Looking at picking up a decent in-line muzzleloader, but really would like to hear from some of you who already own and hunt with one. I figure price range of $600 to $800 if one exists thats really worth it. Using for whitetail. Thanks again.
What in-line muzzleloader would you recommend, and why ?
- Thread starter H82MISS
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I have never hunted with a muzzleloading rifle either, just wanted to make that point. I see reviews but wanted to reach out to experienced shooters/hunters here for some direction as to their rifle of choice and loads they use. I want something that will take me out to at least 350 yards also.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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johnnyk
Well-Known Member
This should be moved to the Muzzleloader Hunting section. I used the Knight in-line years ago but it left in a trade. Just this past season I started using a CVA Accura V2 .50 cal, not a "in-line" but very user friendly and capable of LR with the right bullet and scope.
I'm after the "right" scope now but haven't found what I want/need, but I have till August to get something. The friend who gave me the rifle bought himself a Accura V2 LR in .45 cal. We sighted both in at 100yds, using BH209, and both are capable of darn near one-hole 3-shot groups.
His father in-law has the same rifle as he does but he (FIL) is using Accurate 5744 smokeless powder. I tried to explain to him that his rifle is not meant to shoot smokeless but he insist it's safe and he's done in for a couple years now, as have several of his friends.
Good grief, you can't fix stupid.
I'm after the "right" scope now but haven't found what I want/need, but I have till August to get something. The friend who gave me the rifle bought himself a Accura V2 LR in .45 cal. We sighted both in at 100yds, using BH209, and both are capable of darn near one-hole 3-shot groups.
His father in-law has the same rifle as he does but he (FIL) is using Accurate 5744 smokeless powder. I tried to explain to him that his rifle is not meant to shoot smokeless but he insist it's safe and he's done in for a couple years now, as have several of his friends.
Good grief, you can't fix stupid.
shooter7
Well-Known Member
350 yards is doable. I think it will be more dependent on the optic you choose but luckily there's a plethora of LR optics these days. I've had very good luck with my Thompson Center Omega though it seems they may have discontinued the model. I did a load workup and settled on 110 gr of Triple 7 black powder substitute with a 245gr Powerbelt Aero tip. It will typically shoot in the 1-1.5 MOA range for 3 shot groups. But the projectiles aren't very aerodynamic and muzzle loaders are just slow.
If I were you I'd look into the T/C Encore Pro Hunter. Moderately priced and have performed well for quite some time.
If I were you I'd look into the T/C Encore Pro Hunter. Moderately priced and have performed well for quite some time.
+1 for the T/C encore. Never really had to experiment much with mine to get it to shoot under an inch at 100 yards.
D
Deleted member 107796
Guest
A few of us have picked up the T/C Impact. It has some great features for the price, like the fiber optic sight and a nice breech plug design for ease of removal/installation.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
A good source of info would be:
modernmuzzleloader.com
Check the "in-line" thread.
modernmuzzleloader.com
Check the "in-line" thread.
Thanks Varmint Hunter, appreciated.
Catbird
Well-Known Member
I've been using a CVA with the nitride barrel for several years now. Very accurate with Bh209 and Hornady 300 gr SST's.
jwelch1103
Member
I bought a CVA Accura V2 LR in .45 with a 30" 1 in 22" twist barrel this past November. I am very very impressed with it. It uses a 209 primer that goes into the removable breech plug, i.e. "in-line" with the barrel so it is in fact an in-line muzzle loader. You need to consider barrel twist rate if you want to shoot a muzzle loader long range, read up on that.
I decided to go with Blackhorn 209 black powder substitute and I am very very very impressed with that stuff. Very clean burning stuff, when I tested different charges shooting it for the first time I shot 8 3-shot groups and I tell you the 24th loading was just as easy as the second loading. No patching, brushing or any cleaning between shots. Back when I used Goex in my Hawkens percussion .50 cal I couldn't load a third shot with out spit patching or running a .50 cal brush down the barrel. As an aside, that old cheap Italian made TC Hawkens knock off was a tack driver. Every deer I shot with it gave up the ghost immediately. Of course I had extremely keen eye sight as a young man but never tried to shoot it too far, 100-120 yards was the farthest I took a deer with it.
Also decided to go "bullet to bore", i.e. where neither sabot nor skirted bullets are used. I'm using Arrowhead Rifles 300 gr XLD that I swage to the barrels bore size with an adjustable smooth sizing die in a Lee hand press. You do not have to go that far, the Powerbelt skirted bullets work well I hear as do sabots.
I'm not an authority but from what I've read 350 yards is pretty far to accurately shoot and humanely kill a whitetail with any muzzle loader but especially a .50 cal using black powder or a BP substitute. You may be able to stretch to 300 yards with a .45 cal but .50 cal is a lot of bullet to push that far. Now I am not saying it can not be done and I'm sure if you look around the web you will read of folks saying they took a bull elk at 350 yards with an iron sighted flint lock but one has to be on their game and know the ballistics especially with long range hunting. Bullets start dropping very quickly at that range and then there is wind drift to consider. If you are going to chrono your loads and work up a DOPE card then that is a different story.
If you are set on "at least 350 yards" (which implies more than 350 yards) then you might need to step up to a smokeless powder muzzle loader. Just to be clear these are NOT regular muzzle loaders but rather custom or semi-custom rifles that can take the pressure smokeless powder will develop. Now these are not cheap of course, they start at several thousand dollars.
Also to consider, if you want to use Blackhorn 209, start looking now. In my area at least it is very hard to find in stock. And 209 primers? You should start looking for them yesterday! They are extremely hard to find. the makers of Blackhorn recommend magnum 209 primers and, when I find some I'm going to buy some but I was fortunate enough to have Winchester and Federal standard 209 primers from when I used to reload shotshells. They make the gun go bang fine it seems. Just finished hunting the late deer season here in Delaware, had the Accura loaded for 11 days and on the end of my last day hunting (not having seen any 4 legged whitetails) I went to discharge the gun and it went off just fine but I am still looking for magnum 209s.
Anyway, long post I know and forgive me for rambling. If you want to long range hunt with a ML do a lot of research, read, read, read! Lots of good (and bad) info on the web from nice well intending people. Good luck
I decided to go with Blackhorn 209 black powder substitute and I am very very very impressed with that stuff. Very clean burning stuff, when I tested different charges shooting it for the first time I shot 8 3-shot groups and I tell you the 24th loading was just as easy as the second loading. No patching, brushing or any cleaning between shots. Back when I used Goex in my Hawkens percussion .50 cal I couldn't load a third shot with out spit patching or running a .50 cal brush down the barrel. As an aside, that old cheap Italian made TC Hawkens knock off was a tack driver. Every deer I shot with it gave up the ghost immediately. Of course I had extremely keen eye sight as a young man but never tried to shoot it too far, 100-120 yards was the farthest I took a deer with it.
Also decided to go "bullet to bore", i.e. where neither sabot nor skirted bullets are used. I'm using Arrowhead Rifles 300 gr XLD that I swage to the barrels bore size with an adjustable smooth sizing die in a Lee hand press. You do not have to go that far, the Powerbelt skirted bullets work well I hear as do sabots.
I'm not an authority but from what I've read 350 yards is pretty far to accurately shoot and humanely kill a whitetail with any muzzle loader but especially a .50 cal using black powder or a BP substitute. You may be able to stretch to 300 yards with a .45 cal but .50 cal is a lot of bullet to push that far. Now I am not saying it can not be done and I'm sure if you look around the web you will read of folks saying they took a bull elk at 350 yards with an iron sighted flint lock but one has to be on their game and know the ballistics especially with long range hunting. Bullets start dropping very quickly at that range and then there is wind drift to consider. If you are going to chrono your loads and work up a DOPE card then that is a different story.
If you are set on "at least 350 yards" (which implies more than 350 yards) then you might need to step up to a smokeless powder muzzle loader. Just to be clear these are NOT regular muzzle loaders but rather custom or semi-custom rifles that can take the pressure smokeless powder will develop. Now these are not cheap of course, they start at several thousand dollars.
Also to consider, if you want to use Blackhorn 209, start looking now. In my area at least it is very hard to find in stock. And 209 primers? You should start looking for them yesterday! They are extremely hard to find. the makers of Blackhorn recommend magnum 209 primers and, when I find some I'm going to buy some but I was fortunate enough to have Winchester and Federal standard 209 primers from when I used to reload shotshells. They make the gun go bang fine it seems. Just finished hunting the late deer season here in Delaware, had the Accura loaded for 11 days and on the end of my last day hunting (not having seen any 4 legged whitetails) I went to discharge the gun and it went off just fine but I am still looking for magnum 209s.
Anyway, long post I know and forgive me for rambling. If you want to long range hunt with a ML do a lot of research, read, read, read! Lots of good (and bad) info on the web from nice well intending people. Good luck
Kmccord
Well-Known Member
I know you listed 600-800 as a price range, but if all you are going to do is ML hunt, check out the McWhorter Custom Rifles muzzle loader, they use smokeless and black and are good for 600 yards with a 375gr bullet. I would rather have one that can handle smokeless powder, cleaning up a black powder rifle every time you shoot can become a PITA.
jwelch1103..... thanks for this info. I appreciate your insight !!!!!!!!!
ATH
Well-Known Member
I can't comment on specific arms as I still shoot a T/C Omega (which was one of the best ever made). However if you want to shoot 300+ yards with a ML I recommend the .458 325gr FTX. The 40cal 200gr SST/Shockwave will do it too but with far less energy. I shot the FTX out to 500 yards...I think longest shot at game was ~400 yards. It must be calm, you must have a rangefinder, and the drops will be BIG.
