New to Muzzleloading.

[KnottCoArcher]

This past deer season I had a Traditions Deerhunter .50 caliber side hammer gave to me as a gift from a friend. Then over Christmas I received a Thomson Center Black Diamond .50 caliber inline as a gift from my father.

I've not got to hunt with either of these guns yet, but I just have to say that I think shooting them is a great deal of fun. I enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy shooting a bow. I'm sure once I get to shoot them more and do some hunting with them I'll enjoy muzzleloading even more.

I guess my next step now is to get either a shotgun or rifle of my own and quit borrowing them off of everyone. Although, I have to say that I didn't enjoy what rifle hunting I got to do this past season. I always felt like I was in the sites of someone's rifle. There were way to many people hunting were I was this year. Last year only me and a friend hunted that area, and we told no one about it, this year there were between 30 and 40 people hunting, it was literally almost shoulder to shoulder. Thats why I like my bow hunting and I imagine its while I'll enjoy muzzleloading.

-Eli

[hillbilly2163]

with the introduction of in lines ml hunting is as bad as gun hunting...

[KnottCoArcher]

I didn't know a muzzle loader wasn't a gun.

Thanks for trying to rain on my parade, but thankfully my parade brought umbrellas.

[quackrstackr]

Welcome to the world of ml. Don't let the traditional guys bother you, that debate is still hot with most old timers because it's a relatively new development.

I bet not many of them still shoot a longbow or recurve though if you get my drift.

<b><u>5 Rivers Taxidermy & Outfitters</u></b>
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Straight powder.......

[Big58cal]

Front-stuffers are a lot of fun! It doesn't matter if they are side hammer percussion, flintlock, or in-line percussion. There's just something about that big cloud of smoke! They're a lot of fun to shoot and develop loads for.

[quigleysharps4570]

Have to agree with Big58cal, they're alot of fun. Bought my first one in 1975, been shooting them every since. Don't like the in-lines, figure if I wanted a modern looking rifle I'd buy a cartridge gun. A plus we've got here in Kansas is they can't hunt with an in-line except with iron sights. Course to each their own, but that's my opinion of them. Anyway, whatever route you choose you'll grow to love it. Here there's not the hunting pressure during muzzleloading season that I've read about elsewhere. That's just the way I like it and just the way I hope it stays.

[Big58cal]

Whatever you choose, make sure it's one that you like, and can shoot comfortably. I've got a .58 cal side hammer that eats my cheek bone up every time that I shoot it with iron sights. I put a scope on it, and it raised my head up enough that my cheek bone doesn't get bruised when I shoot it (not enough drop to the stock otherwise). I've also got a .54 cal Knight in-line with a synthetic thumb-hole stock that I fat out LOVE! The Knight rifles are easy to clean (due to the removeable breech plug) and a "blast" to shoot!

Try all of the different powders in your gun...777, Pyrodex, black powder... Different guns "like" certain powders and bullets. The trick is to find a powder/bullet combination that your rifle likes. You can take the cheapest gun on the market, and with the right powder/bullet combination, they'll shoot as well as the "best" gun on the market. The trick is FINDING it! That's the fun of it! Granted, it can get aggrivating at times, but with every shot, you're improving your shooting ability and your familiarity with the gun. Stick with it!!!!!!!!