O/T Muzzleloader rifle

James Williams · Dec 9, 2013

Im wanting to buy a new,good muzzleloader rifle that will shoot acuratly out to two hundred yards,does any one have any suggestions

jimmy

GordoSD · Dec 9, 2013

Buy a Thompson center , Hawken stock on Ebay that has the LOCK AND TRIGGERS IN IT. tHEN BUY A 1:12 FAST TWIST LRH (long range hunter) barrel from Green mountain. .50 cal is good. Then shoot the power belt bullets. Buy a box of 100 balls for fun shooting.
The key is "fast twist" 99% of your MZ rifles are like 1:36

Vernon in Ks · Dec 9, 2013

Thomson (SP?)

BIG RUH · Dec 9, 2013

I have an Optima Pro 50 cal. and it shots 200 yards very well. You'll need to adjust your powder charge for best results

D beatty · Dec 9, 2013

Thomson center makes good quality guns. If you can find one Remington,Ruger and Savage made a bolt action muzzleloaders. The one made by Savage could be used with black powder or silver powder. You would have to find these used because I don't think they are no longer offered by the manufactures.

waltdavies · Dec 9, 2013

My brother had an original Kentucky rifle small bore but very accurate. He also had a Cival war rifle that the Army had been keeping in reserve for war use. This rifle was like brand new out of the box but made during the Cival war. I wonder about our military and what they have put away in old storage places. I hated to shoot both of these rifles because I got hit in the face from both of them when breech plug leaks though and took a piece of the stock out. A common thing with older black powders rifles. Use the new black power can't remember the name of it but it's more stable and a lot cleaner. These guns need to be washed out with hot soapy water after a day of shooting the re-oil them good. I have two a Kentucky pistol flint lock and a Colt 36 Navy pistol. The Navy is my favorite to shoot, I used it with blank charges when was teaching tourist how to pan for gold at an old mine in southern Oregon.
Walt
PS
I have heard nothing but good about the T/C rifles a friend got a buffalo with his, one shot.

magpiene · Dec 9, 2013

If you want to shoot bullets, maxi balls etc. Use a quick twist, 1 in 20" or 30". Round ball twist is best at 1 in 66" or so. The 1 in 30" range works OK for both. For long range 150-200 yards, stay in the 1 in 20" or less twist with bullets only. Round ball does not retain enough energy at those ranges.

old · Dec 9, 2013

I did not see that any body said it but I will. Buy an In-line type they will fire better and are all around a better rifle then the side hammer type. Also stay away from what Wal-Mart sells they are not all that good.

donjr · Dec 9, 2013

I have an Optima from CVA with a Konus scope on it, and it is a tack driver, even at two hundred yards. I dropped a buck opening day this year at 200 yards, and drilled him right where the shot was spotted. Mine uses a 209 primer, and I'm using 2-50 gr pyrodex pellets and a 245 gr powerbelt round. It's a deadly accurate combination....

GeneMO · Dec 9, 2013

James, why not look into the Savage and Remington models that shoot smokeless powder? Now I will back up a little, you do need to WEIGH smokeless powder, whereas black powder and the black powder substitutes are MEASURED.

I reload so I already have powder scales. But a beam style scale can probably be had for $20 or so used.

Anyway, I have a Savage 50 caliber, shoots smokeless powder so little clean up, little mess. I shoot the Hornady FTX bullets 250 grain weight and .452 diameter. This bullet is pointed with the ballistic tip.

This gun shoots hard and accurate. But you have to weigh the powder.

Gene

D beatty · Dec 9, 2013

The gun shop I go to sold the Remington 700 and Savage 10ML-II and was told only the Savage could use smokeless powder. He only got one of the Savages and would only order if you wanted one. It was found out latter that guys with miltiple black powder rifles were forgetting which rifle they had and were loading their black powder only rifles with smokeless powder. I know Remington stopped production in 2004 and I don't think Savage builds that rifle anymore. I know Ruger hasn't list an black powder guns of any kind for awhile now.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 9, 2013

I have a Optima by CVA just as Donjr. Very accurate and balanced quite nice.

GordoSD · Dec 9, 2013

Check your state regs before you buy. SOme states, like here in SD do not allow inline or 209 primers or and scope other than 1x.
I use a .54 with truglo red dot sight Green Mountain LRH barrel, and Powerbelts.
Deer simply "shudder" and collapse. In video you can see shock wave in the body. Scary.
My deer population is off at least 60% this year so not taking any does. Last 10 years I have not shot a buck trying to grow some big ones.
Here's one we hung last night. In the snow, 6 degrees, talk about a quick cool down. The shop is maintained at 38 for Aging.
And yeah, it's hanging from the 95

Richard from SE AZ · Dec 9, 2013

I have a REAL black powder rifle. It is a Connecticut Valley Arms in 45 cal. I have taken 6 AZ deer with it in the years I have had it. I use FFFg black powder and it and is a Bi*ch to clean. But DARN it is a challenge and a whole lot of fun. In lines, bolt actions, scopes, somehow the challenge and feel is lost. I don't see the point in using them. Deer hunting with a modern rifle, 3030 with iron sights. That is also a challenge and a lot of fun. I guess it would be different if I needed to hunt to survive. To each his own. IMHO.

NYCamper62 · Dec 9, 2013

I like my CVA. Thought about getting a scope for it but I can still use the irons. Filled a few tags with it, in NY muzz season splits into two zones so I get an extra 'cold' week or so.

O/T Muzzleloader rifle

James Williams

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GordoSD

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Vernon in Ks

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BIG RUH

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D beatty

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waltdavies

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magpiene

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old

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donjr

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GeneMO

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D beatty

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Anonymous-0

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GordoSD

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Richard from SE AZ

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