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I want to get into black powder with a historical rifle but I would need someting accurate enough to hunt with. Any suggestions for models I might take a look at?
I'll be totally honest here. Old-School muzzle loaders belong on the wall or in the safe as an investment. Not used for hunting outdoors in todays age of VASTLY superior in-line muzzle loaders that can easily shoot sub 2 inch groups at 100 yards (with a scope under $100).
I agree that the older examples are more than capable at taking a deer. If the name of the game is hunting and doing Civil War Reenactments, then by all means go with a old-school firearm. Otherwise I'd personally spend the cash on a firearm with current technology.Yes, and everyone hunting with a long bow or recurve should trade them in for crossbows. Come on, I like hunting with my inline too, but I have killed my share of deer with my flintlock, percussion, and cap and ball revolver and still hunt with all of them. It depends on what type of black powder hunting you want to do.
I agree with you Mike. You just need to know the limitations of what your hunting with and adjust accordingly.I'll be totally honest here. Old-School muzzle loaders belong on the wall or in the safe as an investment. Not used for hunting outdoors in todays age of VASTLY superior in-line muzzle loaders that can easily shoot sub 2 inch groups at 100 yards (with a scope under $100).
Yes, and everyone hunting with a long bow or recurve should trade them in for crossbows. Come on, I like hunting with my inline too, but I have killed my share of deer with my flintlock, percussion, and cap and ball revolver and still hunt with all of them. It depends on what type of black powder hunting you want to do.
Not being trained in the practice of teaching nor diplomicy, I can only say that such willful ignorance is, sadly, not as rare as it use to be.I'll be totally honest here. Old-School muzzle loaders belong on the wall or in the safe as an investment. Not used for hunting outdoors in todays age of VASTLY superior in-line muzzle loaders that can easily shoot sub 2 inch groups at 100 yards (with a scope under $100).
My Father gave me one of his old Thompson .50cal Percussion Cap Muzzle Loaders about 10 years ago. I shot it a few times, and...
... cursed at the sub par groups.
... cursed at not being able to mount a scope.
... had hang fires where the percussion cap failed to ignite the powder charge (209 primers are vastly better in the new in-lines).
... had to use a powder measure to actually measure the charge (vs using the preformed pellets for the in-line muzzle loaders).
... had extreme difficulty removing a bullet after it was loaded into the barrel.
... cursed every time I got home having to spend damn near 2 hours to get it completely clean.
I bought a CVA Optima Pro a few years back, and got it for less than 300 bucks with the stainless steel Bergara Barrel. It will fire the PowerBelt Platinum Bullets with a Magnum 150 Grain Powder Charge (I found the standard Copper PowerBelts were more accurate with a 130 Powder Charge) out to 250 yards to easily take down game.
I zeroed mine at 150 yards so the bullet trajectory goes from 4 Inches High at 100 yards to 6 Inches Low at 225 yards. At 250 Yards it drops 14 Inches, so I'd just aim at the top of a bucks back to put it into the vitals.
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After taking the CVA out to the range twice (the pic you see above was with the stock fiber optic Sights on it's initial outing, I was averaging 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with a cheap 60 dollar Bushnell Hunting Scope. I handed my Father his old muzzle loader back, thanking him for exposing me to the intolerable crankiness of those period firearms.
There is a reason why many states now allow the newer in-line muzzle loaders for hunting... it's because they are just plain easier to use, more accurate, and will get more Hunters to purchase Muzzle Loader Season Tags on their Hunting Licenses. ;-)
P.S. My first Buck was taken with this Muzzleloader at approx 220 yards. It dopped like a Silhouette Target sitting on a rug that a guy just yanked out from under it. Literally... KABOOM!!!! FLOP! I was very impressed, as was my happy Pappy!![]()