Which modern muzzleloader?
- Thread starter wildphil24
- Start date
I use a TC Prohunter but it is well beyond your $500 limit.
I have bought a number of Traditions Pursuits for under $200 brand new during Black Friday sales in the fall, I sold them all to my cousin for his buddies. Those Pursuits have killed lots of deer, many over 100yards. If you're on a budget try one of these, 2 50gr pellets and a saboted bullet and you should be good to go.
I have bought a number of Traditions Pursuits for under $200 brand new during Black Friday sales in the fall, I sold them all to my cousin for his buddies. Those Pursuits have killed lots of deer, many over 100yards. If you're on a budget try one of these, 2 50gr pellets and a saboted bullet and you should be good to go.
So I got a used CVA Wolf. Not fancy but seems like a great value.
Looking at the thing I have some questions (again!):
- is there a nice wrench to remove the breach plug in the field or do I need a rachet and socket in my pocket?
- the rod has female threads at both ends but too wide for my cleaning brush. What is it for?
Looking at the thing I have some questions (again!):
- is there a nice wrench to remove the breach plug in the field or do I need a rachet and socket in my pocket?
- the rod has female threads at both ends but too wide for my cleaning brush. What is it for?
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Ive taken a couple nice bucks with my T/C Impact, my Mule deer was a few inches shy of 200"...They are very short and handy for walking/stalking and stand hunting. They are accurate and affordable. I shoot a 250 SST and 2 pellets of 777...easy peasy.
Great choice for a first ML.
The standard breech plug is made for use with pellets. I use IMR white hots. You need to get the breech plug designed for blackhorn 209 if you intend to use that. Coat the threads with anti seize compound, & tighten it just finger tight, & you should not need a tool to remove it, but a small wrench will come with the blackhorn 209 plug if you choose to buy it.
The rod has many purposes. I scribe marks on mine so when you drop it down the barrel, you can tell if it has a magnum load (3 pellets), a standard load (2 pellets) or is empty. It is a ram rod used to seat the bullet on to the powder. It is very important to be sure your bullet is seated down firmly! It is also a cleaning rod. I run a wet patch (with ML solvent), & a cpl dry patches after every shot. If you're using sabots, it will need a more thorough cleaning after a few rounds to remove the plastic fouling. You will know when it's time when it gets difficult to slide the bullet down and seat it. On one end goes a palm saver (handle) on the other end gets a brass accessory there are many shapes & sizes. You will need 1 to seat whichever style bullet you use, one for running patches up & down, and maybe more (cleaning, etc).
There is lots of info on YouTube and the inter-web about the cva wolf, & muzzleloaders in general. Do a bit of research, & go out and have fun, be safe and shoot straight!
As a recently new to ML hunting guy myself, I would highly recommend using Blackhorn 209 if you are able to obtain proper breech plug for your CVA. If you are a reloader this is the only way to go I think as it's pretty much the same thing ... sans the brass case
Especially modern guns with an easily removable breech plug. Traditionals can be a pain in the crotch to clean, but in-lines are a breeze, no matter what you use in them. I have 4 in-lines: a Norc 50 cal. built on a 98 action, but it is percussion cap only and rifled for round ball, a Tracker 209, a Rem Genesis and a CVA Accura v2. The CVA is extremely accurate - on par with most modern hunting rifles. All are very easy to clean.
The threads on ML stuff is a little bigger than regular cleaning tool threads, but any stuff designed for ML's should fit. You can get a wrench for the breech plug, if it is set inside the breech, or you can easily make one with a small piece of flat stock and a grinder if the plug sticks out. Just use anti-seize on the threads. You'll want, at least, a brush and a flat jag for the end of your rod. The jag is great for cleaning, and a flat tip jag is left on for seating the bullets. A handle is also great for protecting your hands, especially with tight-fitting sabots. I'd also highly recommend a short starter. You can make one out of a lock of 2 X 2 and a piece of 3/8 dowel about 6" long and a piece about 1" long.
Well that was worth the trouble:
135lbs gutted.
I used two pellets of Triple7 with Power belt 295gr HP copper plated. Around 20 yards it went trough a shoulder and rib and stopped in the chest. I didn't weight it but the bit I recovered looked like 50% retention. I'm not impressed with the penetration/retention, certainly not a moose bullet.
Thanks again for every input.
135lbs gutted.
I used two pellets of Triple7 with Power belt 295gr HP copper plated. Around 20 yards it went trough a shoulder and rib and stopped in the chest. I didn't weight it but the bit I recovered looked like 50% retention. I'm not impressed with the penetration/retention, certainly not a moose bullet.
Thanks again for every input.
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