are a bit different, but as I recall Colorado is even more restrictive. No scopes, no sabots, no smokeless powder right? What's the status on 209 primers or other modern ignition systems? Does the breech have to be open to the elements? Can you have fiber optic sights?

That's just off the top of my head, so I may be wrong. You'll have to confirm all of the above for CO or wherever you're planning on hunting.

I started with the heavy *** old octagon barrel side locks shooting round balls and maxi balls. I've since upgraded to a traditions vortek then again to the rem 700 UML. Both have been great. I'd stay away from the striker fire system on the traditions. My hunting buddies both have CVA optimas that have been good to go too. My dad bought a T/C break action of some sort that works just fine too.

The CVA ram rod with the palm pad thing is the best I've used.

The 700 is supposedly designed for the powder pellets, so that's what I use. You'll see lots of guys upgrade the ignition system so they can use blackhorn, but with no scopes and stuff here I don't see the need. 2 magnum pellets is 120 gr equivalent with a 260 gr scorpion PT gold in a crush rib sabot shoots about an inch and a half at 100 yards with iron sights. The 700 is the heaviest of all the rifles mentioned here and it uses a standard 700 action so it has to go through an FFL.

I used the same powder/bullet combo in the traditions when I had to use musket caps instead of modern ignition systems. It wasnt as reliable with musket caps as the 700 is now, but WA changed a few years back to let us use 209/modern primers so it's not really an apples to apples comparison.

I like the western precision sight set from Williams, but the front sight can be tough to see against very dark backgrounds. Its kind of a pros and cons thing against a rear peep/front fiber set up. More precision vs better visibility.

 

[Old Rooster]

My brother in law uses a T/C Encore and love's it.
He had a CVA but got hard up for money so he sold it but kept his T/C.
His is 50 cal and with a scope he can shoot 1 inch group at 100 yards

 

[OldDutch]

I haven't muzzle loaded CO for a few years, and the rules change every year, but it's restrictive. No scopes, no sabots, minimum caliber went up recently for elk, you can not used pelletized powder, and on it goes…

Anyway, I use a Thompson Center inline 50. The inlines are easy to clean and easy to unload compared with muzzle loaders. It's got a fiber front sight and a Williams peep on the rear. I like Lee REAL bullets personally, but most any quality off the shelf bullet will work fine. I found I tend to get best accuracy somewhere below 100 grains, but not usually below 90 grains.

Good luck. If you can get one during archery, you can do it with black powder.

 

[swat]

why not file the paper work on a crossbow permit. just a thought I may have to do it shortly.

 

[ArkiePaul]

So after 30 yrs of archery hunting, i have been told by my dr that i will have to give it up due to having has both shoulders fixed on 3 separate occasions. So my question is where to start? Gun, powder, projectiles, etc. This will be next year, as the current season is quickly approaching and i don't have a tag either. Looking for advice on what works, what doesn't and i realize that each person is different, so this is for notes and research. Thanks in advance

 

[ArkiePaul]

So after 30 yrs of archery hunting, i have been told by my dr that i will have to give it up due to having has both shoulders fixed on 3 separate occasions. So my question is where to start? Gun, powder, projectiles, etc. This will be next year, as the current season is quickly approaching and i don't have a tag either. Looking for advice on what works, what doesn't and i realize that each person is different, so this is for notes and research. Thanks in advance

New member here. First post. I have archery hunted and used a Hawken style muzzleloader also. I enjoy the old stuff and think you might also. I have taken wild hogs with .50cal round balls using 90 grains of Pyrodex. Complete pass throughs the norm. Give it a try.

 

[COhntr]

Sam, you are correct, i live in sw colorado and plan on hunting here but have been applying in az for a while. We are pretty restricted as you had stated, no pelletized powder, no sabots, no scope, no smokeless powder but can use the 209 ignition system. I thought about the crossbow permit idea, but watching a vision impaired friend go thru the red tape and then try to use one of the awkward things, i chose the BP route. I will be hunting elk primarily but will also hunt mule deer, depending on the lottery system for tags, which does not work in my opinion but i will save that rant for another time. I am leaning heavily towards one of the inlines due to the ease of cleaning and maintenance.

 

[RCMSTER]

Not sure when you are going to start acquiring your muzzleloader, but here in the next 2 weeks, I'm gonna put up one, or maybe both of my Remington 700 UML muzzleloaders. One has the laminated stock and sights, and I've killed 4 or 5 deer with it. The other is the synthetic stock version with no sights. It's still new in the box, never used, never even played around with it. If you or someone else is interested, let me know, otherwise, I'm gonna put one or both on gunbroker.

 

[BrentM]

Idaho has similar rules. I know a guy who put his ml in a chassis with a folder and it's pretty awesome. As far as the rest, I like 7 powder, develop a consistent process to load, and practice. The biggest issues I have with ML is the sights. I have a 48 twist hawkin and a 28 twist marlin inline. The 48 is for round ball. I'd suggest looking at the type of system you desire to hunt with. If I went full ML instead of my bow I'd go with the chassis set up in a inline design.

 

[P7M13]

I am leaning heavily towards one of the inlines due to the ease of cleaning and maintenance.

I use a flinty, Lyman Trade rifle.
Incredibly easy to clean.

 

[fp4]

Get an inline, it gives you a lot more reliable ignition of your powder. For powder the best is blackhorn 209, but it's pricey and hard to find right now. I've been shooting Thor bullets, they have been the most accurate for me. So far everything I've shot with the Thor bullets has dropped on the spot or made it 30 yards or less.
Thor has a sizing package of bullets you can get from them to find the perfect size bullet for your rifle.

Anyway this is what I've ended up using after trying many different set-ups and been very happy with it.

 

[stovepipe]

I second the crossbow permit..I had to go that route for shooting arrows..make sure you get a crossbow with a cocking device

 

[7mmTikkaShooter]

Don't most states offer crossbow tags for certain handicap situations? I have a friend who has done just that in SD.