Questions on muzzleloaders

[bonecollector10]

Hey everyone, im thinking of buying a muzzleloader for both saskatchewan in October and Alberta in November problem is I have no idea where to start.

I was wondering if you guys had any pointers of what brands, powder, slugs and all that stuff I should be looking into as well as anything else I should know. Anything helps honestly im starting from the bottom here.

Thanks guys

[Mr Hawken]

it really depends on what type of rifle your looking for modern or tradional?

[cowboyhunter]

Hey everyone, im thinking of buying a muzzleloader for both saskatchewan in October and Alberta in November problem is I have no idea where to start.

I was wondering if you guys had any pointers of what brands, powder, slugs and all that stuff I should be looking into as well as anything else I should know. Anything helps honestly im starting from the bottom here.

Thanks guys

I shoot a T/C Pro Hunter, Traditions bullets,Triple 7 powder pellets, Nikon Omega 3-9 scope.I use Sea Foam or water to clean it(very simple.) Have used it for three years now and have one mule buck, one bull elk, and one bull moose all were awesome hunts.Good luck with whatever you choose and enjoy yourself!

[375H&H]

As Mr Hawken said Traditional or in-line?

If traditional take your pick. Any model Thompson Center would be my chioce.
All mine seem to like a 240 grn .44 Hornady XTP with a MMP green sabot lit up by 90 grn by volume FFFG or equivalent substitute

If in-line stay away from the cheapies (Traditions, CVA) For entry level I would look at a TC Omega Z5, Knight Wolverine etc.
I have a knight MK85 and TC Omega Z5 both like a 250 grn Hornady XTP or SST with an MMP black sabot. Start with 90 grn by volume and move up. I personally use Blackhorn 209 @ 100 grn by volume in my inlines now as it shoots much cleaner without the crude ring or messy cleanup

Hope that helps

[Pioneer2]

Knight muzzleloaders have Green Mt barrels.........top notch.Harold

[dirt dog]

i have a cva wolf i use for the late season deer hunt i know its not top of the line but when it comes to accuracy out to 100 yards its very good i do not have a scope on it but can hit a 6" circle at that distance, i think its a fine gun for being only just over 200$

[Big Daddy Badger]

I have a TC Encore and my buddy has a Traditions Buck Stalker.

For difference in price I think he might have got the better deal.
The stock is kind of crappy, it isn't as polished and he can't change barrels but it shoots about as well as mine, the hinge is better designed and the barrels for the TC Encores are almost as much as another rifle.

No regrets but when you can buy 2 of his for the price of 1 of mine... and still have money left over for a case of beer... it's worth thinking about.

[Duker]

I shoot a C.V.A. Kodiac Magnum and it's a cloverleaf at 100 yds. I load with 100 grs. of triple 7 powder and Powerbelt 245 gr. bullets and W209 primers.

[benamen]

With a handle like yours I would pick the T/C Bonecollector. I have the Triumph which is similar. It likes max loads of Blackhorn 209 with 250 Gr SSTs and a Harvester Short Black Sabot. With a scope, two hundred yard shots are a breeze as long as you are sure of the distance you are shooting.

[Big Daddy Badger]

You don't really have to spend a lot of money on an inline to get good accuracy.
Some of the mid-price Traditions and lower priced TC's shoot just as well as the more expensive ones...at reasonable distances.

The hard past is sight-in, settling on a bullet and load. AND cleaning unless you use something like Blackhorn 209 powder. That stuff is a breeze to clean.

I think most guys are using sabots in their inlines and it seems that many are using SST's in the 250-300 gr area or Hornady XP HP's....or something similar.

One thing that won't fly well out of an inline is ball. If you want that to fly well...you need a slower twist rate than 1:28 that is in most inlines.

I would also be very conservative in what you buy to support the rifle..
You can make your own bullet starter and save about 15 bucks...you don't need a powder flask....just buy a Hornady Funnel Cap and some quick loads etc.
As you meet people during the primitive weapon season...they will almost always be more than willing to pass along helpful info.
Muzzleloader guys tend to be great that way.

Good Luck...they are a lot of fun.

[Rockymtnx]

For the past 2 years I have been on Field & Stream's Best of the Best Muzzle loading test team. We have tested Traditions, CVA, and Thompson Center muzzleloaders. One thing I have learned in the 2 years of being part of this test group is that the most expensive isn't always the best.

In 2010 we tested the TC Impact, CVA Accura V2, and Traditions Vortek Ultralight. The Traditions Vortek Ultralight was the clear winner for 2010.

In 2011 we tested the TC Impact, TC Pro Hunter, Traditions Pursuit Ultralight, and CVA Apex.
The Traditions Pursuit Ultralight was the clear winner for 2011.

We tested everything from fit & finish, ease of loading, cleaning, accuracy, safeties, durability, water tests, etc. In 2010 and 2011 the Traditions guns were ahead of the others. One big thing was the accuracy. The Traditions were very accurate and able to achieve Sub MOA.

In our testing we shot the recommended bullets by the manufacture, but also shot the other brand of bullets in each gun. Overall the most accurate bullets we shot were the SSTs.

If anyone has any questions about the guns we tested please ask away. I would be more than happy to answer them.

[Big Daddy Badger]

For the past 2 years I have been on Field & Stream's Best of the Best Muzzle loading test team. We have tested Traditions, CVA, and Thompson Center muzzleloaders. One thing I have learned in the 2 years of being part of this test group is that the most expensive isn't always the best.

In 2010 we tested the TC Impact, CVA Accura V2, and Traditions Vortek Ultralight. The Traditions Vortek Ultralight was the clear winner for 2010.

In 2011 we tested the TC Impact, TC Pro Hunter, Traditions Pursuit Ultralight, and CVA Apex.
The Traditions Pursuit Ultralight was the clear winner for 2011.

We tested everything from fit & finish, ease of loading, cleaning, accuracy, safeties, durability, water tests, etc. In 2010 and 2011 the Traditions guns were ahead of the others. One big thing was the accuracy. The Traditions were very accurate and able to achieve Sub MOA.

In our testing we shot the recommended bullets by the manufacture, but also shot the other brand of bullets in each gun. Overall the most accurate bullets we shot were the SSTs.

If anyone has any questions about the guns we tested please ask away. I would be more than happy to answer them.

Yup.
My pals Tradition cost half what my Encore cost...and shoots just as well.