Muzzleloader recommendations
- Thread starter Yeedonkey
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brewer12345
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For deer, I have found 54 and 58 round ball to be more than adequate. If you were going for elk or using a smaller bore a conical might be worth investigating.
hawg
Member
I like round balls out of a round ball twist. I do not like a 1:48 twist but they will get the job done at 50-60 yards. I hunted for 30 years or so with a 1:48 twist in .50 caliber and Maxi Balls. I finally tried round balls and it did better. I tried sabots when they first came out but most tumbled. They may be better now. When I had my Hawken built I went with a .54 and a round ball twist. My only regret is I didn't go with a .58. I won't go back to a .50.
Blackpowderwarrior
Member
I have a 54 Lyman deerstalker rifle practically brand new and a 58 cabelas "Bob Hoyt" smoothbore both in percussion I'm thinking of selling for some extra cash.
Depends on whats affordable to you.
AntiqueSledMan
Member
Hello Yeedonkey,
I shoot sabots, I'm very happy with them.
I'm shooting a Lyman Great Plains Hunter 1:32 twist, my son is shooting my old Thompson Center Hawken 1:48 twist.
You will have to experiment with different powder charges and different projectiles.
AntiqueSledMan.
I shoot sabots, I'm very happy with them.
I'm shooting a Lyman Great Plains Hunter 1:32 twist, my son is shooting my old Thompson Center Hawken 1:48 twist.
You will have to experiment with different powder charges and different projectiles.
AntiqueSledMan.
brewer12345
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New englander, an investarms hawken, perhaps cva. All show up on GunBroker in 54 within your price range.
Appalachiannative
Member
I have owned 2 cap lock muzzleloaders. A CVA hawken and a Traditions deer hunter. The deerhunter has never been as accurate as the hawken and the trigger pull is awful by comparison. Although neither feel as good as my flintlock. The deerhunters only pro is it is light. Like carrying a .22. mine shoots patched balls better than bullets
hawg
Member
I've got a
I've got a CVA St. Louis Hawken I never use. It was a gift from a dear friend who is now departed so I won't sell it.
I've got a CVA St. Louis Hawken I never use. It was a gift from a dear friend who is now departed so I won't sell it.
Appalachiannative
Member
I've never owned one of those but I've read about the breach plug in that thing being held in with an O ring! That makes me nervous. The way that gun works is you break it open like an H&R pardner shotgun and put a cap on a nipple located where the primer on a shotshell would be. I have heard of them going off accidentally when you close er up
Appalachiannative
Member
I personally like plain old .50 caliber. Unless your hunting water buffalo I think .50 is just fine for white tail. It's the easiest to find balls for
Appalachiannative
Member
Now that I think about it my brother in law has a Lyman Deer Stalker. A direct competitor for the traditions deer hunter and superior in every way except that as previously stated the traditions is feather light
Appalachiannative
Member
I might be interested in that smoothbore depending on how much your needing for it.
Appalachiannative
Member
I'm curious whats wrong with .50? I've never owned anything else. I've shot a .54 and I couldn't really tell much difference between it and .50. never had my hands on a big bore
Appalachiannative
Member
Just remember a Kentucky is a heavy gun. Even heavier in a big bore I'd say. Idk how big a fella you are or how far you plan to hike but maybe go look at one and pick it up to see how you feel. In fact most of the Kentucky rifles I've seen are .45
hawg
Member
Nothing really wrong with a .50. I used one for years. I just like the .54 better.
Appalachiannative
Member
Oh yeah? You wouldn't happen to be turning some feist or curs loose on them squirrels would ya?
Blackpowderwarrior
Member
If you put traditions deerhunter beside Lyman deerstalker they are nothing alike.
Alike only in name.
That being said the little traditions rifle is a excellent affordable muzzleloader geared more toward introducing people to muzzleloading rifles.
Unfortunately Lyman discontinued the percussion .54 deerstalker 2 years ago.
They still make the flintlock .54 and both percussion and flint .50 models
When I saw that Lyman was discontinuing the percussion .54 model I snagged 1 of the last 2 midway had.
If only I could go back in time, I would have snagged a few ruger old armys when I heard they were being discontinued as well.
Got a fiest that's a couple years old but she's still green
Appalachiannative
Member
Both guns are smaller than hawkens or any of the other more historical designs that's why I think of them together. You right they are not that close I just kinda lump the traditions deer hunter, Lyman Deer Stalker, CVA mountain stalker, TC new Englander all together because of the compact design. but you are right my deer hunter is a lot different than the deer stalker. Has only one pin holding the barrel while the Lyman has two and the Lyman is heavier. They both have short barrels and both use the compromise twist as well I think. The Lyman lock is definitely superior
Appalachiannative
Member
I still don't have my own dogs. My father in law turned me on to this. His dogs are curr feist hybrids. When you said walking for miles I knew you had to be hunting with dogs. When I was your age 12 gauge pumps and autos didn't seem like nothing. I'm only 9 years older than you but now I almost always use my single shot but perhaps smoking and 60 hrs work weeks are catching up on me
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