New muzzleloader before season? Which one?

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JmacD

JmacD

Micah 6:8
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I’m after a new muzzleloader before black powder season. I’m wondering what to get. I’m a purist, so I’d love to use a flintlock, but I don’t have the time to dedicate to really put one through its paces. I’ve determined to go inline with a flintlock in the future. That said, any thoughts? I’ve shot, and liked the budget friendly(and a lot of value for money imho) TC impact, but it’s gone now it appears… I’ve hunted with a borrowed traditions, but it’s a shorter barrel, and accuracy seems to fall off. I’m liking the looks of the Accura LR, but curious if anyone has ever used them?
 
Buy a Traditions Buckstalker rifle and don't look back. Retail price is usually $199-$219. Price for a scoped rifle is about $300.

Traditions Buckstalker™ .50 Caliber Break-Open Muzzleloader | Academy

Traditions Buckstalker XT 50 Cal Rifle | Academy

i received a Buckstalker rifle for Christmas about 8 years ago. This year i got around to scoping and firing the rifle.

Powder: 100 grains of Pyrodex RS.
Bullet: 240 grain .430 XTP.
Sabot: Green crush rib.
Primer: Winchester 209 shotgun.

Rifle makes 1 1/2 three shots groups at 125 yards.

Tradition Buckstalker Review - WD Explore (weapondepot.com)
 
Malachi Leviticus Blue said:
n my experience the Thomson Center Encore is the benchmark and will hold it's value well.
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i've owned an Encore muzzleloader since 2005. After buying the new extractor that turns sideways, new stronger hammer spring and having the receiver welded up and machined to eliminate barrel side play; it's a good gun. Three of the five centerfire rifle barrels i bought had excess headspace.
 
hawg said:
I thought you said you were a purist? Purist and inline don't belong in the same sentence. If was me I'd go with a Lyman Great Plains.
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What happened to the Lyman blackpowder rifles? None in stock?
 
My first muzzleloader rifle was a TC Renegade from a pawnshop. The barrel had been ruined by the previous owner’s neglect but of course I didn’t know that until I attempted shooting it. So I’m reluctant to buy any used muzzleloader these days.
 
I bought a pre-owned stainless TC Omega a few years back. IMO, the Omega is one of the better inlines ever made. Ive seen a few go for well under $200 on GB recently. It seems like they were $400 new back in the 2000s.

The Triumph tried to improve on the Omega but never really did.
 
J-Bar said:
My first muzzleloader rifle was a TC Renegade from a pawnshop. The barrel had been ruined by the previous owner’s neglect but of course I didn’t know that until I attempted shooting it. So I’m reluctant to buy any used muzzleloader these days.
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I never look at used muzzle loaders unless I have a bore lite with me to determine how well the bore was cleaned by the previous owner. If I really want the gun, and the bore is not too bad, I will offer a much lower price and show the seller the rusty bore. In most cases they agree on the lower price cause they know it will be hard to sell the gun otherwise. In many cases, the rusty bore can be cleaned up so that it shoots fine with some JB bore paste, green scotch bright patches, and alot of elbow greese. Worse case is to send the barrel off to Bobby Hoyt for a rebore or lining.
 
While pawnshop surfing i found a .54 TC Fire Hawk. The price was $175. Said i didn't have enough money and would return. Lady asked how much money i had. Pulled out the only bill in my wallet, a $100. She handed me the rifle.

That rifle was dusty with a few dings and appeared unfired. The bore is perfect and shoots round balls like lasers.
 
You won't find anything Thompson Center since they don't make muzzleloaders anymore. At what distance do you usually take deer? If you want to reach beyond 100 yards I'd go with a CVA Accura or Optima V2 and good scope. My usual shots are only between 30 and 80 yards, so if I had to buy another inline on a budget I might get a shorter gun, like a CVA Wolf. What you can afford and how you hunt are the important factors.
 
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JmacD said:
I’m a purist, so I’d love to use a flintlock, but I don’t have the time to dedicate to really put one through its paces.
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Not sure how much time you think is needed. Five years ago, I was about to go through the pre-season equipment check when I found that the stock of my favorite caplock was cracked at the wrist. I decided to drive to Dixie Gun Works and find a suitable replacement. What came home was my first flintlock, a hand built Isaac Haines style rifle by Phil Hogan. This was 11/1/2017. Season started three days later. I spent a couple hours shooting it, tweaking the sights and went hunting. Not really a big deal.

Personally, I'd rather be late with a flintlock than on time with an inline. I have one inline, an Optima pistol and I can't bring myself to hunt with it.

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I appreciate everyone’s input. I like traditional and in-lines. I like revolvers and semi autos… I like 9mm and 45… I’m not very brand loyal… so I’ll likely end up hunting with flintlock, percussion, inline, maybe a matchlock. Sabots, round balls… I’ll probably try em all before it’s over.
 
I started deer hunting with a 50, but had several deer run off after a well placed shot requiring a long arduous tracking job. I hunt in very dense mountain laurel and following a hit deer in the stuff requires crawling on hands & knees. I switched to a .54 and had better DRT deer, but some still managed to go 50-100 yards in the thick stuff resulting in hours long trailing job. I now use a .58. The last 9 deer shot with .58's have been DRTs. I'm sold on the big .58 using patched round ball. Most of my shots at deer are 40 yards or less.
 
I do understand the reticence with flintlocks. From the outside, they can seem intimidating. (They're not, and I encourage everyone to find out for themselves.)

Beyond that, I will say that inlines are responsible for more headaches than any other style of BP gun and I encourage nearly everyone to avoid them. (If you have to have a scope and are hoping for a 200 yard hit with a handgun bullet in a sabot, then buy an inline, and good luck to you.) My recommendation to everyone else is to find a caplock, buy a book, and get started the right way.
 
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