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whitwell_56

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I am interested in hunting deer with a muzzleloader in Colorado.

I have never shot one and have no clue where to start. I know scopes and sabots are out for Colorado.

Is a 50 cal better, or is something smaller better for deer? I would expect to keep shots under 100 yards. Is this reasonable?

I am open to anything, just looking for a start.
 
im in the same boat and have been doing some research on different muzzys and i think i have decided on the CVA accura V2. im picking one up the next couple of days. the bullet they recommend is a powerbelt aerolite bullet. its a conical bullet so i THINK it would work for Colorado??? that would be a good starting point to look at. just a suggestion. good luck


"Shoot Straight"
 
50 cal is the right choice. Many bullet options, and legal in CO if you decide to hunt elk or moose with it.
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-09-15 AT 06:20PM (MST)[p]Of course CVA recommends Powerbelts because they make the bullets!

Definitely go with 50 caliber. Stay away form T/C guns because they don't reliably shoot conicals (even the company will tell you that)

There are tougher bullets out there other than powerbelts, and I definitely wouldn't use the aerolite for anything other than targets, because it is designed to blow up when it hits something.

Other bullet alternatives are the Hornady FPB, Hornady Great plains, Thors, No excuses

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
From their website:

"The AeroLite has a much larger hollow point cavity than either the Platinum or Copper PowerBelts. This larger cavity maximizes expansion capability"

That is all I need to know. There are tougher bullets to use when I am hunting for a big muley buck or elk. I will remain ignorant of how this particular bullet works on game.



txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
I think, all things considered, you should
look seriously, at a T/C Encore.

It rides either way....right or left handed.

It's damned reliable. And mine is damned accurate.

Www.eabco.com will adjust the trigger to whatever
you want if you buy the action from them.

Mine is a crisp 3 pounds.

Had awesome luck with this rifle.

Larry
 
>I think, all things considered, you
>should
>look seriously, at a T/C Encore.
>
>
>It rides either way....right or left
>handed.
>
>It's damned reliable. And mine is
>damned accurate.
>
>Www.eabco.com will adjust the trigger to
>whatever
>you want if you buy the
>action from them.
>
>Mine is a crisp 3 pounds.
>
>
>Had awesome luck with this rifle.
>
>
>Larry

Sorry, but I think it would be a mistake to by a T/C gun with a QLA (false muzzle) for Colorado. Sounds like you got one that will shoot, but do you shoot conicals? That is where the QLA will cause problems on many T/C guns. It is a great gun except if the QLA is cut off off-center to the bore, as mine and many are.

Don't take my word for, call T/C and ask if they will guaranteed accuracy with conicals. They won't.


txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
i didnt know powerbelt was owned by CVA..? makes sense why they recommend that particular bullet. thanks Txhunter for the info. what would you recommend for a good setup? gun, bullet, powder. obviously a few variables to take into consideration, but what do you think?

"Shoot Straight"
 
My current favorite gun is my White with 777 and 460 gr bullshop conicals. However, they don't make whites any more and bullshops are hard to get. So not newby friendly

My second go to gun is a Knight LRH set up to shoot bare 209 primers and Blackhorn 209 powder (you need a special breech plug for that) When I take it to Colorado for elk I am either loaded up with 350 gr Hornady FPBs or 300 gr Thors

The other gun I have used most is my T/C renegade (a sidelock with no QLA) and I shoot Hornady FPBs or 460 gr no excuse bullets over fffg 777. They don't make renegades any more either. :)

If I were buying my first gun, I would seriously consider getting the CVA accura and get the special breech plug for BH 209. They get good reviews shooting sabots or conicals. But there is no one that can tell you what your new gun will shoot well. Every muzzy is different and you may have to try several combinations before your find your load.

There is a learning curve with just about everything you try. From what I hear, one of my favorite bullets (FPBs) may be too big for the Accura because their barrels tend to run small, or they did. And with BH 209, you need a bullet that keeps come compression on the powder, so some of the loose "slip fit" pure lead conicals may not work with Blackhorn 209 and you might have to use 777 or another powder

There are so many choices! Frustrating at times but you get addicted to tinkering with this or that. That is why I have 5 different muzzleloaders! Good luck.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
100gr BH209 in a CVA Optima @ 100 yards with the 250gr Thor conical.

This group is just under 1"
000_0890.jpg


CVA Accura - 100gr BH209 - 250gr Thor - 150 yards. 4 shot group.
DSCN2578.jpg


Custom sidelock with 1:48 twist. Lowest shot nearest the bulls eye was 75 yards, next 2 higher shots were from 100 yards. 250gr Thor.
DSCN3421.jpg
 

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