Calling ALL Muzzleloaders!!

[HuntingNY]

By popular demand  , a Muzzleloader forum has been added for your viewing and posting pleasure.  ;D

[sbuff]

Very nice for us .50 or other smoke poles to chat about.

thanks,

Steve

[Fantail]

Excellent addition. 

[A6A6]

If santa clause is good to me this christmas , i will soon be posting in this Thread ... (Hopefully)

[Setters4life]

I have only one muzzleloader, a .54 cal. T/C Renegade which I purchased new back in 1981. It's the only one I've ever used and I've never seen a need for change. I think I paid $159 for it new. The only changes I made to it was remove the rear sight, added a T/C rear peep sight, and removed the square partridge front sight and replaced that with a T/C bead. I then took the T/C bead, drilled a tiny recess in the face, and added a spot of white paint for contrast. It's always proven to be accurate with one load, which I have never deviated from over the years. Here's an old target I saved that was shot from the bench using sandbags with my new peep sights at 100 yards.

[Doewhacker]

I have only one muzzleloader, a .54 cal. T/C Renegade which I purchased new back in 1981. It's the only one I've ever used and I've never seen a need for change. I think I paid $159 for it new. The only changes I made to it was remove the rear sight, added a T/C rear peep sight, and removed the square partridge front sight and replaced that with a T/C bead. I then took the T/C bead, drilled a tiny recess in the face, and added a spot of white paint for contrast. It's always proven to be accurate with one load, which I have never deviated from over the years. Here's an old target I saved that was shot from the bench using sandbags with my new peep sights at 100 yards.

Did you add the peep yourself? I have a Lyman and I have problems with the back sight. It folds down and also due to poor eyesight it blurs up on me.

[Setters4life]

Yes. All that was entailed was drilling and tapping one hole in the rear metal tang piece. It was obvious to me from the get-go that the rear square open sights were okay, but not for my eyes at ranges beyond 50 yards. Peeps are more precise and it's been on there for a long time now and served me well.

[Doewhacker]

I am going to look into adding a peep, you are the second person to recomend one. Thanks!

[Deerslayer]

Nothin' like cleaning up all those extra tags during the late season muzzy!

[NYDeere]

Nice deer Deerslayer. Is that a .50 cal?

[burmjohn]

That doe looks huge.

[Deerslayer]

Thank You and Yes, NYDeere, It's a T/C Hawkins 50 cal, she just dropped after being hit with a maxi-ball.  They grow em' big up here burmjohn, I've killed 5 or 6 does that big with the muzzy/bow over the last few years, perfect for harvesting. She was post-reproductive, no fawns and no milk either.

[Doewhacker]

Deerslayer, where abouts are you from. I live in Saratoga County, in the Town of Northumberland, near Gansevoort. I can concur on the size of deer in our area, there are some real fatties running around here.

[Deerslayer]

Hey Doewhacker, I'm in Galway but also hunt Schoharie County, Brunswick, Charlston, Northville, Otsego as well.

[NYDeere]

I have a question on muzzle loaders. I have 2 of them, a new in line and a old cap and ball type. My question is: Can I shoot the new maxi-ball and sabot type bullets or do I have to use only round balls with granual in the old gun?

Thanks, NYDeere

[BIGHUNTER2700537]

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[Deerslayer]

NYDeere: Assuming the older gun is a hawkins' style, such as the one in my picture above, You can either shoot the balls or the old Maxi-balls, NO saboted rounds. My father in law always made my maxi balls for me, they are 325 grain. I used them with 100 grains of pyrodex powder and it hits the deer like a locomotive. I also ALWAYS unscrew the nipple and tap in a little powder under the nipple. TRUST ME..... this will save you a lot of heartache from misfires!

[Doewhacker]

It would depend on the amount of twist in the barrel. With a slow twist you are better off with a patch and ball and granual. I shoot a Lyman Deerstalker with 1 in 48 twist and I use granual Black Powder and a 385gr Hornady Great plains bullet much like deerslayer. My father has a gun that has 1 in 60 twist and he uses patch and ball, it is every bit as accurate as my set up.

[NYDeere]

I bought the old gun used and don't know the rate of twist. I think it best if I use round balls in the old gun and keep the sabots for the new in line rifle. Thanks guys for your ideas.

[Mr VJP]

I have a T/C Hawken in .45 cal from 1980.  I've been using Maxi-Balls most of the time with 80 to 90 grains of Pyrodex in it.  I've also used patched balls as well as sabots.  They all seem to shoot fine for me.  But I prefer to hunt with the heavy Maxi-Balls.  They go right through a deer everytime.

[RangerClay]

Nothin' like cleaning up all those extra tags during the late season muzzy!

Great picture and a dandy doe!  I also use a traditional ML Deerslayer.

[RangerClay]

I have a question on muzzle loaders. I have 2 of them, a new in line and a old cap and ball type. My question is: Can I shoot the new maxi-ball and sabot type bullets or do I have to use only round balls with granual in the old gun?

Thanks, NYDeere

NYDeere, if the ML has rifling in the barrel try some Powerbelt bullets.  They work great in my gun.  Just don't use powder pellets, they are for in-lines.

[NYDeere]

Thanks guys for your thoughts and suggestions. I will look for the Power Belt and Maxi-balls next time I am in Gander Mountain. NYDeere.

[NYDeere]

When using the pre-lubed maxi-balls, do I have to use a patch like I do with the round ball? Thanks, NYDeere.

[Doewhacker]

nope, they seal better in the barrell than round balls.