i have not muzzle loaded in about 3 years, but i have a CVA sidelock .50 cal.

what is everyone else using?

I would get one if the muzzle loading season in AL wasn't the last few days of BOW SEASON just defore regular gun season comes in. IMO 3 days is no where long enough to gain intrest or opportunity!

i agree, 3 days isn't much. here, M.L. season gives you an additional 2 weeks before general firearms season, and 2 additional weeks after. of course, you have to choose whether or not to hunt with M.L. vs. bow, but its worth it here.

Oh no dought I would take an M.L. over an Bow anyday. I have loaded my uncles with 110 grains and an saboted slug and placed 6 inch groups at 100 yards with it so I know how accurate they can be with iron sights. It was my first experience with an M.L. rifle and while not fast it isn't that slow to load.

i have heard that some of the new one's, especially those that break down, can shoot 6 inch groups at 200 yards using 3 of those 50gr pellets. that is amazing accuracy with a smoke pole. i want to go buy one of those. either the T.C. Omega, or the Encore, and CVA even has a dent prices one, i think it might be called the Contender, and it retails for around $270

Yea My uncle said some thing about loading one up to 150 grains but he said your shoulder would regret it. He found after various loads 110 grains with the bullet he was using was the most accurate. If I could get me a M.L. that had an accuracy of 6 inches at 200 yards I would buy it. Matter of fact i think after this winter my next purchase is going to be a M.L. of that caliber. I would love to see a scope mounted on one and really see how that 6 inch group turns out. BTW M.L. season here we cannot use a scope of anykind. If it is scoped it falls under the hunting regs of an regular firearm!

Also the ease of the pellets makes for faster reloads and less problems of over loading. Isn't it true that you can load a M.L. with as little or as much powder you want and anywhere in between and it still won't get to unsafe pressure levels in the barrell.

well, i'm sure there is a minimum and maxium load. i'm not a gun expert, so i dont' know. i would imagine you would have to shoot at least 80, but probably no more than 175. scopes are completely legal here. i even have one mounted onto my side lock. i love scopes.

Never had time for the Muzzle Loader.

Have a CVA Eclipse hangin on the wall... Loaded it up one year and after getting all situated in my tree-stand I noticed the rear sight had fallen off.Unloaded it and havent gone since!

1851 Confederate Navy replica in 44 caliber.

I'm going to have to invest in one of those kits, build up my own rifle. The pelletized powder makes consistency very easy, fast, and convenient. I've got to get back into ML, even if not for game.

Bought a CVA Bobcat, .50 cal about a month ago.

some 99.00 special Rossi 50 cal

Well,

I have a 50 cal flintlock I put together in 1991.

I also have a Northwest Trade Gun in 28 gauge (It's the Canoe Gun model; Great for horse travel

I also picked up a set of Hawken rifle and pistol plans from DGW and will build one when I get back in the states



Bob

I have had a wolverine inline and it was okay. But now I use a Winchester Apex with a 209 primer. I love this thing. I haven't tried it out to 200 yards but I know I have no problem getting 4" or so groups at a 100 yards. I use 100 grains of 777 pellets and the powerbelt bullets. VERY accurate for me. I looked at the Omega before I bought my Winchester but I didn't like the price. I got my Apex for about $320 which was about $60 less than Bass Pro or Cabelas. The reason I use a Muzzleloader is to extend my season. Here in Indiana, we get an extra week or two for a late archery and ML season.

A buddy has a Savage that has been designed for SMOKELESS powder. If it wasn't for the price, I would buy one in a heartbeat. I saw a doe is shot last year that was nothing short of devistated! I spare all of the details but the trail looked like it was poured from a bucket! I think there may be a little bit of a problem with getting a good seal and that some people use two sabots with one bullet.

that's interesting. i haven't seen of or heard of a M.L. that uses smokeless powder. do you have any more details on that?

i also agree that the Omega is very high prices, but i do believe they are worth every penny.

i didn't break down and get one this year but hopefully by next year i will have another one.

This is a link to the Savage Arms page that talks about their ML that uses smokeless powder. I would sit down before you look at the price but this this is AWSOME! If you want, I'll PM you with better discription of the trail of the doe my buddy shot last year! Savage Arms

well, $600 isn't really too far out there. i've seen many guns sell for that price. a friend of mine bought the thompson center for $700 when it first came out.

i wouldn't mind hearing about the blood trail...

I have a TC Encore .50 cal in stainless with a Leupold VXIII 2.5X8 scope. Was just out yesterday making sure all was sighted in. I am using two pellets of Pyrodex (100 grains total),Hornady 240 grain XTP sabot bullets, and Federal 209 primers. With that combo at 100 yards three shot groups avg. 1.5 inches. If I want to shoot out to 200 yards I just add a third 50 grain pellet of Pyrodex and rounds strike 2 inches low POI. If I were to hunt in the shotgun/pistol only area of Michigan I would use my muzzle loader in a heart beat as it is leagal in those zones.