Muzzleloader of Choice

[MrFurious]

Thought it would be interseting to see what everyones using when it comes to front loaders.

I decided to go with a Savage 10ML-II for the fact that I can shoot the cleaner smokeless powders with it. Current prefered load is 42 grains of IMR-SR4759 shooting 250gr. Hornady SST's.

[Aimrite]

Ive been eyeing a newTC Omega 50 myself. It is so simple.
I need to look at Encore first.Im thinking I will get much more use out of an Encore than just a muzzle loader by itself.
Anybody have an Encore?

[madriver223]

thats one nice rifle, i want to get one in 45 cal. but right now im using a stainless knight disc rifle 50 cal. one hell of a shooter , i use 100 grs and sabotted xtp's in 44 cal 240 gr.

MR

[madriver223]

aimrite

my friend bought one last year in 50 cal (encore) it shot well but it had no significant advantage for a muzzle loader just the part where he could slap on the 25-06 barrel and ready for something else in a snap. thats nice . he took it bear hunting last year and had a bit of trouble getting it into canada because the mounty knew it could be converted to a pistol to easily. we had to prove we had no other parts so if you would like to take into the north be aware of that.


MR

[Thunderflight]

I've got an old CVA Apollo 50 cal inline. I bought it for $50 and a broken 22 cal at Swappers Day in Johnstown. The day I bought the gun another gun dealer told me that the barrel had been recalled and all I had to do was call CVA and they'd send me a new barrel. I got the barrel and mounted a scope on it.

That gun is more accurate than any slug gun I've got. I can shoot a 50 cent piece at 50 yards with it and a five inch circle at 100. I shoot the green CVA power belts with 90 grains of pyrodex.

I'm going to covert it to use the shot gun primer. CVA said after I buy the coversion kit that they'd send me the additional replacement parts for free.

I have a few friends who have Encores and Knight Disk rifles. All of them love them, but they also said that when it comes down to it my cheap gun will kill a deer just as dead as their high dollar guns.

Don't get me wrong I'd love to have one, but for the money I'm pretty happy with what I've got.

Thunderflight

[gonehunting]

i've got a remington 700 muzzleloader. it shoots very accurate and is well made. one problem i did have was mis fires due to cap not seating tight on the nipple. i sanded outside of nipple and it solved the problem.

[MrFurious]

Originally posted by Aimrite
Ive been eyeing a newTC Omega 50 myself. It is so simple.
I need to look at Encore first.Im thinking I will get much more use out of an Encore than just a muzzle loader by itself.
Anybody have an Encore?

My friend Brian just bought an Omega....great gun! If you decide to go that route, head to Sportsman's Den in Shelby as they have the best price I've seen. Brian got the stainless/laminated one for $370...thas cheaper than the price I see on most synthetic/blued ones elsewhere!

I've never really looked into the Encore, mainly because of the price. The whole interchangable barrel thing is nice, BUT with the price of their barrels you could get a whole gun for just a bit more (and we all love getting more guns).

[Caribou Dreamer2]

I like the omega muzzleloader but i would go with the encore if i was going to purchase another one just because of its mulitple uses in different calibers.

[Thunderflight]

I'd really like to get a Kentucky long rifle too.

TF

http://www.grace-collection.com/images/G8713_Kentucky_Rifle_small.JPG

[7th]

Not to start a fight and all but I like them a bit bigger .54 and up, and I also like full size heavy bullets.
In my CVA side lock .54 I use a Yank 410 gr Mine ball with 82 gr 3F Goex, Out to 150 yds I get 5" Groups off a bench and setting on the ground in a plate.
I have 2 58's and us a Yank 525 gr Mine ball with 60 gr of Goex for NSSA Shoots and this is good with my Cook & Brother's to 200 yds on a Plank target.
I have 2 CVA in-line's but leave them for the boy's and Mommy.
Sorry guy's but you will not see me waste my time with them Sabots or the deer that it was poked at, Just from what I have seen they don't do half the job that the full size heavy one's do.

[jcdflint]

50 cal. TC Hawkins in flintlock , shooting patch balls, Jeff

[zfish]

I have to agree with him. I have a TC Hawkin. Ill try to post pics of it tomorrow. Actually I got it off of a guy from this site. Beautiful gun and shoots like a dream. Really neat looking too Ive never seen one quite like it. Oh yeah its a 50 cal.

[jcdflint]

Zfish,

Is yours a flintlock? My gun has the greatest walnut! the grain is something! Its one lovely gun and a real shooter.

[zfish]

Im having a brain fart. I know its not an inline and I call it a traditional. There are 3 that I remember but I can only think of 2 of the names lol. Ill take a pic tomorrow and post a pic of it. Its really neat.

[Nut]

We will be using a Traditions Deerhunter in 50 cal this year. It is percussion cap and I havent gotten the load figured out for it yet.

I also have a CVA Bobcat that I had been using and will see if the same load works for the Deerhunter.

So much to do and so little $$$ and time.;)

[Q2XL]

i like the thompson center encore it is like caribou said a all around gun.but i have a CVA magbolt 150 that does a real good job.

[jcdflint]

NUT,

Your right, take a child hunting, I't the best thing we can do for hunting, and its a lot of fun!
You picked a good "SMOKE POLE"

[eschatts]

I have several Muzzleloaders. The one I seem to use the most is my Knight Inline. I have a few TCs which I enjoy, but don't shoot them quite as much.

Ed

[Lunker]

Knight inline .50 with the camo synthetic stock, fiber optic sights. Have never even taken a shot with it yet. I might this year.

[Lance]

I'm shooting a CVA Hawken .50 cal with TC Maxi Hunters and FFg black powder. Shoots like a champ.

[scott trout]

50 cal. thompson encore. bullseyes at 200 yards!!!!

[Troph-E-Hunter]

T/C Encore, hands down. The flexibility. There is a reason the outdoor channel always uses them.

[Troph-E-Hunter]

has anyone experience trouble with the Encore?

[10Gauge]

TC Encore .50 cal also doubles as my handgun for whitetails.....15" barrel chambered for .454 casull........also my varmint getter......24" barrel chambered for .22-250

Do yourself a favor and rework the trigger on the Encore I did mine for about $45 at my workbench. A little stoning and spring replacement gives me a nice 2.5# pull with no creep.

[10Gauge]

Only problem I've had with my Encore has been with the .454 ejector and I think this is because my hand loads are "hot". I've had to replace it a couple of times, it doesn't grab cases too well after a couple hundred rounds. I keep a few extras just in case.

Regarding the trigger work check out this website for a "do it yourself" trigger job on CD ROM! I recommend it if your a serious accuracy nut.

http://www.bellmtcs.com/TOC.htm

It is an easy mod if you are comfortable with basic handtools, simple spring replacement will make a huge difference.

Also recommend the "oversized" barrel pins for improved accuracy. The factory pin is too sloppy it allows the barrel to move within the reciever. If yor factory pin goes in and comes out with a hammer its too loose! My .22-250 accuracy improved dramatically with an oversized pin and floating the forend.

[COB]

Guess I went at it bass ackward from some of the rest of you all. I started with the Encore 209X50. Shot great and placed the bullet in tight groups but was a pain in the arse to clean. Had to take all apart, remove ejector and plug. I did like the versatility of barrel change. Liked it so well that I now have a .223, 22-250, .243, and a .270 barrel for it. I have sincce traded the 209X50 for another Encore frame. Yesterday I bought the Omega Timber SS .50 cal. I have not shot it yet but think I am going to enjoy it very much.

[5Cent]

Anyone shooting a traditions thunderbolt? I'm keeping my mossberg 500 in storage this year (can't hit the side of a barn w/ the rifled barrel) and I'm using this muzzleloader. It just became available to me today, need to shoot it soon, darn weather. Any and all opinions welcome!

Adam

[flintlock]

Longrifle Ky flintlock...shooting 80gr of FF powder and a patched roundball.

I enjoy nothing more than slipping along if the leaves will allow, or a snowfall with the flinter in hand.

I can't wait for Monday.

Good luck

[Big H]

I have the Encore, and I will be using it for gun season, as well as muzzleloader season. I think it is a great gun, and since I am using the 295 grain Powerbelts with 150 grains of 777, it really puts the hurt on them. Very accurate.

[Buckmaster]

50 cal TC Encore with 150 grains of 777 pellets and 250 grain Shockwave bullets. I can shoot quarters at 50 yards and I have a 7" drop at 200 yards off the bench. One shot, One deer.

[scrooge]

50 Cal..TC Omega...Stainless,laminated stock..777 100 gr.pellets,245gr.powerbelt bullets simmons scope

[Duffy]

.50 calibre CVA Buckhorn, 209 inline; 100 grains of 777 pellets, and 295 grain PowerBelts. Open sights.

[Mathewq2]

TC Encore. 295 gr. powerbelts and 80 gr. powder. shoots great.

[BigV]

I have an old Tompson Center Hawkins in 50 Cal that just sits in my safe now. It’s been a great gun and I have harvested many deer with it. I then went with a Remington MDL 700 in 50 Cal (for sale if interested) with a 4 X 7 Leupold scope. It just sits in the safe as well. 3 years ago I purchased the Encore SS, 50 Cal. along with a 22/250 barrel. For some reason I did not like the idea of changing the barrels and forend stock when switching from 50 Cal to 22/250. I guess I like to look into the gun safe and see 2 guns, not just extra barrels, so I sold the Encore and purchased an Omega 50 Cal. SS with thumbhole stock in 50 cal. I have a SS Leupold 3 X 9 scope mounted on it. It’s a great shooter and I have shot deer at over 175 yds with it. I use PowerBelt™ AeroTip™ 245 grain Bullets with 130 grains of Pyrodex® Pellets.

[bowtech777]

TC Encore and then just about any Knight that is Made.

[fishforfun]

knight 50 Cal disc,,,,50 cal CVA Hawken and T.C. Hawken...like the knight more.

[SP Scout]

CVA Stag Horn, shoots great at 125 yards and only cost me $85 dollars brand new from Cabela's a few years ago.

[smayle]

i have 50 cal. traditions thunderbolt i have taken 1 deer with it at 70 yds and a kid a take on the youth hunts took a buck last seasean at 128 yds. (100grains powder 245grain powerbelt)

[Woodland]

Until 2 years ago I used a CVA Apollo bought at Sam's club about 15 years ago. Paid 90.00 for it with all shooting accessories. It was quite the sweet deal. It's 50 cal. with a Bushnell scope. Pretty good shooting rifle especially for the money. 2 years ago invested in a T/C Omega 50 cal. in stainless with hardwoods synthetic stock. Added a Nikon 3-9 Prostaff scope oww oww oww
(grunting like Tim the toolman Taylor). That is one heck of a nice shooting setup.

Rick

[gamegetter1]

.50 cal T/C black diamond xtended range... wonderful gun purchased last year and i got to break it in with a nice 8pt buck. it also helped me out of getting a speeding ticket in kentucky... one lucky gun so far.