Logan_Lamothe
Regular
- Location
- Big River, Sask
I am looking at getting my first muzzle-loader, any recomendations? I have been looking at the TC Pro Hunter.
First Muzzle-loader
- Thread starter Logan_Lamothe
- Start date
I am looking at getting my first muzzle-loader, any recomendations? I have been looking at the TC Pro Hunter.
Depends on what your purpose is. If you are just looking to get an extended hunting season without a learning curve get any of the modern inlines. There are a couple of Rugers and Remingtons listed in the EE.
If you are trying to relive a bit of history a Lyman Trade rifle or Great Plains are close to the top of my list. Pedersoli makes some very nice muzzle loaders. Older T/C Hawkens, Renegades, New Englanders, etc. are decent quality. I'm not too keen on the Post S&W T/C stuff.
I prefer a side lock (cap or flint) and genuine black powder shooting a pure lead ball/minie ball.
C Broad Arrow
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Same with me. The Omega is an awesum gun.
I'd look at a Savage or PRB custom - both are capable of shooting smokeless powder. I've had Knight Disc, T/C Omega and T/C Encore and all were very accurate but just the thought of cleaning another ML every time I pull the trigger makes me cringe.
Chucker243
Member
- Location
- quinte west area
I recently got a TC Triumph. It is an awesome shooter as well. I personally appreciate the speed breech feature. The ergonomics and weight suit me perfectly. 'Highly recommend.
If you want to be a buckskinner, get a flintlock. If ya wanna kill things, get the Savage.
Gotta disagree with you there.
I wonder what kept meat on the tables of the early settlers? Flintlocks! Those folks relied on flintlocks to keep them safe and fed. I guess the flintlocks did exactly that!
FWIW, I used a T/C Hawken and New Englander 12 ga for years as my main hunting firearms. Never once did these traditional muzzle loaders prevent me from getting whatever game I was after.
Using traditional muzzle loaders also "broke the ice" when meeting other hunters in the woods. I seriously doubt any of those hunters would have batted an eye at a Savage.
If you want 100% ignition and the looks and feel of a plastic stocked modern rifle why not buy a modern rifle? The only things the Savage ML will give that the modern rifles won't is the extra season and the single shot.
I guess I don't see the fascination with in line/modern muzzle loaders. What's the thrill of using a rifle that looks and feels exactly like a modern cartridge gun? Sure your have to stuff 2 or 3 pellets and a jacketed hollow point bullet in a sabot down the muzzle and place a 209 primer in the holder, but when you squeeze the adjustable trigger as you look through the variable power scope at the deer 150 yds away, you know the gun will fire and the bullet will end up where the cross hairs are.
A lot like using a modern .308 cartridge gun with your reloaded ammunition isn't it?
If muzzle loader seasons dictated the use of traditional cap or flint locks and open sights would the interest in modern in lines still be there? I seriously doubt it.
But to each their own. Personally, I'll stick with traditional style firearms for my muzzle loading needs!
Strangley enough, we are close to agreeing, at least on the thought process. I got tired of traditional muzzleloading 25 years ago, and now use the more modern styles for the special season. If the season were cancelled tomorrow I'd stand them in a garbage barrel and walk away. They are hunting tools to me, and nothing more. Smokeless powder fits right in with that line of thinking.
Because in some area's the only thing you are allowed to use for deer other than a bow is a muzzle loader...no rifle or shotgun season. My TC Omega is strictly a hunting tool; if I could, I would use a centrefire rifle.
That is exactly why I would buy a Savage if I was going to start ML hunting again, the extra deer season. But since the ML season here in SK runs at the same time as the waterfowl hunting season I just can't bring myself to crate the dog in favour of chasing jumpers.
careful if you use smokeless powder a saw a guy blow his thumb off and rip his hand apart to say nothing of his destroyed gun
At last...an actual honest to goodness living eye witness to one of these events. Where did this happen? All the regurgitated photos on the internet claim from anywhere from Quebec to Georgia.
Hakx
I started with a Savage years ago, and now that I know better, would never do it any other way
Seriously, it is so much easier, familiar and powerful that you just can't compare it to other non smokeless muzzleloaders. You can launch 300 gr bullets at 1,100 fps or 250 gr bullets in excess of 2,700 fps. And, if you really feel a little camicaze, you can go way more than that (I'm too chickensh*t for that), but it is hardly necessary.
I know, I know, most of the other muzzleloaders will do the job also, but not like the Savage.
I now use the Savage for hunting and a Lyman Trade Rifle Flintlock for fun. The only problem is that, with the Trade rifle, the fun stops right when the cleaning starts. But boy, is it ever fun to shoot!
Seriously, it is so much easier, familiar and powerful that you just can't compare it to other non smokeless muzzleloaders. You can launch 300 gr bullets at 1,100 fps or 250 gr bullets in excess of 2,700 fps. And, if you really feel a little camicaze, you can go way more than that (I'm too chickensh*t for that), but it is hardly necessary.
I know, I know, most of the other muzzleloaders will do the job also, but not like the Savage.
I now use the Savage for hunting and a Lyman Trade Rifle Flintlock for fun. The only problem is that, with the Trade rifle, the fun stops right when the cleaning starts.
But boy, is it ever fun to shoot!Not sure I see your point.
A traditional muzzleloader is still a muzzleloader and therefore should be allowed to be used in muzzleloader only seasons.
