Looking for 1st BP rifle

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feedthehogs

feedthehogs

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Looking to buy my first BP rifle for deer.
No nothing about quality on these guns.

I want something that is good quality and shoots well.

Prefer a traditional style BP.
Can a traditional style take a scope mount? (eyes aren't what they used to be)

Which shoots better pyrodex powder or pellets?

Thanks for the help.
 
Hey FTH-

If you don't mind paying just a teeny bit more, check out the Lyman Great Plains Rifle. Very traditional look, great shooter, comes with a 1/66" twist for roundballs, or in the Great Plains Hunter guise, with a 1/48" twist for conicals.

Don't know about mounting a scope on it, though. Suppose you could put a rail on it.
 
I don't believe any of the currently available "traditional" black powder muzzleloaders have built in provisions to mount a scope. Of course, a competent gunsmith can, for money, do the job on most guns. For the money you'd be better off buying an in-line that has such provisions. After all, what's the point of buying "traditional" and then making it intentionally non-traditional?

The advantage of Pyrodex powder over pellets is the ability to more precisely tailor your load to match your gun's capability; in other words, to define and use an "optimum" load. The advantage of pellets is, of course, ease of use - no measuring involved. With that in mind, neither has a significant advantage with regard to killing a deer.
 
Oh, yeah- as far as the powder goes, just use black if you can get it. Really doesn't foul any worse than Pyrodex, doesn't smell nasty like Pyrodex, and tastes better, too.
 
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TC makes a scope mount for their Hawkens. You can some times find them on EBay iffn you still patronize them. As for TC guns they have a lifetime warranty. Use the loose powder, the real McCoy if it is available to you. I looked at the price of the pellets and it is a very expensive way of shooting.
 
Strictly for deer hunting, and first BP gun? I'd go in-line all day long. They're simpler to maintain and easier and more reliable to use. Just plop a couple of pellets down the tube, stuff in a powerbelt, cap and BOOM! . As you get more comfortable with BP, try something different, but for a meat-getter (especially with a scope) go in-line.
Don't get me wrong, I love the aesthetics of the classic muzzle-loaders, and am currently scheming to procure a classic flintlock of some kind, but it makes more sense to me for somebody just getting feet wet (especially this close to hunting season) to go simple first.
As far as quality goes, I hunt with guys that use anything from the cheap CVA packages (@$200) from Bass Pro, to Hawkin rifles, to the high end Ultimates and T/C's. The guys with the CVA cheapies fill thier tag just as quick as the other ones! They just rust a little faster.....:scrutiny:
Personally, I shoot a .45 cal WInchester X-150 in-line with camo stock and SS fluted barrel. I paid I think $225 for it slightly used a few years ago, and it is a tack driver. It likes three pyrodex under a 225gr ballistic point powerbelt....and will flat SMOKE a deer!
One thing is certain.......something in that blue smoke is awwwwwfully addictive!:cool:
 
I also believe an inline rifle would suit your needs better than a traditional muzzleloader. The inlines are easier to clean and, in my opinion, more accurate. The reason I say they are more accurate stems from a true story that happen to me in the mid-1990s. I went target shooting with a friend who owned a Ruger Mini-14 and I took along a Knight inline muzzleloader. We both fired at a target 100 yards away. Shooting from a benchrest, my Knight beat his Ruger everytime we competed against one another. This accomplishment made me a great believer in the accuracy of inlines. No doubt several factors were responsible for my victory, but this incident leads me to champion inlines when accuracy is a primary concern. I hope this story is useful to you.


Timthinker
 
I've had a TC Hawken for about 12 years or so no problems. As stated earlier scope mounts are available. There are some modern repro scopes available that could look sorta authentic. You could also get a B/P Sharps and kit it out with one of those scopes for an authentic and neat toy.
 
Traditional sights for old eyes.

A marble or lyman peep sight mounted on the tang works well for older eyes and doesn't destroy the authenticity of the gun. I agree that the Lyman plains rifle would be a good choice. The Thompson Center Hawken is an accurate high quality choice too but it looks too much like the cheap crap guns.

I have achieved all the goals I set for myself when I was five. However, a five year old's focus is on pirates and gunfighters so this is probably not a good indication of success.
 
You might want to check the regs for hunting black powder in your area. Some places do not allow scopes on muzzle loaders for the special muzzle loader seasons. My eyes aren't what they used to be either, as a matter of fact none of me is like it used to be, but I can use peep sights very well. Give them a try before you scope the thing.
 
I love BP first gun posts.

A guy that knows little, asked a bunch of guys who all have thier idea of whats best. WHat you get is a pile of confusing, differnent statments, and the poor guy is back to square one.

Here is yet another opinion, form yet another guy who has been shooting BP for over 40 years. ME

Feedthehogs,

We need more info. What your saying is, I need a car/truck. whats the best.

hunting? if so big game/small game? target shooting? Rondys?

In a generic comment I will say. If you build a flinklocl (or capper for that matter) you will be using far better parts, and will be able to get replacement parts for your lifetime. $700-900 investment

If you buy ANY production BP firearm, you are going to get far less craftmanship, average to poor parts quality, and fun getting replacement parts, at best.

As far as in-line BP firearm...... YUK

Ive owned tons of production firearms, some real cheap , some real costly.

After building my own. I will NEVER own a production one again.
(less a Parker-Hale Withworth) and I cant afford one.

http://www.flintlocks.com/

This is the best there is, in the under $1000 catagory, period.

Scopes on muzzlestuffers are a whole different subject. For civil war period and newer, yes you can.

Why would you want to? You cut the dovetails your your barrel and set your sights to your eyes.

Ive shot real BP and the fake stuff lots. they both do the job.
Real BP is just more fun.
 
In my humble opinion, comparing a Mini-14 to an inline is unfair. The Mini-14 is notorious for groups that widen when its spaghetti thin barrel warms up. Groups get bigger then.

BTW, that's thar's good shooting with an in-line. Kudos.
 
4v50 Gary, the comparison to the Mini-14 probably is unfair, but my friend should not have mocked my "smokepole". After he lost the competition, he never uttered a bad word about muzzleloaders again. Just rewards were served that day.


Timthinker
 
When I starterd blackpowder shooting, I went with a TC Renegade .58 Cal with TC peep site installed (Fox Ridge Outfitters) Ordered a .58 caliber Roundball barrel from Green mountain.
While waiting I ordered 5LBs (3 of 2FF and 2 of 3FF) of black powder from powderinc.. It was delivered to my door.
That .58 caliber roundball is a womper stomper and the peep helps these eyes of mine.
Try this link for a forum dedicated to traditional Muzzle loading. Them boys have some good advice on shooting rounballs.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php?

Have fun
 
The Traditions Deerhunter is one current traditional medium twist model with that comes drilled and tapped for scope mounting:


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Here's a discontinued CVA Grey Wolf model for sale with a faster twist:

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http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=259551&highlight=cva
 

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Timthinker - you're right. Your buddy messed up badmouthing a smokepole - especially when he had an unmodified Mini-14. You gave him a well deserved lesson. :)

articap - now, that's about the most modern I could get with a smokepole. Then again, being a sinner, I'd go for a stainless steel Ferguson with a synthetic stock. Paint it brown, I would.
 
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