looking for a muzzle loader

[bigcountrysg]

I don't own one never shot one, but looking at getting one this year to hunt with. What do you all reommend I am thinking of getting the walmart special for 99.97 if I like hunting with a muzzleloader then I will get a better one for next year. But I don't want to spend the big money until I know I like hunting with one.

[walleyeman2006]

i wouldnt waist the money on a cheapy some are good but some arent.....for 200 you can get a nice gun that will last and be acurate for 300 you can get an omega....i have a t/c renegade hunter and its accurate with iron sites i have no trouble at 100 yards..my uncle has one scoped and its good to 150 ....my cousin spent the money for the omega i think it was about 350 for scope and all...shooting a 2 inch group at 175 yards..i was thinking of getting a conventional rifle but now i think im going to get an omega and use it for everything..but if you do decide to go cheap i know where theres a marlin 50 cal in the box ( i think its still there)

[bigcountrysg]

Not to get on you Walleyeman2006, but as I said in my orginal post I have never owned one, never shot one, don't even know if I will like it. I know I am going to get one in the 50 cal range. But I don't want to spend over 120 bucks on it and find out I don't like it and then have to sell it. That is why I am looking at the 99.97 one at walmart.

[No Deer]

I would suggest finding a club in your area and talk to some of the members and check out their guns. Most muzzleloader shooters will be happy to let you fire their gun if you are showing an interest. That way you can shoot one and see if you like it without shelling out big bucks.

Look at all kinds, inlines and traditional caplock and flintlock. You may find that you like muzzleloaders and like the traditional style versus inlines.

[bigcountrysg]

Well my big reason for this is I am tired of hunting with a shotgun and then trying to dress warm enough to hunt with a bow but yet not have my clothes get in the way of the strings or cables of the bow. There for the only way to enjoy deer hunting a little longer is with a muzzle loader. I have talked to co-workers about this, they all recommend an in-line as it is quicker to reload and easier to use. I don't know about all that but I am very interested in getting into this very much so.

[deputy]

one of th ebest deals going is the hr/nef smokepoles nice gun for th emoney and shoot well

the omega z5 about 245 bucks at wally mart world has been one of my better shooters

[No Deer]

Well my big reason for this is I am tired of hunting with a shotgun and then trying to dress warm enough to hunt with a bow but yet not have my clothes get in the way of the strings or cables of the bow. There for the only way to enjoy deer hunting a little longer is with a muzzle loader. I have talked to co-workers about this, they all recommend an in-line as it is quicker to reload and easier to use. I don't know about all that but I am very interested in getting into this very much so.


Well, my bias is going to show through. I am a flintlock shooter. Everybody says how much better an inline is, but I personally do not believe it. Flintlocks take more effort than an inline, but with proper handling they are just as effective and reliable as an inline. In fact, I have seen inlines outshot by flintlocks. You will not be able to take the real long range shot with a flintlock, up to about 100 yards is the max you should expect.

I have heard that flintlocks are harder to clean. I have read about cleaning inlines and I don't think it is that much harder to clean a flintlock. I use plain cold tap water to get it clean, then dry it and oil it.

As far as reloading, I don't see that there is much difference in the time to reload. I take premeasured powder loads, and prepatched and lubed round balls with me when I go hunting. I can be reloaded in about 30 seconds if I hurry, less than a minute if I take my time.

In the rain a flintlock (or caplock) can be every bit as reliable as an inline, with proper care.

If you are looking for more challenge, if you have any interest in history and tradition, I would recommend a traditional style, either caplock or flintlock. If you are looking for long range, and a little less challenge, then you will want an inline. In my mind, and again I am biased, I don't see any difference between an inline and a modern gun, just that you load it from the front end and only get one shot. You can get the one shot aspect by just loading one shell into a modern gun. Other's opinions will vary.

[bigcountrysg]

Thank you No Deer for that response. Like I said I have never shot a muzzle loader, I have seen them, I have seen them in use on tv. But I have never used one. I do know the differnce between flint lock and in-line. I kinda know the difference between smokeless powder and power that does smoke. I know that smokeless powder I believe is illegal to use for hunting in Michigan. All I know is that before I spend a lot of money I would like to get a cheaper one. That is why I am looking at the one from walmart for 99.97 it has open iron sights, it is in-line, it has a 1-28 rifle twist. Other then that I don't know much. I don't even know how to load one luckily I will have an owners manual that I will read and hopefully with luck one of my co-workers will help me out with this. Or if a member lives close to me maybe we can go to a range once or twice.

[Splicer]

i just bought the CVA Wolf today.they sell them at Walmart.i got mine else where.when i worked in a shop in Delaware i bore sighted about 100 of them and everyone said they got 150yrds w/ a good scope out of them. so for $150 range thats not bad in my book.its the best way to go if you dont know if you want or will like muzzle loading.
rick

[2PawsRiver]

Theres nothing wrong with the 100 dollar Muzzle Loader. I would just make sure to get it early and practice with it so you know your limitations.

The biggest difference between Muzzle Loader is the primer that is used, some are more reliable then others.

It is not what I would recommend. I think you would be money ahead getting a higher quality weapon.

[anonymous21]

The old smokepoles can be a lot of fun to shoot,I have a .54 cal renegade cap lock and it shoots the round ball pretty good at 100 yards,with all the new inlines out now you can pick up a used one at a fair price these days.try looking on the used gun racks or gun shows.you will get longer range from the inlines.you said some of your buddys have some it would be a good idea to shoot one first if you have not shot one before.If it was me and i was getting an inline, I would get either a thompson center or a knight,they will cost a little but you know you will be getting a good one.I have heard good things about the nef but you will need to get a better ram rod but they say that they are shooters.I have thought about getting a barrel for my handi rifle so I could shoot sabots without laying out so much.what ever you get I think you will enjoy it.It's always a lot quiter in the woods during ml season.

[Lwapo]

Something to think about...

I was in your shoes once, never had even shot a muzzleloader but wanted to give it a try. I went with one of the "Package Deals." It came with everything I needed to get started. The gun, scope, ramrod, cleaning equiptment, bore lube, I mean EVERYTHING but the powder was included.

The whole schebang (with scope) cost me $150. (I imagine you could get it cheaper now for a package without the scope) The BIG part was that it came with a DVD showing me how to take it apart and clean the gun, etc.

If this is your first muzzleloader, you may want to go that route so that you don't get nickel'd and dime'd to death buying accessories, and you'll have a good setup to start out with.

This is my second year with the setup (made by Traditions) and if I like it again this year (So far so good) then I will shell out the money this summer for most likely a CVA model.

[bigcountrysg]

LWAPO, I was looking at that walmart carries one, but the walmart by my house is sold out of them. So I think I will check some other walmarts that are close by. I am also going to check with other stores like dunhams.

[camer]

I don't own one never shot one, but looking at getting one this year to hunt with. What do you all reommend I am thinking of getting the walmart special for 99.97 if I like hunting with a muzzleloader then I will get a better one for next year. But I don't want to spend the big money until I know I like hunting with one. i have a savage and use rifle powder in it for rifle season and pryrodex for muzzle season. the best gun i ever bought i shot deer up to 150 yards. i can shoot a 2 inch group or less at 100 yards.

[merrill hunter]

I have a freind that is selling his thompson center muzzleloader .50 cal.
Pm me for details.

Sounds like it's in your price range..... only better quality .

[Splicer]

bigcountrysg that is where i got mine it was on sale.it was the kit i got it for $159.00 after t-day sale. i think the normal price is like $179 or $189. not bad all you need is primers and powder. ill be shooting it this week some time.
rick