Looking for a good all around black powder gun for hunting deer. I'm not looking for the top of the line newest thing going but something somewhat user friendly and accurate in minute of deer. I have a good Zeiss 3x12X50 conquest I can run on it. So I'm looking at a optics ready type package. Do they make mil-spec rails for these things or do you just have to go Weaver.
Hunting & Fishing Black powder gun for deer hunting
- Thread starter KHOOKS
- Start date
I assume that you want a modern inline b/c of scope option...
There are quite a few options out there, do you hunt in areas that do not allow sabots? Like Colorado?
If you are unrestricted and don't want a switch barrel IMO I would go with an encore fixed barrel or tc triumph.
I have very good results with sabots out of mine, but beware it won't shoot a conical - power belt, hornady, maxi ball worth a crap.
Maybe the twist is too fast... Mine is good to hunt at 200yards, no hesitation. Last years buck was 191 yards. Using blackhorn 209, hornady xtp pistol bullets, harvester sabots, remmington sps primers it will clover leaf at 75 yards.
Aside from accuracy, the difference between most is the ease of cleaning. If you shoot sabots with 209 primers do yourself a favor and use blackhorn 209.
Another interesting option is the savage smokeless powder muzzleloader...but I have no experience with them.
There are quite a few options out there, do you hunt in areas that do not allow sabots? Like Colorado?
If you are unrestricted and don't want a switch barrel IMO I would go with an encore fixed barrel or tc triumph.
I have very good results with sabots out of mine, but beware it won't shoot a conical - power belt, hornady, maxi ball worth a crap.
Maybe the twist is too fast... Mine is good to hunt at 200yards, no hesitation. Last years buck was 191 yards. Using blackhorn 209, hornady xtp pistol bullets, harvester sabots, remmington sps primers it will clover leaf at 75 yards.
Aside from accuracy, the difference between most is the ease of cleaning. If you shoot sabots with 209 primers do yourself a favor and use blackhorn 209.
Another interesting option is the savage smokeless powder muzzleloader...but I have no experience with them.
Savage
PSE EVO 60 Lbs.
Blacked out
PSE EVO 60 Lbs.
Blacked out
I've got a TC Omega that shoots pretty well. The sights that come on it are good enough for Muzzleloader ranges, but it is drilled and tapped for a scope base. You will likely need to remove the rear sight unless you get really high rings. 2 moa with power belts and the factory open sights is about as good as I can shoot. That's plenty precise enough to put a deer on the ground. I'm going to try Barnes ttsx bullets w/ sabot this year.
Last winter I was scouring the internet for something to do and thinking about the shortage noticed there was no shortage of ML stuff. As a whim I ordered a TC Omega. It came with a base, rings and scope designed for ML rifles.
Sucker is a ton of fun and I'll be using it for deer this year. It uses up to 150 gr of powder and shoots a variety of bullets. You can use sabots with fancy (make that expensive) bullets, or get the sabots and use pistol bullets. I shoot both 44 and 45 cast pistol bullets, and even got a 50 cal mold. If you want to just plink you can load 50 grs or for hunting going for the full 150 gr load.
Suckers can be addicting. I ended up with a wheel barrel full of muzzle loading stuff. I like loading the 50 gr loads a practicing rapid fire.
As to shooting you can go whole hog and shoot expensive bullets or you can go cheap and load cast bullets. I have a ton of shotgun primers from my skeet shooting days, and found some pretty cheap black power. With cast 50 cal bullets I can shoot this sucker pretty cheap. Haven't decided what bullet to use for hunting. Right now I'm leaning toward my 250 gr 45 LC bullets. They shoot pretty good.
The Omega is pretty easy to clean. A heck of a lot of fun. Except for shooting pop up targets, can't see if you hit the target for the smoke.
Sucker is a ton of fun and I'll be using it for deer this year. It uses up to 150 gr of powder and shoots a variety of bullets. You can use sabots with fancy (make that expensive) bullets, or get the sabots and use pistol bullets. I shoot both 44 and 45 cast pistol bullets, and even got a 50 cal mold. If you want to just plink you can load 50 grs or for hunting going for the full 150 gr load.
Suckers can be addicting. I ended up with a wheel barrel full of muzzle loading stuff. I like loading the 50 gr loads a practicing rapid fire.
As to shooting you can go whole hog and shoot expensive bullets or you can go cheap and load cast bullets. I have a ton of shotgun primers from my skeet shooting days, and found some pretty cheap black power. With cast 50 cal bullets I can shoot this sucker pretty cheap. Haven't decided what bullet to use for hunting. Right now I'm leaning toward my 250 gr 45 LC bullets. They shoot pretty good.
The Omega is pretty easy to clean. A heck of a lot of fun. Except for shooting pop up targets, can't see if you hit the target for the smoke.
I run a TC Impact (it's the cheap one) but it sure does shoot good! I'd say i can put 3 shots in 1MOA or less @ 100. But it's closer to 1MOA. Although, I really only care about how the first 2 shots shoot. Most of the time you get only 1 shot, but there's been a few times, I've been able to take 2 deer with it just as fast as i can reload. Are you new to muzzleloaders?
Don't use pyrodex (it's dirty) well it's all dirty, but not all black powder is created equal..... Personally, I use 100gr (2 50gr pellets) of the 777 Magnum Pellets under a .50 250gr saboted hornady SST ML-Lo Drag and it hammers deer. I just switched to the magnums last year for that little bit of extra pop. I've also had a lot of success with powerbelts but was never impressed with weight retention. I mean don't get me wrong, they always did the job, but there just wasn't much left of the round (at least the one's I found).
Don't use pyrodex (it's dirty) well it's all dirty, but not all black powder is created equal..... Personally, I use 100gr (2 50gr pellets) of the 777 Magnum Pellets under a .50 250gr saboted hornady SST ML-Lo Drag and it hammers deer. I just switched to the magnums last year for that little bit of extra pop. I've also had a lot of success with powerbelts but was never impressed with weight retention. I mean don't get me wrong, they always did the job, but there just wasn't much left of the round (at least the one's I found).
Yes i'm new never own one and the only one I've shot was a very old style. The ones where you pull the trigger and wait on it to fire.
Oh ya i remember those. The new ones are much better. Personally, i prefer the break open kind because it makes it easier to get the spent primer out. The TC's have a lot of nice features on them. I really like being able to take the breech plug out and stick the garden hose to the breech and hose it out. 3 or 4 patches later it's clean and ready to go.
Another quick tip, before you load it up to shoot or hunt always shoot a primer with no Powder or lead. This will make sure that the flash hole is clear of cleaner, spent powder, anti seize etc. I have watched that happen too much to other hunters, buck, aim, click, peeewwww, nothing. Makes for a real mess to unload at the range or in the field.
Savage ML II.
Comes with iron sights and is drilled and tapped for mounts.
Don't know if it'd be legal where you are.
It's designed for, and shoots very well using, smokeless powder, saboted bullets and 209 shotshell primers.
You can use black power or substitutes but I believe your locked in to the 209s.
Conicals are OK to use but not with smokeless.
It's very nice.
Comes with iron sights and is drilled and tapped for mounts.
Don't know if it'd be legal where you are.
It's designed for, and shoots very well using, smokeless powder, saboted bullets and 209 shotshell primers.
You can use black power or substitutes but I believe your locked in to the 209s.
Conicals are OK to use but not with smokeless.
It's very nice.
My old man worked up a couple loads using Unique and Trail Boss for his .50 cal Encore. Makes it so much better to shoot because there is no smoke or cleaning. I wouldn't trust any other platform for that.
I just got a Thompson/Center Triumph from cheaper than dirt for my Nevada Elk hunt. I will be shooting it this weekend and see how it does.
.50 Caliber Thompson/Center Triumph Muzzleloader 28" Blued Barrel Black Composite Stock
.50 Caliber Thompson/Center Triumph Muzzleloader 28" Blued Barrel Black Composite Stock
Remington 700 ML, they are accurate and reliable. Nikon makes a good BDC scope for ML's.
I have no complaints with my CVA apex. CVA make some quality muzzle loaders that are ready to go and user friendly. It came with a scope base, sling, and a bergara barrel and holds 1.5" at 100 without any load development. You absolutely want one with 209 primers. I also really like the finger removable breech plug. I use 777 powder in pellet form and have never seen the need to go above 100 gr. I hunt with Barnes t-ez copper bullets. They fly straight and expand well in a deer without coming apart. I wanted an encore, but I bought this instead because of bad reviews on the encore. I also have a 300 blkout barrel for the apex.
The CVA Accura is a dedicated muzzle loader and is on par with the apex. Optima is no slouch either.
--Daniel
The CVA Accura is a dedicated muzzle loader and is on par with the apex. Optima is no slouch either.
--Daniel
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