muzzleloader help?

[robinsg61le]

I'm trying to learn more about muzzleloaders and would like to go on a muzzleloader hunt in NM.

Can anyone give me a recomendendation of where to start learning more about muzzleloaders in general, but more importantly the best legal muzzleloader type for NM?

I understand there are types that can be reloaded much quicker than others... types that have longer range, etc. Any info you could pass along would be great.

THX!

 

[NMPaul]

As far as Muzzle loaders go, you can get a lot of information out of the ML hunting forum.

As far as NM, just about anything goes. Scopes, sabots, pelletized powder.

Good basic ML would be a TC Omega, with a 2x7 scope on it and if your hunting elk something like a 280 grain sabot.
















***********************************

Margaret Thatcher: "The trouble with Socialism is, sooner or later you run out of other people's money."


"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own." - Unknown

 

[hntbambi]

I have hunted a few decades with muzzleloaders and once you become familiar with them, you can load them pretty quickly. With the moderm muzzleloader, reload time is still about the same as the old time sidelocks. Powder choices pretty much limit me on the reload time. If I use Pyrodex, I swab between shots, so that takes a 15 seconds longer. But using Blackhorn 209, reloads are very fast.

The effective range of muzzleloaders is limited by the shooter's ability. With good optics and shooting ability, stretching the effective range of muzzleloaders to 250 and 300 yards (depending on the size of the game) is not unheard of. My Omega will shoot a 4" group at 300 yards when I do my part. Learning the ballistics of your load is very important as at long range the drop is significant. I use a multi reticle scope so I don't have to think in the field as much.

The only non legal muzzleloader here in NM is smokeless powder. Yes, there are muzzleloaders designed to use smokeless. Also if you draw a restricted muzzleloader deer hunt the equipment is limited:

"Restricted Muzzleloader (for certain deer hunts)
Any muzzle-loading rifle (including a smoothbore flintlock or musket) using open sights in which the charge and projectile are loaded through the muzzle. Only black powder, Pyrodex, or an equivalent substitute may be used. In-line ignition, pelleted powder, sabots, belted bullets, multiple projectiles and scopes are illegal."

Think about what hunt you want to put in for and determine what gun type will suit your needs.

 

[LaGriz]

I used a 54cal. lyman deerstalker on my restricted muzzelader
hunt in 2007.My pet load is 90 gr. of tripple seven and a patched
222 gr.round ball. The peep sight and(fine)front sight from willams give me good results to 125 yards +. At a distance of
80+ yards the ball broke ribs and both shoulders on a 230# deer!
Still intact it was just under the hide on the far side.
My knight Big Horn loves the 250 gr.TC shockwave bonded with
the super slide sabot.With 110gr. of loose tripple seven and the
26" barrel I get 1 1/2" groups at 100yds.3 1/2" at 200. A 2"
high sight in at 100yds. puts me about 5" low at 200yds. the 2X7
X 33MM VX-1 is only fair.If you shop you will find some scopes
are equipped to shoot this load and can dial in.Don't skimp on the
good glass!I did take a cow elk with the Knight in 2004,but used
the power belt loads and no scope to be legal.A 45yd. shot did the job,however the weapon did not group this bullet well.The
newer inlines are easyer to clean and cap then my big horn. I
like the TC Omaga very much.You can use pellets on the fallow up
shot if a quick reload is important to you.
Remember that every shot is like a hand load in a rifle.
be consistant in the process and "mark your ramrod" once you have
the load you want.Check the load (uncapped always) after ATV
rides or long horse back trip to be sure the load did not creep
down the barrel.Use the same brand of 209 primers that you sight
in with.
The mountain men killed well and often with these weapons.
You can be just as well armed and deadly.
Good Hunting!

 

[NMPaul]

Great post Lagriz, would love to hear more about that buck you killed.
Sounds like a nice one.




***********************************

Margaret Thatcher: "The trouble with Socialism is, sooner or later you run out of other people's money."


"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own." - Unknown

 

[Califelkslayer]

robin, great advice so far. go to the ML forum. I followed Frontier Gander's advice, got a CVA Accura, and took a nice bull in NV this year. BUT when I hunt NM, It'll have a scope on it.

1" groups scoped, -3" groups with open sights. 100 gr BH209, 338 gr Powerbelt, deadly at 140 yds!!!!!!