muzzleloader question

[dlgobeavs]

Somebody told me one time that the only stupid question was the one you didn't ask. I believe them so here it goes. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Growing up my Dad/Uncle/Grandpa..etc... didn't hunt at all. So as a result I didn't get to hunt, and don't have that base hunting knowledge that all of you seem to posess. As an adult I have taught myself to duck hunt (I even have a dog that will bring 'em back to me ... although I really can't take credit for a lab that wants to retrieve.. he knew that before he was born).

My question is this:

Can anyone give me some general feedback/info on muzzleloader hunting for deer/elk? What type of gun qualifies? When is the season? Is it a "draw" hunt... can you purchase a general season pass? How does it compare to rifle hunting? My gut tells me that it might be a really fun hunt because you seem to be hunting during the rut... which otherwise seems limited to bow hunters.

I own a 30.06 and have spent many days hiking... but with no hunting success yet.

Any help/insight/good stories would be great.

Good hunting everyone... and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!!

Dave

[Lured In]

I will try to point you in the right direction, but be sure to do a search on ifish for both muzzleloader and black powder for more info.

In Oregon there is not a general muzzleloader season, so you will have to get into the controlled hunt fray. You can; however, use it during general rifle seasons instead of a centerfire rifle.

There are several restrictions that are reasonably outlined in the Oregon Big Game regulations. BE SURE TO READ THEM!

In general though, you must have a caliber larger than .50 cal for elk and larger than .45 cal for deer and antelope. The gun must have an exposed ignition, meaning the cap (primer) cannot be hidden under some permanent part of the gun. This eliminates many of the modern inline muzzleloaders that are being made today. That said, some inlines do qualify under the Oregon regs, although I have no idea how or which ones. Most of the folks I know shoot a "side lock". This style utilizes #11 percussion caps or musket caps and has a traditional hammer. Flintlocks also are legal under the OR regs.

You must use open iron sights or iron peep sights. No fiber optics or scopes during muzzleloader only seasons.

As far as powder goes, you can you either black powder or a black powder substitute, such as Pyrodex, but it must be loose. Pelletized powders are not allowed.

Lastly, no sabots or plastic based projectiles. So that leave patched round ball and solid lead conicals.

As far as the hunting itself it is a blast, but can be challenging in nasty weather. The upside is that most muzzleloader hunts are great times to be hunting such as during the rut for deer or late season elk.

I hope that helps. A good all around gun is a Hawken replica. Thompson Center (T/C), CVA, Traditions and Cabela's all make a legal rifles based on this gun.

Good luck.

[Martin85]

If you buy one buy a Thompson Center I like it best. I shot competitions through the 80's and won two T/C 50 cal rifles and one CVA 50 and all were built from kits but the T/C was what I competed with and being bias that's still what I think was the best rifle for under $150 back then.

[Big TULE]

There is an outdoor store in longview that you can buy a knight bighorn that is legal to shoot in WA and OR. But to shoot it in OR you have to remove the factory fiber optics. It is the muzzle loader of choice in my camp...

[dlgobeavs]

Thanks for the info!... I'm really looking forward to next season.

Dave

[Don Becker]

Dave

Lured-in might have inadvertently misled you a little when he said " . . . you must have a caliber larger than .50 cal for elk and larger than .45 cal for deer and antelope. . . . "

Read that as .50 cal or larger for elk and .45 cal or larger for deer.

My partners and I have hunted deer and elk with smokepoles for years (we also rifle-hunt) and we love it. Some of us rifle-hunted for deer this year and some of us smokepole-hunted. Four of us will be hunting 214M (Trask) starting Dec 13, through the end of the year. The last time we had this hunt, we took three elk for the five of us.

If you think you would be interested, e-mail me and I will talk with my partners about inviting you to come out to our elk camp one evening to enjoy the evening meal with us and to talk "smokepole." Be forewarned though . . . alongwith the "good information" we reserve the right to throw-in some tall tales!

Don

[ 11-29-2003, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Don Becker ]

[Lured In]

Don...thanks for reading between my extremely gray lines. :grin:

[Don Becker]

Think nothing of it . . . how's that sayin' go . . . . " . . . takes one to correct one . . . . " Maybe that's not right but, you get the idea! Don

My son wants to start shooting my muzzleloader and I have some old pyrodex (I never liked it) left over from when I was a gun dealer. When it's gone and I need to get more powder what’s the preferred powder you all use? Black powder is hard to find and so dirty. I also have 10 or more boxes of 300gr 45ca and 5 or 6 boxes of 300gr 44ca Hornady XTP bullets that I would like to use with sabots on targets. Does anyone know where to buy sabots?

[Steelie King]

Keta,

the only powder I use is triple seven powder. It's a new black powder substitute that has been out for a couple years. I can't say enough good things about it. Last year I shot around 20 rounds without even running a wet patch through it. It leaves a slight white residue in your barrel that acts as a lubricant.

When you load it start with about 30% less than what you usually load your pyrodex at. It's got a little more "poop" than all the other powder's I've shot.

It costs about $19.00 per pound so it's spendy.

Smoked deer is the best! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[Wreckless]

I agree about the 777 it's the best!!

Don....Myself and 2 other friends have the 214m tags also. Spent Sat. scouting what turned out to be places with a little sign, but I hope to find more in the next 2 weeks. I'll be driving a Muddy maroon Ford PU with a canopy,complete with a muddy ifish sticker....say howdy!

Dave: I LOVE my Knight MK-85 50 cal. The Muzzle loader hunts I have hunted in the past ARE quality hunts. The 100m deer hunts are tough because the deer have been chased for 5 weeks before the season opens, PLUS Archery. But they can be found....especially if you have access to some private land . Muzzle loader hunting is more like archery, to me, than a rifle hunt. You've got to scout and PRACTICE!

My overpriced $.02 worth.

[Lured In]

You folks shooting the Tripe 7, is it true you need a hotter cap(mag #11 or musket) or 209 primer to light the stuff? I have never tried it, but may have to play with it this summer. But there is something about that rotten egg smell in the morning that is hard to give up. :shocked: :grin:

Keta...most sporting goods stores around here sell just the sabot casings in bulk. You can also order them from Cabela's among other places.

[sharptooth]

I found a kit at Bi-Mart for $199. There is a Muzzleloading specialty store called The Powder Horn Gun Shop in Forest Grove. They are experts on "Muzzle Loaders". They are honest and acurate with information, and no bull. The owner is Don I think. If you tell him Sal sent you he may give you a discount or charge you doble!!

503-357-4570
Powder Horn Gun Shop Inc
2835 19th Avenue
Forest Grove, OR 97116

I wish Oregon Had a second tag oportunity for Muzzle loader so I could hunt on a second tag.

I have toyed with the idea of going to WA for a muzzleloading season but it's spendy for a TAG and license.

Any input to ODFW to have multiple tag oportunity!!

White pages with phone and irections

[Steelie King]

Lured In

I have found that 777 is probably one of the fastest lighting black powder substitues with the #11 caps that's on the market. Of course you'll get a little faster with the musket cap because of the amount of flame it provides. As you know with the regs. you cant use the 209 primer in a muzzle loader only season. But if your using your "smoker" in a general rifle seson then the 209 cap is even better.
The more fire getting to the powder the better!!

SMOKED GAME, THE BEST!

[Lured In]

Hmmm...might have to give it a whirl next year. Have any of you guys run rounds through a chrono with it to see if you getting higher muzzle velocity vs. blackpowder? Just curious.

[Radke]

I have spent quite a bit of time running various rounds and powder combinations through my wife's MK-85. Generally I get a bit more speed out of Pyrodex than actual blackpowder, but it isn't significant. Heck, I can load two identical combinations and for some reason or another, get 100 fps difference. Using my standard load of 120 gr powder & 300 gr slug (.50 cal), I get about 1850 fps.

[Don Becker]

Wreckless . . . I'll be in the (also muddy) black Cherokee Limited . . . . "keep ur powder dry . . ." Don

[steelhooked]

bought mine from gun works in springfield. they are the biggest muzzleloader supply store on the west coast. their website is www.thegunworks.com. they are very helpfull in choosing your gun and staying in your price range.