Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders First Muzzleloader suggestion?

I’m wanting to get into some black powder hunting and want to get a muzzleloader. I’m looking for suggestions on a modern set up that will have 200 to 250 yard accuracy. I can use a scope in my state and I will be hunting Whitetail deer and hogs.

Looking at the newer stuff from CVA and not really concerned about budget. I’m a buy once cry once guy. What other suggestions and what model would you recommend?

I’m brand new to this

Been browsing around the muzzleloaders.com website this morning. It’s interesting that a lot of the lower priced stuff is getting a higher star rating with more reviews, than the stuff that’s $500-$1000. Particularly I was looking at the CVA Accura MX and several negative reviews. However, the TC impact and CVA wolf have lots of five star reviews and a higher by far average rating.

A break-action inline is the easy button for those who just want to hunt, not play pioneer. I’ve plated with several inlines, bolts, BAs, and a Werndl knockoff, and all have shot just fine, with varying degrees of time and trouble needed for maintenance. I know people like to dream about taking long pokes, but a little studying of the ballistics will show that hitting way out there is complicated by a lot of drop and wind deflection, at least with the usual sabotted stuff. I wouldn’t attempt such shots without trying them on paper first. I’m done with inlines for now, but if getting back in, I’d look at the Optima 2 (IIRC), and maybe that one that takes the little breech-loaded tubes, recently legalized here. Seems to work okay and certainly it’s convenient.

Meanwhile, I’m doing my “cheating” with a couple of sidelock TCs with MagSparks and BH209. Using iron sights though; there limits even to my teensy-tiny sense of shame 😜

Pappy I always appreciate your wisdom and insight, but also your sense of humor. I’ll look into some in-lines along the lines you suggested, starting with the Optima 2.

Been muzzleloading for whitetails since the early 80s. Caplocks before inlines were even a thing. Been through a boatload of inlines, and now prefer my own scratch built flintlocks. I say all that to this end. 200 to 250 yard shots with even the best of inlines is not for the "brand new to this". Pappy speaks truth above. Trajectory and wind are the devil. I've taken some long pokes, and I've connected on some long pokes, but it's something I do not try very often. My longest kill with an inline was 248 yards. If it had ranged 258 that one woulda just walked. And that's with decades of experience and a good handle on my ballistics.

200 to 250 is a far poke with a muzzleloader. My first purchase would be a good rangefinder.

I listed 200 because that is the far length of the two food plots I have. Most will be 75 yard shots in the woods where I mostly hunt. I’ll do my research and development once I get things put together and determine what an ethical effective range is. I will not shoot farther than I’m capable of when the time comes.

Yep, yep, and more yep.

Nobody is meaning any offense so I hope you're not taking it that way. Your/Our capability is only part of the equation. Ballistically, regardless what projectile your using, you're basically launching a brick in a high arc, and it loses velocity FAST. Add in any wind at all to the flight time and it gets tricky really quickly. There are limitations you need to accept and work within, same as we all do with primitive weapons. Even though it's a modern inline it's still a primitive weapon by design.

Being new to it, you're very wise to find the best rifle you can afford and that tickles your fancy. Research what projectile best suits its twist. Try a few different propellants in it, including Holy Black. Try different charge weights. Try a few different projectiles in it. Try different ignition sources if you want. Learn what bore condition it likes best, ie, clean, fouled, dirty, wet swabbed, dry swabbed, etc. Learn if it likes a loose seating of the bullet, a medium seat, or a heavy seat. Mark your ramrod at the muzzle so you can keep track of the consistency of all the seating trials. All this, BEFORE deer season kicks off.

Lots to figure out to get the most out of your investment and effort, but at some point you'll dial something in that with practice you'll feel better about taking longer shots. For now though I would strongly suggest staying within 100 yards for hunting. And even that with a muzzleloader is a respectable poke.

Look at Woodman rifles.

Wow this is a lot but it’s super helpful. I appreciate it a lot. A little bit overwhelming but I’m excited to try something new and jump in with both feet!

Yeah no offense taken. Didn’t realize how deep of a hole this was. I’ve got a lot to learn!

It can be as simple as buy a rifle, buy some sort of BP equivalent, buy some pre-packaged bullets, buy some primers to fit the rifle, and load it to the manufacturer's suggestions.

Aim, Fire.

Infact, that's probably what most do.

Inlines are to muzzleloading as crossbows are to archery, a good way to make meat, but not very interesting to me otherwise. I suppose one could get into it, spend a bunch of time, effort, and money to stretch one’s range a bit, but I never felt drawn to that. Like my crossbow, I’d get my Knight out just before the season to check the sighting, make up some loads, and then go hunting. Never got the urge to just take it out and shoot for “fun” like my traditional rifles.

Not trying to discourage you or disparage that segment of the game at all, just rambling on. As I said, they're a great way to make meat and get more time in the woods. The setup you describe makes an inline a good choice, and there’s no reason you can’t try the other way too. What I'm doing with my setups gives me the look and feel of traditional and take advantage of our short seasons without any muss or fuss. I also have a nearly full 5-pound jug of BH209 I need to burn up😛

Those look good, and very handy, though I’m skeptical of their claim you never need to clean them.

What’s the wait time these days. Was considerable last time I checked.

If you can find a TC Encore and some BH209, things will be pretty easy. Just one good option.

Just be ready to get addicted to it! Lol!

Not for sure on the wait time

I would buy a knight. They have the .52 Disc Extreme on sale right now.

I just looked at that MR-X you mentioned. That’s a new one for me, but looks good. The reviews indicate that most are well satisfied with theirs, but a couple have had issues, so QC may be lacking, meaning you might get a dud now and then.

I have seen the same gun but as a .444 Marlin in person and was favorably impressed.

Better start looking for BH209 now if that’s the propellant you plan to use. It disappears fast, so be prepared to use an alternative.