Arrowhead Custom Muzzleloader Starting @ $4K

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arcticap

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These are primarily made for use with smokeless or Black Horn 209 powders.
It comes with some extras included such as a sizing die and a Lee hand loading press.
This gun making outfit also offers other ML products and services.

Rifle page: https://www.arrowheadrifles.com/arrowhead-muzzleloader/



They have a Youtube channel but it lacks videos of their rifles being fired except for this one showing a steel plate being hit @ 640 yards.



And one buck hunting video that was sent in by a customer.



Their Youtube channel: --->>> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQQEym7HwQf0YSgNImuwrmw
 
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These long range custom muzzle loaders are mostly .45 caliber.
There's a growing trend to load sized jacketed bullets directly into the bore without any sabot.
This Youtube video shows a similar custom .45 muzzle loader that was able to hit a soda bottle 2 out of 5 shots at 600 yards with the aid of a shaky bipod rest.

 
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I would submit that the folks doing this kind of stuff are anything but lazy... I’ve been pursuing a similar tack although sidelocks only with no optical sights. It’s fun, challenging, and what the heck else are we gonna do with our time?

If I was 50 years younger, I’d probably give that a shot too. Accurate rifles are interesting...
 
I would submit that the folks doing this kind of stuff are anything but lazy... I’ve been pursuing a similar tack although sidelocks only with no optical sights. It’s fun, challenging, and what the heck else are we gonna do with our time?

If I was 50 years younger, I’d probably give that a shot too. Accurate rifles are interesting...

I am impressed by all of the modern inline shooters who have kept the sport going and growing.
Many also shoot traditional guns and BP revolvers, and even shoot flintlocks in order to have another deer season in some states.
And they also use their modern muzzle loaders during centerfire deer season.

Some guys use plastic ballistic bridge sub-bases to shoot bare flat based bullets instead of using sabots.
They're a type of plastic wad with a hollow base that seals the bore behind the bullet which is usually jacketed.
Harder bullets don't seem to need as much engagement with the rifling in order to obtain good accuracy.

Bridge-Composit.jpg

This photo was posted by sabotloader. --->>> https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/423670-cut-knurling.html
 
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you’re right, these guys hauling their butts out of bed at 4 AM in the freezing cold are so lazy.

let them all quit hunting,’watch your muzzleloader season go away, and your grand children won’t even be allowed to kill Bambi.
That's a triggered, almost hysterical response and zeroed in on ONE word. The point is, like archery, the blackpowder season is intended for those using less capable, "primitive" firearms. These types of guns are strictly for those who have no interest in traditional blackpowder guns but want to take advantage of the early season. Traditional guns are more work, require more dedication by the shooter and more effort and discipline from the hunter. "Modern" muzzleloaders are just modern rifles with modern optics, using modern powders and modern projectiles that are only muzzleloaders in the technical sense, in that they load from the front. They exist only to circumvent the rules. If you want to hunt with one, fine but they should only be allowed in the modern gun season.
 
That's a triggered, almost hysterical response and zeroed in on ONE word. The point is, like archery, the blackpowder season is intended for those using less capable, "primitive" firearms. These types of guns are strictly for those who have no interest in traditional blackpowder guns but want to take advantage of the early season. Traditional guns are more work, require more dedication by the shooter and more effort and discipline from the hunter. "Modern" muzzleloaders are just modern rifles with modern optics, using modern powders and modern projectiles that are only muzzleloaders in the technical sense, in that they load from the front. They exist only to circumvent the rules. If you want to hunt with one, fine but they should only be allowed in the modern gun season.

this behavior is called “gate keeping” and absolutely will lead to the reduction of hunting availability to the general public. The sport is in many ways dying and seeking ways to reduce hunter participation is the wrong approach.

In Virginia, the only people not hunting with dogs are the bow hunters and folks who get to hunt the rut (first two weeks of November is muzzleloader/archery only) . Eliminate in line muzzleloaders from contention and you will rapidly see the only hunting in this state be dog hunting.

And yes , you did trigger me. Would love you hear your opinion on cross bows next
 
That's a triggered, almost hysterical response and zeroed in on ONE word. The point is, like archery, the blackpowder season is intended for those using less capable, "primitive" firearms.

Each state reviews and makes their own hunting regulations for the benefit of their own citizens and deer herd, and not for the approval of people from other states who don't even reside there.
The intent of my state regulations are not open to mis-interpretation by people from outside this jurisdiction.
We elect our legislators just like you elect yours, and they approve every change in hunting regulations that has ever been made.
That's their job and why the reg's are constantly updated.
That's why there's an over-sight committee made up of elected representatives to make sure that the will of the people is being met on a day to day basis.
They are responsible to their own citizens, not to people who live elsewhere who twist and distort the facts to suit their own bias.

"Modern" muzzleloaders are just modern rifles with modern optics, using modern powders and modern projectiles that are only muzzleloaders in the technical sense, in that they load from the front. They exist only to circumvent the rules.

As I just explained they don't circumvent any rules.
Is there a king wanting to make up new national rules for every other state?
That sounds like just another form of fake news from the fake media that has its own agenda.
Freedom is ringing a bell in this corner of the world.
 
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This has nothing to do with freedom or the future of hunting. At all. Period. So let us not go off the deep end to justify your choices. I have no "agenda". I am not advocating or politicking to get the regulations in your state changed, any more than you are mine. I am merely expressing my opinion on the subject. In my opinion, if I am still allowed to have one and whether you agree or not, the above I posted is true. "Modern" muzzleloaders are not in the spirit in which those special seasons were created. Also in my opinion, allowing such rifles, whether your state explicitly encourages the use of fully modern "muzzleloaders" or through imprecise language, simply allows them, is akin to allowing rifles during archery season. No matter how the language of the regulations reads now, they are fully modern rifles and were only originally intended to circumvent vague rules. Why else would they exist? If it quacks like a duck......
 
This has nothing to do with freedom or the future of hunting. At all. Period. So let us not go off the deep end to justify your choices. I have no "agenda". I am not advocating or politicking to get the regulations in your state changed, any more than you are mine. I am merely expressing my opinion on the subject. In my opinion, if I am still allowed to have one and whether you agree or not, the above I posted is true. "Modern" muzzleloaders are not in the spirit in which those special seasons were created. Also in my opinion, allowing such rifles, whether your state explicitly encourages the use of fully modern "muzzleloaders" or through imprecise language, simply allows them, is akin to allowing rifles during archery season. No matter how the language of the regulations reads now, they are fully modern rifles and were only originally intended to circumvent vague rules. Why else would they exist? If it quacks like a duck......

Are you happy now that you crashed a thread with posts that are not germane to the original post, with the intent to inflame and disrupt a neutral topic about the appreciation of a custom inline?
Just as you don't respect THR members who come here to visit free of insults, you also don't respect the rights of states to implement their own hunting rules simply because they don't fit your anti-freedom and anti-inline hunting agenda.
Why don't you start your own anti-inline hunting thread and leave those who have a genuine interest in inlines in peace so that they can appreciate the original topic?

If it quacks like a duck......

....Exactly, keep quacking away because you quack me up! :D
 
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Are you happy now that you crashed a thread with posts that are not germane to the original post, with the intent to inflame and disrupt a neutral topic about the appreciation of a custom inline?
Good grief. No, all I did was agree with a previous post for which I was attacked. Funny that no one attacked the post I agreed with. The only thing that "crashed" this thread is what ensued after. You could've respected and/or ignored the conflicting opinion I agreed with but you chose to put me on the defensive.


Just as you don't respect THR members who come here to visit free of insults...
Where did I insult anyone? I thought we were talking about rifles.


...you also don't respect the rights of states to implement their own hunting rules...
I did not. I just don't agree with them.


...simply because they don't fit your anti-freedom and anti-inline hunting agenda.
At no point did I do that, ever.


Why don't you start your own anti-inline hunting thread and leave those who have a genuine interest in inlines in peace so that they can appreciate the original topic?
I'll try to remember the next time that some people can't deal with dissent and will attack anyone who does not agree with them. Sounds familiar.
 
No interest here. Shoot black powder in primitive season, use primitive gun. Flinter for me. To each his own but these things are just a way for lazy people to get another season in. Flame away.
Originally I agreed with this post. I like traditional MLs. However, after reading several responses, I realize Its just my opinion.
There could be a stipulation that only traditional arms be used during traditional ML season. Then, well, theres your answer. However, simply saying ML season seems like moderns are perfectly acceptable. Still got 1 shot and need to manually load with out aid of a finished cartridge. The self contained, breach loaded, metallic cartridge is the modern advantage.
Thru history improvements have been made, match to flint to caps to cartridges.. the broadly defined ML season helps to insure improvements in basic firearms technology are still pursued. Inline vs side locks. Saboted bullets vs patched round balls. Smokeless vs Holy Black. 209 primers vs flakey caps.
Keep it up. I don't particularly care for them but I am interested in acquiring one. I do think it will grow on me.
ETA- wow, didn't read all the replys. People are passionate about MLs. Thats awesome!
 
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My apologies in the use of the word "lazy". I allowed my personal prejudice to bleed through. When I see "smokeless" referenced in regards to a muzzle loader it sets me off. I certainly did not mean to cause all the rancor that I did.
That said, I go along with the game laws and if they allow this stuff in the "primitive" season, so be it. Same with crossbows in archery season. Don't like it but ain't lobbying against it.
I have an inline. I use it during modern shotgun season. My flinter and percussion traditionals I use during ml season. You do what you want.
 
The self contained, breach loaded, metallic cartridge is the modern advantage.
With modern inlines, it's the only advantage. Because every other disadvantage has been eliminated. How many people are shooting more than once at deer anyway?

To be perfectly clear, as long as you follow the regulations, I don't care what you hunt with, when or where. Truly. I'm simply stating my personal opinion that I do not believe fully modern "muzzleloaders" are within the spirit of primitive weapon seasons. My personal preference is for traditional weapons and gear. I hunt with them during both the blackpowder and modern gun seasons as a personal choice. It's just how I want to do it. I'm not trying to impose my choices on others. Others may choose an inline strictly because they want to take advantage of the early season but want every modern advantage they can get. If it's in compliance with the regulations, that's fine, I really don't care. However, we should be able to have a conversation about it without people getting in an uproar and taking everything personally.
 
With modern inlines, it's the only advantage. Because every other disadvantage has been eliminated. How many people are shooting more than once at deer anyway?

To be perfectly clear, as long as you follow the regulations, I don't care what you hunt with, when or where. Truly. I'm simply stating my personal opinion that I do not believe fully modern "muzzleloaders" are within the spirit of primitive weapon seasons. My personal preference is for traditional weapons and gear. I hunt with them during both the blackpowder and modern gun seasons as a personal choice. It's just how I want to do it. I'm not trying to impose my choices on others. Others may choose an inline strictly because they want to take advantage of the early season but want every modern advantage they can get. If it's in compliance with the regulations, that's fine, I really don't care. However, we should be able to have a conversation about it without people getting in an uproar and taking everything personally.


The poster called us “lazy”, how do you not want someone to take that “personally”?

can you call someone lazy in an impersonal way?
 
The poster called us “lazy”, how do you not want someone to take that “personally”?

can you call someone lazy in an impersonal way?
If you hunt with a fully modernized inline not because you're interested in muzzleloaders but ONLY to get in on an early season and because you want to eliminate as much of the work involved as possible, how would you characterize it?

I would characterize it one of two ways. You're either disinterested or you're lazy. Or both. The more primitive your hunting method, the more effort it requires. We all strive to find the sweet spot that balances our level of interest and the amount of effort we want to put into it. I have no problem admitting that I'm too lazy to hunt with an atlatl. Traditional archery tackle is at the upper end of the effort I want to put into it. Why did I buy a modern crossbow? Because it's easy. I found that it not only did not interest me but it was also too easy. Same reason I don't hunt with a modern stainless synthetic rifle. Too easy.
 
This is the wrap up article for the NMLRA Long Range Hunter Matches that were held last weekend at Friendship, IN that were mentioned above in post #4. --->>> https://www.nmlra.org/news/july2020-lrmlh

After a lady named Andrea won the Apex Hunter's Match on the 2nd day....."Coordinator Rod Scobee congratulates her and says, “There’s a hat and a t shirt in it for you if you hit the square!” She smiled and loaded one more round....she’s set up on the bench and lets her last shot fly right into the 4x4” square set at 385 Meters. It was the best shot of the weekend. "

Only 2 shooters used a grooved lead bullet, the rest were shooting copper swedged bullets.
Black Horn 209 was the overwhelming powder of choice.

It wasn't good enough to simply hit the steel targets, they also needed to be knocked over.
That proved to be the difference between the winner and the losers in the 1st day's match, along with the wind and the heat mirages.
 
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If you hunt with a fully modernized inline not because you're interested in muzzleloaders but ONLY to get in on an early season and because you want to eliminate as much of the work involved as possible, how would you characterize it?

I would characterize it one of two ways. You're either disinterested or you're lazy. Or both. The more primitive your hunting method, the more effort it requires. We all strive to find the sweet spot that balances our level of interest and the amount of effort we want to put into it. I have no problem admitting that I'm too lazy to hunt with an atlatl. Traditional archery tackle is at the upper end of the effort I want to put into it. Why did I buy a modern crossbow? Because it's easy. I found that it not only did not interest me but it was also too easy. Same reason I don't hunt with a modern stainless synthetic rifle. Too easy.

I moved to Virginia so I can hunt and own firearms.

I learn that Virginia has a muzzleloader season.

I go to the store and they sell an in-line muzzleloader. I buy it - yes, so I can hunt the early season.

internet character then tells me my course of action can only be characterized as disinterested or lazy.


Ok

oh this is rich, Internet character doubles down by saying if your CENTERFIRE rifle is not blued and wood stocked, you’re also making hunting TOO EASY.
 
You guys need to go outside and take a breath of fresh air. I read the whole thread, and while someone could interpret some of the comments as attacks, I did not. This is why I hate text messaging. The spoken word is easier to hear the intent of a comment. The written word not so much. That is why great authors are great authors.

Not picking a side, but consider that an insult may not have been intended.
 
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