Got the fever for a rifle

[eagle24]

Hi folks! I've been away from the forum for the past year. I've really gotten into traditional bowhunting (longbow) over the past 5 or 6 years and have completely given up rifle hunting. Well, I have never seen so many nice bucks just out of bow range in my life until these last few years. OK, enough on the bowhunting.

I'm not ready to pick up my modern rifles and take to the woods again, but I have decided to get me a muzzleloader for hunting whitetails when I don't feel like bowhunting. No offense, but I don't want any of the modern in-line types. They are fine guns that I admire, but not for me right now (I love Jim Shockey Outdoors though). I'm looking to learn enough to make an informed decision on a traditional muzzleloader. Have'nt decided yet if it will be a flinter or percussion. I particularly like the looks of the plain "poor boy" type rifles with iron furniture. I think I want something on the order of a Tennessee or Southern Mountain Rifle although I might also consider a Virginia or Pennsylvania style rifle (the stock styling looks like it might be a little more comfortable to shoot on them). I'm also thinking about a .54 cal for deer since I intend to shoot patched round balls. I'm a pretty fair shot and pretty good at blood trailing, but I'm not sure a .45 or .50 cal is a smart choice for a gun I intend to hunt with quite a bit. Oh yeah, I would like to find something in the $1000 range if possible. I know there are some rifle shooters on here that can give me some good advice. Oh yeah, I still enjoy shooting my 1858 Rem New Army revolver.

TIA, Greg

 

[Ed/Pa]

TVM will fit you needs. Check their website. Quality longrifles that shoot very accurately.

I own two of them . A tenn poorboy .40 cal and a Pa. iron mounted. 50cal

They have finished rifles on hand and also have them in kit form.

I prefer at least a .50 or a .54 for deer.
http://www.avsia.com/tvm/

 

[Pancho]

check out the Pedersoli line of guns I have a blue ridge 50 cal flint that I really like but I'm having trouble overcoming the flashpan blinks. As your first traditional I would suggest a caplock. The caplocks have all the tradition but lack the additional problems of a flinter. You won't have to go to all the problems of finding Black powder and having to carry two grades of the stuff.
What ever caplock you buy look into converting over to musket caps.It's cheap and easy to do. It will give you much hotter ignition and in cold weather the much larger musket caps are easier to handle. I've never need a knife to pry off a musket cap which was something I almost always had to do with#11 caps

 

[arcticap]

Did you say rifle fever?
Help is on the way!
If you've got the fever then here's some potent medicine!
You're bound to find something unique in Track of the Wolf's percussion rifle catagory that you'll love. Just click on whatever rifle suits your fancy to see plenty of full detailed pictures. Everything is based on buyer approval over a 10 day inspection period.
Once your fever is cured you'll definitely feel much, much better!!

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(1p...s/partList.aspx?catID=12&subID=83&styleID=290

 

[mykeal]

Articap - you really disappoint me. I thought you were smarter than that.

You can apply all the medicine you want - the fever cannot be cured. You just have to keep buying and buying and buying....