Mossy Oak Forum / Hunting / Black Powder

Gonna Buy A new Muzzle Loader this year any Ideas

buckskin822 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:04:49 GMT

Hey Guys I'm going to buy me a new muzzle loader this year ..but i only want to spend anywhere betwwen 300 and 400 for 1! Any one got any ideas On what I should get ?

CVA Optima Elite...

TacomaHunter — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:07:33 GMT

I've got a new CVA Optima Elite in .50 cal MZ topped with a bushnell elite 3200 and was wondering if anyone else here hunts with one, if so what kinda results, groups are you getting? Also, what kinda powder and bullets do you use? I was thinking of using this combo here TC Shockwave 200 gr with two 50 gr pyrodex pellets! Think it'll work?

what brand of bullet does everyone use

crazycliff — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:56:32 GMT

i use powerbelts

Idaho Muzzleloader Rules Change

Elk_Chaser — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:04:22 GMT

I was furious when Idaho outlawed inline muzzleloaders in 2007. They specified external pivoting hammers, in addition to exposed caps, loose powder and muzzle diameter bullets i.e. no sabots. This effectively made all inline muzzleloaders that I am aware of illegal during the black powder season.

They have lightened up a bit and removed the pivoting hammer clause, you still need exposed caps, loose powder and patched balls or conicals (no sabots). At least my muzzleloaders are legal again, I just need to work up a new load.

Here is the link to the article, you may have to copy it into your browser:

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=4237

Let's see your SMOKEPOLE!

BowBo — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:45:31 GMT

Here's mine....

(Millineum Designs Muzzleloader)
MDM Buckwacka .45 cal
Walnut stock, stainless barrel, breech action, Bushnell 3x9x40, shotgun primers
250gr Hollow Point Power Belts, 100gr Pyrodex

Due diligence with a smokepole...

FL_Cracker — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:15:44 GMT

Hunting with a smokepole has a different element of uncertainty/fear for me nowadays. Not only the smoke making it hard to see if you got a hit, but the lack of a blood trail can be kind of dis-heartening. With a bow and usually with a rifle, you'll get a pass thru shot and a good blood trail (best case scenario). With a bow, you also have the luxury of usually finding your arrow and being able to tell how good of a hit you got on them.

Out of 8 or so bucks killed at my club with charcoal burners, NOT ONE left any sign of a blood trail and NOT ONE had a pass thru shot. Just thought I'd warn some of you folks if you didn't know. Most of ours ran maybe 100 yards at the most and dropped so you really gotta listen and watch for where they run off to as that might be the only way you can track them. If you don't find anything it doesn't mean you didn't hit them. Keep one loaded as they might not even know you're there as my buddy Vance jumped three deer up that had bedded down next to the 6 point he killed Saturday.

I missed twice on a buck at over 150 yards and spent about 10 hours total searching high and low for any kind of sign of him. It wasn't until my buddy saw the same buck Saturday afternoon that I felt better.

Anyway, just something to think about.... I've shot thousands of rounds with muzzleloaders and I think it's extremely important to be confident in your own shooting ability and to not give up hope, even if you think you might've missed, because there's a good chance you didn't and that deer is holed up some where dead or dying.

Black Power question???

bowhtr003 — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:21:59 GMT

I've just bought the 50 cal T/C Omega and the Nikon Omega scope for it. I'm trying to decide on which scope rings and base to use. I was thinking about the Talley one piece Encore/Omega base and rings but alot of the reviews I read were negative with the screws used to mount being too long and another problem of not being able to move the scope far enough forward for the 5" eye relief. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated on this.

TC Triumph sights

bbarke8 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:17:29 GMT

How do you remove the iron sights from a TC Triumph. I removed the screw on the rear sight and it would not budge. Am i missing something, I didn't even try the front one. Can anyone help me. email wcbarker@moradnet.ca THANX

Educate me...

xOZx — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:35:18 GMT

I really don't know much about black powder guns, but I am very interested in learning. I figure I'll get one to practice with by next summer so I can use it in the '08 season.

It seems .50 cal is pretty much the nom these days. Fellas seem to run 100 grains but are able to run up to 150 grains of powder.

What kind of range do these have? I guess if you stay inside of 100 yards you can go with open sites if you like?

I s one brand typically perfoming as well or better than another? Is a "feel" sort of thing like bows?

So lets hear it fellas, what do you all know about black powder guns?

What powder do you use?

Hilltophunter — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:31:34 GMT

I am a triple 7 fan myself

Scopes??

jbob3006 — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 19:36:33 GMT

I want to mount a scope on my CVA but I don’t know what scope to put on it. Will a rifle scope work on, or does it have to be a muzzleloader scope?

Loading my Pro Hunter

fourhoof — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:56:37 GMT

I normally shoot 235 grain hornaday SSTs thru my encore but my Pro hunter is nearly imposible to load with. It seems like the Pro hunter is under bored. I think I'm going to have to change bullets, but I don't know to what. My normal charge is 150 grains of Triple seven.

Traditions Pursuit Thumbhole XLT

JDK — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:06:42 GMT

Got me a Traditions pursuit thumbhole xlt from my wife and kids for Christmas. Haven't shot it yet. Anybody got one and if so what kind of bullets and charges are you using. Can't decide what scope to use either.

NJ Limitations

Flintlock1776 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:07:05 GMT

Off their web page:

The recently introduced electronic ignition muzzleloading rifle is not legal for hunting in New Jersey. Additionally, some muzzleloader manufacturers advertise their rifles are capable of using modern smokeless gunpowder. However, the use of smokeless gunpowder in muzzleloading rifles is not legal in New Jersey. Hunters are advised to seek guidance from the Division by calling 609-292-6685 before purchasing any new technology firearm for use in New Jersey hunting seasons.

SMOKEPOLE SHRAPNEL!

BowBo — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:51:41 GMT

(Bloomington, Indiana newspaper)

DELANEY CREEK BOTTOMS — Derrick W. Edwards of Indianapolis was injured when his muzzleloader exploded after he finished deer hunting Sunday in Washington County.

Edwards, 46, suffered a laceration to his left forearm, and was treated and released at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.

He was injured while attempting to unload his .54-caliber muzzleloader at the end of his hunt.

“Derrick W. Edwards also told investigators that he had loaded the muzzleloader with modern smokeless gunpowder instead of the required black powder,” according to an Indiana Conservation Officers news release. “Conservation officers recovered the firearm from Mr. Edwards and located pieces of the gun driven as deep as 7 inches into the ground at the accident scene.”

Officials warned muzzleloaders should always be loaded with black powder or the appropriate substitute, saying they are not manufactured to withstand the extreme pressures generated from modern smokeless gun powder.

“Mr. Edwards was extremely lucky he didn’t see a deer while hunting this morning,” Indiana Conservation Officer Phil Nale said in the release. “Had he fired the firearms while shouldered near his head, his injuries could have been much worse.”

Please know how, and with what... to load your gun.
He was very lucky!

Hopefully my luck is better with the smokepole this year........

hutchies — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:47:47 GMT

I have shot at a bunch of deer, bobcat, pig..........and never hit one with the smoker. Put me on a rifle or bow and I'm a killin machine but the smokepole will humble me.

ML at Cabelas

Mike_K — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:13:45 GMT

Cabelas has a CVA .50 cal/24"BBL/209 Ignition/fiber-optic sight for 99 bucks with the kit its 129. Is this a good deal and what all comes in the kit. I dont know much about these but I want to get one thats easy to use and isnt a fortune.