Situations better suited to muzzleloader?

vpsalin

vpsalin

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Do you encounter certain situations where you prefer to take out your trusty muzzleloader and you end up leaving the center-fire rifle at home by choice?

If so please describre, is it;


  • Bear over Bait
    Close range Elk
    Thick Brush
    Your main rifle is a 30-30 or 6mm and you rather hunt moose with your .50cal
    You name it...?
 
I’ve had a half dozen or so muzzle loaders. The only one I would like back was the savage smokeless. I would prefer to use my marlin big loop 45-70 on anything I could use the ml for. I was more practiced and proficient over 200 yards with the front loaders though.
 
I gave up muzzleloaders because in every situation that I might have used one, I preferred archery gear.
 
Use Muzzleloader in the designated seasons, which I like, otherwise carry a Bolt or Lever Action Rifle.
Have not found a time hunting when the Muzzleloader would be advantages over a Rifle of appropriate caliber, cheers.
 
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Personal satisfaction is the primary reason to prefer muzzle loader over cartridge rifle. There is no disadvantage if you are really hunting and getting close to your game.
In Saskatchewan we have muzzle loader seasons, which usually have milder temperatures, compared to 20 below and the ever-present wind of later rifle seasons.
I have not hunted deer with a cartridge rifle for 20 years or so.
 
I use my ML only when it's required by law. I know of no circumstances that make a modern bolt action less effective as a hunting tool than a ML.

That does not mean I think muzzle loaders are ineffective, just inconvenient and very limiting in comparison.
 
I'll carry a muzzleloader when different seasons overlap, and
it allows me me a chance at both. Examples would be muzzleloader whitetail and mule-deer and draw moose all running at the same
time. Another is fall bear and whitetail. Bear are always hitting our whitetail baits, and the other way around. It doesn't matter much what you use at baited stand range, bullets make more difference than caliber or cartridge at powder burn ranges.

Sometimes I'll use a muzzleloader simply so I don't have to wear colours. There are times when wearing a Santa Claus suit doesn't matter, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Carrying a muzzleloader can sometimes let you tag along with others who are rifle hunting. Maybe you're only there as hired muscle, but you can pretend you're hunting until it's moose loading time.

We have some zones where rifles aren't allowed but shotguns and muzzleloaders are. I'd much rather use a muzzleloader than a shotgun.
 
Over the years have probably shot 50+ deer with the ML due to our local season requirements many in spitting distance and a couple you almost had to put the fire out on the side they were that close. There is nothing like the thump and other sensory overloads experienced from a ML at first light and they simply work well at the task of harvesting deer. Shooting one at 200yds with the 243 works, just does not hold the same appeal. Gives more range but a little impersonal IMO Add that to many places I hunt 30-50yds is max visability
 
In Saskatchewan there are two reasons to use a muzzle loader. 1 is draw mule deer in October and 2 is is to hunt the smz or the Regina primiarive wepon zone. I'm not a fan of muzzle loader and have shot a few deer with them but if I guy wants to hunt with them I say have fun and shoot straight.
 
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