Catskillkid
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I'm considering getting a muzzleloader (never had one before). Any recommendations? What should I be looking for? This would be used for muzzleloading season for what it's worth.
Muzzleloader Information/Recommendations
- Thread starter Catskillkid
- Start date
penrod72
.40 S&W
I say go decent but cheaper. I like the Traditions line, spend some money on a scope. I would not worry about something that shoots smokeless powder, but something that shoots Triple 7 or pyrodex (pellets are simpler) with 209 shotgun primers.
50 Cal that shoots 45 caliber bullets with plastic sabots - again, simple, many options.
Just my opinion.
Stainless steel barrel a plus, keep it clean, shoot and clean after season every year.
Others will have more modern suggestions most likely.
50 Cal that shoots 45 caliber bullets with plastic sabots - again, simple, many options.
Just my opinion.
Stainless steel barrel a plus, keep it clean, shoot and clean after season every year.
Others will have more modern suggestions most likely.
Xae289
.223 Rem
I advise that whatever you do in terms of rifle, go with something modern that can use Triple 7 or Buckhorn 209 as your powders. Pyrodex has a reputation for being badly corrosive, so I avoid it. True black powder is great, but less powerful and best for purists, reenactors, or people in jurisdictions (like PA) where using a traditional flitlock, you pretty much have to use real black. Triple 7 is less corrosive and more powerful than either black powder or Pyrodex. Buckhorn 209 is most accurate, cleanest, and most powerful of the muzzleloader propellants.
Loose powder allows you to be more consistent than pellets. I measured a couple charges by volume, weighed and averaged them, then pre-load powder charges into cigarette paper packets measured by weight. I then untwist one end of my powder "joints" and pour the powder into the bore. I have gotten excellent accuracy doing that. Both Triple 7 and Buckhorn 209 are available loose.
That said, pellets are super convenient and plenty accurate enough for hunting at woods distances. Buckhorn doesn't come in pellets as far as I know. Triple 7 does. The other two big pellets brands I know of are Pyrodex and White Hots. Dunno much about White Hots.
.50 cal to shoot .45 cal sabot rounds are definitely the way to go. If you don't care to practice much and/or price, just buy pre-saboted dedicated muzzleloader bullets. If you want to experiment or practice a lot and want less extortionately expensive bullets, you can buy sabots on their own and handloading bullets on their own, then slip them into the sabots for usually under the quarter of the price per bullet than buying them pre-assembled.
Loose powder allows you to be more consistent than pellets. I measured a couple charges by volume, weighed and averaged them, then pre-load powder charges into cigarette paper packets measured by weight. I then untwist one end of my powder "joints" and pour the powder into the bore. I have gotten excellent accuracy doing that. Both Triple 7 and Buckhorn 209 are available loose.
That said, pellets are super convenient and plenty accurate enough for hunting at woods distances. Buckhorn doesn't come in pellets as far as I know. Triple 7 does. The other two big pellets brands I know of are Pyrodex and White Hots. Dunno much about White Hots.
.50 cal to shoot .45 cal sabot rounds are definitely the way to go. If you don't care to practice much and/or price, just buy pre-saboted dedicated muzzleloader bullets. If you want to experiment or practice a lot and want less extortionately expensive bullets, you can buy sabots on their own and handloading bullets on their own, then slip them into the sabots for usually under the quarter of the price per bullet than buying them pre-assembled.