I know there are those, who, by me saying. I thought scopes had nothing to do with "primitive", will respond with something like, THEN USE A SPEAR, WITH FLINT HEADS,... I first hunted with a charcoal burner in, I think 1980. I bought a kit from Reed, in A.F. There will be a few here on MM who will know who Reed was,and
fondly remember him. I also bought Patch material, bulk lead, and Black Powder from his basement, and back yard bunker. By the mid 1980s I had 3 muzzy's a Great Plains .54 Thompson renegade .54 Thompson Hawken flintlock in .50 ( used all for hunting, But the Great Plains was my favorite, With that extra long barrel, Buckhorn sights, 110 grns of FF .15 pillow ticking patch. and home rolled .54 pure lead ball...THIS was my long range rifle.) I was successful out to 360 yards!!!! (on the Gong target) and even killed several Mule Deer at extream ranges. one a rather nice 3X4 and my farthest, wasnt an foot less than 120 yards. I was lucky enough to hunt with this type firearm, with my Dad,Brother, and other family members for a few years. My Dad and Brother have long since passed, And reading all this makes me remember a comment he made, when a guy, on a three wheeler, stopped in our camp on the south end of Mt. Dutton. It was the year before Dad passed.. Anyway this guy had a TC scout with a scope, we talked a while and after the guy left my Dad said. "why the hell would ya wanna wreck a muzzle loader with a scope".I dont think he ever knew of Sabots, or pretend Black powder, I dont think he knew that fellers scout was an inline, or that,that gun was one of the beginning of the end setups,. for me anyway. Muzzle loading was my favorite way to hunt Deer for years,right up to about 2002. sadly Iv not Hunted with one for years now . My sons try to get me to apply with them, they use inlines, pelletized powder, and bullets with plastic bases. I tell them no thanks, I'll come along and spend my time tunnin up the Dutch ovens,so you ladies can have some real food when your done huntin with your single shots... I havent seen a scope on their rigs yet...LMAO I love telling my sons and Grandsons stories about how we did it in "the Old Days"...and thats the way I want to remember my primitive black powder hunts. I hope folks make memories as Dear as mine., with whatever setup they use. If you think you need a scope to get the job done, then more power to ya. Just dont complain when the "next best improvment" comes along. I have to admit after hunting with that old Hawken (I only shot 1 Deer with it, aimed at the white spot under his chin, and flinched just enough to hit him in the right eye) my new fangled #11 cap locks were mighty appealing. LMAO. I hear now you can only kill a buck with shotgun shell primers that set off pellets of pretend powder, in a stainless steel barrel,while looking though a Nightforce, with custom turrets to follow the rainbow of your all copper, Eco friendly something or other. That another Memory, seein my Mothers look on her face when she found ..my Barrel soaking in the bath tub LMAO. but it did need a good cleaning.. Geezus Im goin to bed now, Founder will have to post this in hardback cover