Introduction to Muzzleloading

[Irrelevant]

Hey I need to do something else. WA rifle deer sucks. And I'm still giving archery the middle finger. I've shot a muzzleloader once in my life. Does anyone know of any decent resources for how to do it? The equipment, the loading process, the cleaning process, etc. KISS, I'm a noob if ever there was one. Maybe an article or YT series. I'm probably not going to go all traditional, sorry @BrentD . WA allowed shotgun primers, and just this year 1x scopes or red dots.

 

[Sytes]

Hey I need to do something else. WA rifle deer sucks. And I'm still giving archery the middle finger. I've shot a muzzleloader like once in my life. Doesn't anyone know of any decent resources for how to do it? The equipment, the loading process, the cleaning process, etc. KISS, I'm a noob if ever there was one.

@BrentD is a guru with muzzleloaders as I am sure others on Hunt Talk. He along with a good friend guided me along with great info. I ended up with a Lyman High Plains .54 1-60 twist.

It's a blast on the range. Prepping my first Canadian moose hunt with this. Heck it's a great traditional muzzy! Variety of choices out there and this one fit my interests.

 

[Forkyfinder]

@cgasner1

 

[LuketheDog]

Hey I need to do something else. WA rifle deer sucks. And I'm still giving archery the middle finger. I've shot a muzzleloader once in my life. Does anyone know of any decent resources for how to do it? The equipment, the loading process, the cleaning process, etc. KISS, I'm a noob if ever there was one. Maybe an article or YT series. I'm probably not going to go all traditional, sorry @BrentD . WA allowed shotgun primers, and just this year 1x scopes or red dots.

While not as cool-looking as a Hawken-style, a muzzy with a removable breech makes cleaning waaaay easier. I have a T/C Impact that I improved with a Williams peep and front globe sight...

 

[Nick87]

@cgasner1

@cgasner1 And @Addicting.

 

[Addicting]

Read up on what’s legal in your state and buy once cry once.

Stainless and BH209 are the best combo I’ve found. Shoots great and makes clean up a breeze.

I’m a big fan of Hornday bore riders. They are easy to load and very effective.

Bore butter is what you take to the trailhead to put on the Aholes door handle. It should never be used in a muzzleloader.

Be warned it’s a lot of fun but hard in the shoulder.

 

[Irrelevant]

Read up on what’s legal in your state and buy once cry once.

Stainless and BH209 are the best combo I’ve found. Shoots great and makes clean up a breeze.

Looking at a .50 cal SS CVA Optima... what does BH209 mean?

I’m a big fan of Hornday bore riders. They are easy to load and very effective.

Ok what is different about them, makes them better, what should be avoided?

Bore butter is what you take to the trailhead to put on the Aholes door handle. It should never be used in a muzzleloader.

o.k.

 

[BrentD]

@BrentD is a guru with muzzleloaders as I am sure others on Hunt Talk. He along with a good friend guided me along with great info. I ended up with a Lyman High Plains .54 1-60 twist.

It's a blast on the range. Prepping my first Canadian moose hunt with this. Heck it's a great traditional muzzy! Variety of choices out there and this one fit my interests.

View attachment 347310

Always happy to help. Muzzleloaders with real black powder are very easy to own and operate. And, they kill stuff pretty damn dead. Remember, round balls are your friend.

While not as cool-looking as a Hawken-style, a muzzy with a removable breech makes cleaning waaaay easier....

I gotta disagree. Sorry.

 

[Ben Lamb]

The Sam Fadala books are easy to read and super-helpful in getting you started with black powder front loaders.

Amazon.com

TC Rifles are well made, as are Lyman - for production guns. The Ubertis are good as well.

Stick with a 50 caliber round ball. They're cheap and you can shoot enough of them to be a proficient marksman. The patched roundball worked from the 1740's to today in terms of killing game. Bulk purchase your powder if you can. 90 grains of FFg can be a fast way to burn through a can. Swiss black is great powder.

Get a possibles bag/kit and shoot the living heck out of it. Clean with warm soapy water and a good lube post-scrubbing. It's a fun, low tech way to enjoy the outdoors and increase your odds of seeing game.

 

[BrentD]

I would opt for a .54.

A .54 round ball is legal in Colorado and every other state as far as I know for elk. A .50 cal around ball may not be legal depending on the state you are hunting.

 

[brymoore]

A .50 cal around ball may not be legal depending on the state you are hunting.

Really? Seems odd. 50s will kill any elk that has lived.

I’d help on the topic but my .50 cal Thompson Center Renegade muzzleloader is 40 years old and uses iron sights. Completely Idaho muzzy legal.

 

[BrentD]

Really? Seems odd. 50s will kill any elk that has lived.

I’d help on the topic but my .50 cal Thompson Center Renegade muzzleloader is 40 years old and uses iron sights. Completely Idaho muzzy legal.

I'm not arguing with you. I'm just telling you what I have read is the law in colorado.

 

[brymoore]

I'm not arguing with you. I'm just telling you what I have read is the law in colorado.

I was commenting, not arguing.

Just looked up Colorado muzzy laws. 50 cal for conical bullets and 54 for round balls. No one is using round balls anymore.

 

[BrentD]

I was commenting, not arguing.

Just looked up Colorado muzzy laws. 50 cal for conical bullets and 54 for round balls. No one is using round balls anymore.

Someone is using roundballs. Actually thousands of us are.