Getting my feet wet with Rem700 MLS .50cal

[SLAKLINE]

Muzzloading is something I've been mulling around getting into for several years now.

I've been eyeballing getting a T/C Prohunter for a couple years now but never committed.

However, now I am with a Remington 700 MLS (stainless) .50 that I received in trade. So why not? I guess I'll break my self in with this seemingly nice inline with the bolt action that I'm so familiar with.

I have the 209 conversion as well as #11 cap.

I've been doing some research as late pertaining to blowback issues with the OEM 209 conversion and I'm considering locating the recommended Cabela's 209 conversion kit. I've seen some of the DIY fixes that supposedly help with the blowback issue in the OEM 209, but I lack the confidence or willingness to attempt any DIY fixes at this point.

I'll mainly be hunting whitetail deer at 100 yds or less. I figure pushing it out beyond 150 is something I'm not going to attempt immediately and I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I haven't decided if I'm going to stick with the iron sites or scope I guess it all depends on how I do with the irons. I'd prefer to start off with the irons and not rush to adorn it with a scope.

Also, anyone have experience with this Rem 700 ML and recommend complete load set ups to start out with?

 

[RSVP2RIP]

Personally I don't see any reason not to scope the rifle from the start. Alot of "traditionalists", i.e. plastic-pretender-bashers may turn their noses up at this but If you use a scope on a centerfire why not a muzzleloader? If you are looking for more of a chalange, then stick with the irons and you basically have a caplock rifle that is just as prone to all the dificulties of any side hammer caplock. The 700ml has a somewhat protected breech but it is by no stretch of the imagination water proof, especially with the #11 caps. For loading, you can get away with anything but round balls for the most part. If 100 yards is your outer limit, then a load I liked to use with my inlines was 100gr of Pyrodex RS with a 350gr Maxi Hunter (or the 470gr when I could get ahold of them). It doesn't recoil that bad (the 350's that is)and was really acurate out of my T/C System 1. The options availible to you though could make experimenting an endless task, but that could be good thing. Aside from cost, I would use the #11 caps and get a breech cover (T/C has a good one) to keep out the rain and snow, rather than invest in any breech plug conversion. There are also those little plastic cap sleeves that do a good job of sealing out the elements on a #11 cap.

 

[arcticap]

Someone posted that this is the outfit that made the conversion kit for Cabela's:

http://www.armurierlavaltrie.ca/

 

[Zeke/PA]

My neighbor has the same rifle with the 209 conversion kit installed.
He gets really good accuracy using 250 grain T/C Shockwaves over two 50 grain Pyrodex pellets.
I agree also about a scope on this rifle.
An excellent 4X Nikon can be had for about $120.00.
Have fun.
Zeke

 

[FredT]

My hunting pard and I both have this same ML. We scoped them before we ever went to the range. We evolved from more tradional to this inline so we still use loose BP. Favorite load is 100 grains of 2F under a sabot and Hornady 240 XTP. Spit patch between shots to shoot all day at the range and to keep the sabot loading smoothly. A little bore butter smeared on the outside of the sabot helps. Tried the pellets, tried Pyro and others, loose BP grouped best at 100 yds, ie. one inch for 5 shots. Note: this rifle is dirty. The back blast goes all up into the bolt body and must be cleaned thoroughly after shooting. The firing pin spring is not stainless and will rust if not cleaned and coated with preservative. Shoot enough at the range and the bolt will start to stick in the receiver and be difficult to work. Paper towels and windex will take care of that. The Rem does come with a black plastic shroud that goes over the end of the bolt called an environmental shield by Rem. It is a nice feature that keeps lots of undesireables out of the action. The trigger is a fully adjustabe Rem 700 trigger, very nice when done right. We have had our Rems for about 12 years and have had no desires to replace them. This is just feedback from 2 guys that have this same rifle, that use them and like them.