Results 1 to 10 of 13
-
June 23rd, 2019, 05:35 PM #1
Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I’d like to take advantage of the new muzzleloader overlapping deer and bear season but I don’t have a muzzleloader. Looking for input from hunters here for make/model and caliber that I could use for both.
Max open distance in an other wise heavily wooded area is 100 yards. I’m also interested if anyone has mounted a scope on theirs, I think a low power 3 to 4x is all I would want depending if I went with fixed or variable.
If there are models easier to clean, reload, better trigger, I’m interested.
Appreciate your recommendations, I don’t have a budget but quality is very important to me.
Thanks
-
June 23rd, 2019, 06:12 PM #2
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I have several Traditions 50 cal. , including a buckstalker , deerhunter , and a vortex . I have killed deer with all three .
-
June 23rd, 2019, 06:42 PM #3
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I bought a cheap Knight rifle and it’s accurate and knocks the snot out of anything I’ve shot. I needed to use high pressure sabots for best results when it came to accuracy. 100 grains of powder and 250 grain Barnes Expanders just kills deer, bears, and hawgs.
-
June 23rd, 2019, 08:27 PM #4
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I’m Traditional in muzzleloader owning, but if your going scoped modern any stainless steel in-line is going to work. Look for easy to clean, plastic stock and I think they all use shotgun primers. A good fiberglass ram rod.
They don’t have soul but they make up for it in no hassle maintenance and reliability.
I love flintlocks.The Gun is the Badge of a Free Man
-
June 23rd, 2019, 08:48 PM #5
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
Thanks. Assuming everyone is using 50 caliber; any bullet recommendations?
This is a completely new platform to me and I realized summer will go quickly and I need to get my gear together so I can start learning and practicing with it.
-
June 23rd, 2019, 08:50 PM #6
-
June 23rd, 2019, 09:25 PM #7Grand Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
- Location
-
Richboro,
Pennsylvania
(Bucks County) - Posts
- 3,053
- Rep Power
- 21474851
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
Guess I am old school and never hunted with a "modern" muzzleloader. I hunt with a Thompson center Hawken in 50 cal with pure lead cast lead bullets (which I cast myself). Don't believe anyone who says you need anything more modern with some wiz bang fancy saboted bullet to kill a deer. A 50 cal non expanding slug makes a big hole and goes right thru. I never lost a deer. The only bullet I recovered was from a button buck that was facing me dead on. Hit it in the chest and found the bullet right under the skin behind the ham (went thru all of the ham). Four to 5 feet of penetration is good enough for me.
This was with a Lee modern Minnie bullet (I think 325 Grain). I also cast the Thompson center maxi ball (I think its 375 grain). Hits even harder and never recovered a bullet. I would feel confident on these for even the largest bear. And be confident the bullet will not fail.
Unfortunately they are putting faster and faster twists on rifles now. You want one with a 48 inch twist to stabilize the sledgehammer bullets.
-
June 24th, 2019, 12:08 AM #8
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I have a .50 CVA optima pro with a Nikon Pro-staff 3x9 scope. I shoot .50 Caliber 250 grain Hornady SSTs with two pellets of RED BOX- 777 Magnum. And it is nice and tight at 100 yards. I have killed MANY deer with this rifle. I'm certain it would also kill a black bear.
-
June 24th, 2019, 08:26 AM #9
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I use a T/C Impact, ditched the cheapo scope that came on it and run a red dot now. Works really well for the thick brush I hunt in where shots are never past 50yds. Easy to clean, and easy to load. I shoot sabot rounds as well.
I can appreciate the old school mentality, but in the group of hunters I go out with, on rainy days the modern inline folks always have rifles that go bang. I know its not a catch all, but, my inline T/C has been soaked and always goes bang when I want it to.Una Salus Victis Nullam Sperare Salutem
-
June 24th, 2019, 05:12 PM #10Active Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Location
-
In the Free Part of NYS,
New York
- Posts
- 108
- Rep Power
- 822450
Re: Muzzleloader Recommendation for Deer + Bear
I use a H&R with the Huntsman barrel, with the MU Breechplug. two T7 pellets, with 240gr saboted HP TC "Cheap shots". Does the job DRT every time.
Similar Threads
-
Deer/Bear rifle under $500
By jlb0305 in forum HuntingReplies: 31Last Post: June 2nd, 2017, 08:15 AM -
Deer processing recommendation?
By bmilla35 in forum HuntingReplies: 4Last Post: October 29th, 2013, 06:54 PM -
Can I hunt deer/ bear with a 6 shot rifle in pa?
By FloridaState in forum HuntingReplies: 18Last Post: August 26th, 2010, 11:32 PM -
Need recommendation for a scope - muzzleloader and shotgun
By Scallywag in forum GeneralReplies: 3Last Post: August 17th, 2008, 12:35 AM
Bookmarks