Muzzle loading. Step 1 the guide book

zebra26

zebra26

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So I will take the plunge around Christmas time and buy a muzzle loading rifle. (Because I now have access to private land in an area that has a ML deer season)

The traditional type appeals to me but realistically I will most likely buy an inline model. I suspect one of the TC (for newbes) models.

I'm looking for suggestions for a good book, an introduction to muzzle loading. Any suggestions appreciated.

Cheers
 
the lyman blackpowder book is good too, I personally hunt with flintlocks and will be going out and using my new matchlock once I have it all tiddled up. I dislike the inlines and really dont see the point. I can hit very accurate groups with my oldies and load time is fast once you get the hang of it. But thats just my opinion.

mclean
 
Welcome to black powder shooting! Just gotta ask...Why an inline? I suppose a scope does give an advantage but an inline is more or less a modern firearm that loads from the muzzle. This is just my opinion and if you have made up your mind thats fine but traditional guns are just so MUCH MORE FUN! What do you think your longest shot will be? Iron sights are fine, you just have to practice which means more shooting which means MORE FUN!

Cheers, Steve.
 
stevejones said:
Welcome to black powder shooting! Just gotta ask...Why an inline? I suppose a scope does give an advantage but an inline is more or less a modern firearm that loads from the muzzle. This is just my opinion and if you have made up your mind thats fine but traditional guns are just so MUCH MORE FUN! What do you think your longest shot will be? Iron sights are fine, you just have to practice which means more shooting which means MORE FUN!

Cheers, Steve.
Click to expand...

Right off I would say ease of use and ease of cleaning. As far as I know (and on this topic that ain't much) the inlines are the only ones I know of that have a removeable plug for ease in cleaning the barrel.

There is also the fact that my new hunting territory has a BP season and the gun season is shotgun only. So that means it can be all BP if I want.

From what I've seen most shots would be under 100 yds.

I wasn't planning on a scope but its an option.

I now see the Savage 10ML uses smokeless powder and is putting rounds out to 200 yds. That can be a game changer but sort of defeats the reason for shotgun only areas.

Also, I'm not sure I want to invest a fortune into this. Price is a consideration. I don't want the least expensive but I'm looking for the best starter model.
I agree the traditional ML are very attractive and no I haven't made up my mind which way to go.
 
The Savage 10MLII is now discontinued, but its a great rifle and has some definate advantage in terms of using a clean burning powder that promotes consistent accuracy. It's not perfect, it's heavy and long, and has a minor consumable part called a vent liner that needs changing periodically, but this part is cheap and similar to a percusion cap nipple. The 10MLII has the performance all the others aspire to. But, performance isn't everything, and other guns may be more desirable. For me, its the low maintenance and lack of cleaning that make the Savage 10MLII my choice.
 
Try this website:

http://www.modernmuzzleloader.com



It is very much like this forum, except it is 100% about muzzleloading.

As to your choice of rifle: I personnally own both an inline and a traditional rifle. There is no doubt that the inline (TC Encore) is a better rifle. However, the traditional rifle (TC Hawken) is a lot of fun.

Remember that most traditional rifles will not shoot sabots well, because of slow twist rates, whereas inlines will not be good at shooting patched round balls, because of their fast twist rate.
 
pacobillie said:
Try this website:

http://www.modernmuzzleloader.com



It is very much like this forum, except it is 100% about muzzleloading.

As to your choice of rifle: I personnally own both an inline and a traditional rifle. There is no doubt that the inline (TC Encore) is a better rifle. However, the traditional rifle (TC Hawken) is a lot of fun.

Remember that most traditional rifles will not shoot sabots well, because of slow twist rates, whereas inlines will not be good at shooting patched round balls, because of their fast twist rate.
Click to expand...

I was out and about today looking at some of the TC offerings. Didn't like the impact the triumph looked much better. There were some CVA offerings but I can't recall the models. There were no traditional models in stock so that option is still up in the air for now.
There are still a number of other retailers to visit before I get the job done.

Sadly, looking at this equipment search and my upcoming schedule it looks like I will miss out on the BP season which begins in early December. Crap

Oh well, best not to rush these things
 
I bought a Thompson Center .50 cal Hawken, some #11 caps and Goex ffG and the Lyman Black powder Handbook 2nd ed. I wash mine out with a normal cleaning rod and old piece of a cloth using warm water and dish soap. Dry and oil. No problems. I also got my own .490 ball mold and .50 mini mold.
 
stevejones said:
Welcome to black powder shooting! Just gotta ask...Why an inline? I suppose a scope does give an advantage but an inline is more or less a modern firearm that loads from the muzzle. This is just my opinion and if you have made up your mind thats fine but traditional guns are just so MUCH MORE FUN! What do you think your longest shot will be? Iron sights are fine, you just have to practice which means more shooting which means MORE FUN!

Cheers, Steve.
Click to expand...

Been thinking this over some more.
As far as percussion cap traditional muzzle loaders. Anyone make a model with a breech plug for easy cleaning?
 
I've used and hunted both extensively. If you want pure fun, go with traditional, percussion is almost (and I state ALMOST) as reliable as an in-line. In-lines are easier to clean, but traditional smoke-poles aren't all that hard to clean. As far as all-round usefulness, my favourite is a 45 cal. Kentucky rifle. I can load it with 22 gr. of BP and a 133 gr. round ball, and it's great for grouse, rabbit and squirrel out to 25 yds., making head shots. I then switch to a 250 gr. maxi-Ball at 70 gr. of BP (or Pyrodex, because it's easier to find and just as much fun as BP), and it'll hit in 6" at 125 yds.
 
Save yourself the steps in between and go straight to a good quality flintlock rifle or smooth bore.(or a percussion if you must) You'll end up there anyway.

Being from Quebec I'd suggest you look at a 62 cal Fusil de Chasse, Tulle or something derived from those words. Life is too short for ugly guns.
 
zebra26 said:
Been thinking this over some more.
As far as percussion cap traditional muzzle loaders. Anyone make a model with a breech plug for easy cleaning?
Click to expand...

Honestly, cleaning is just as easy if you get a gun with a hooked breach. If you search this forums threads you will see just how easy it is. I think there are more problems with removable breech plugs getting damaged and seized. I guess (?) an inline is more reliable because the primer is covered but If you keep your breech area protected you will not run into any problems.
 
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