Would you use a muzzleloader or slug gun for restricted unit hunting?

[Pete112288]

I have had this discussion with a few buddies and am curious on some more opinions.
Would you personally rather use a muzzleloader or a rifled slug gun for firearm restricted units? For deer? For elk?
For sake of arguement, lets say these are the weapon choices and say that you have both at hand and equal skill and comfort with both, both produce 2 inch groups at 100 yards and no shots will be taken past 200 yards with an average shot distance of 75 yards...
A 12 gauge rifled slug gun, scoped, pump action. Shooting the best slug available for the given species.
OR
A 50 caliber muzzleloader, (its modern season so you could cover the primer if you so desire) scoped, shooting the best bullets/sabots for the given species.
Just curious on some more points of view. What other considerations would you take into account that I didn't mention?
I personally am not sure if I had both at hand, which I would choose. I like both and have a little more experience with slug guns then the muzzleloader. I feel that modern day slug guns dont get the credit they deserve sometimes. They can be tempramental about what ammo they like but so can muzzleloaders right? Mine just happens to like the Winchester Partition Gold sabot slugs (clover leaf groups at 100 yards). These are among the highest I have seen for energy (per factory descriptions) and positive reviews. I shot my first elk with them. A big lead cow at 80 yards. She was facing me, I hit dead center neck, broke through the spine, not through a joint of vertebre either, right through the actual bone, and exited the back of her neck. A slug gun would have a better followthrough if you needed a second shot. Muzzleloaders though seem to have a much wider selection of bullet types and weights. Opinions?

[ELKBURGER]

I would be using a scoped slug gun for sure. ML's are getting very accurate but are still iffy in wet weather and a 2nd shot is time consuming. My

[BigGoonTuna]

i think i would give the nod to the shotgun, if for nothing other than the fact that you can get a quick follow up shot if necessary.  in theory one could work up a more accurate load for a muzzleloader, but at those ranges, i think it's sort of a wash.  i would not hesitate to use either, though.

[300rum]

I have had a ML go "click" in good weather on a monster at 15 yards.  I would go with the SG, for sure. 

[steen]

I personally would use a shot gun even though we have both.  I am more comfortable with it and I prefer to be able to get another quick shot in if necessary.  My husband may prefer the muzzle loader ( ours has no scope and not the modern type).  I specifically asked for the shot gun when it came up for sale (my brother in law) for me to use knowing there are places where we live that are shot gun only and thinking some other places may change also near us. 

[snowpack]

slug gun, plenty accurate and powerful with really good range and reliability.

[bobcat]

I'd use a shotgun, no doubt. Especially in wet weather. So many advantages. The biggest one being you know the gun is always going to fire when you pull the trigger. Then the fact that there's no need to fire it at the end of every day and clean it that night.

Ballistic wise I don't think there's any difference. But having a quick second shot can sure be nice sometimes.

The only reason to use a muzzleloader over a shotgun would be for the additional challenge.


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[jeffro]

Rifled slug gun, all day every day.
Accuracy, reliability, repeatiblity.
No question in my mind.
Unless your name is Shockey, use the best equipment available.

[Pete112288]

Haha, all of you guys have just said everything I have thought. I guess most the guys I am around here still dont have much experience with slug guns, when they think shotguns they dont think much more of the ol rilfed slugs, not to mention most of em love thier muzzleloader.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Personally, I'd go muzzle loader. But tat's just me. More bullet choices and slightly longer range.

[Maverick]

Idk where your hunting but all the firearm restriction areas I know of are shotgun and archery only! Personally I'd use a shotgun over a muzzle loader

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Idk where your hunting but all the firearm restriction areas I know of are shotgun and archery only! Personally I'd use a shotgun over a muzzle loader

I believe the Battleground unit allows muzzle loaders. Or it used to.

[OnHoPr]

A slug gun. Now to more explanation, while both are effective to moderate ranges and I have both types of firearms, but the muzzle loader comes out in muzzle loader season and the slug gun comes out in gun season where there are restrictions of weapon use and some times in the unrestricted zone. There are a number of slug shooters here that opt for the slug gun in certain instances like deer hunting in the thick stuff with water where tracking can be hindered and bear hunting over bait and dogs at the shorter ranges. Just for sake of info the Lightfields have a slug in 3" with a big solid meplat that has about 3,500 ft-lb of energy. That's a big smacking ka-walloping hole in the side of a critter. MI and other states don't have the restrictions on types of muzzle loader use as in WA and a couple of other states. We are allowed 209's, closed breeches, scopes and probably a few more things than in WA. Cleaning the muzzle loader can be a drudging chore after getting up at 3:00 am and scratching something while making a pot of coffee and then driving 100 miles to go hunting for the day and if you shoot a critter (say about 5:00), track, field dress, drag and drive back 100 miles, put animal up, make supper, sit down and have a cup of tea while warming, then you have to break down your gun a clean it and make sure all the water is evaporated (can wear on a barrel throughout the years) before a long nap can be about a 20+ hour day (eyelids can start to drop involuntarily). Where as the shotgun can be cleaned the next day or just a simple one or two strokes with the mop (barrel will last decades). The slug gun has repeat shots when necessary and is more reliable in firing, (though with the closed breech and 209 reliability is not a issue really unless you allowed condensation to acquire in the powder section). I have heard of more misfires in the smoke pole than the slug gun which can be a  near the end of the season on a critter instead of  . Ammo cost for the muzzle loader is considerably cheaper and can be fun to shoot with the home cast PRB, conical, or bullet for a sabot at the range, but if Blackhorn and Barnes are used, the cost is about the same. Though both firearms types need to be tested with ammo of the individual barrels liking according to conditions and plans in which the firearms will be used whether short range or long range given their perspectives.

[marty]

Muzzleloader all the way!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Idk where your hunting but all the firearm restriction areas I know of are shotgun and archery only! Personally I'd use a shotgun over a muzzle loader

Here's the official rule for firearm restricted areas. Page 81 of the regs.

"In firearm restriction areas, hunters may hunt
only during the season allowed by their tag
•
Archery tag holders may only hunt during
archery seasons with archery equipment
•
Muzzleloader tag holders may only
hunt during muzzleloader seasons with
muzzleloader equipment as defined by
department rule
•
Modern firearm tag holders may hunt
during modern firearm seasons with bows
and arrows, crossbows, muzzleloaders,
revolver-type handguns meeting
equipment restrictions, or legal shotguns
firing slugs or buckshot."

So if you have a modern or muzzleloader tag, you can hunt with a muzzleloader during any season open to your tag unless otherwise noted. But there is one big difference based on your tag. If you have a muzzleloader tag, you are restricted to "muzzleloader equipment as defined by department rule" meaning exposed nipple, no scope, etc. But if you have a modern tag it only says "muzzleloader" meaning you can use any muzzleloader you want, traditional, or modern, sealed nipple and scoped.  But it must still meet the definition of a muzzle loader.

2
It is unlawful to hunt wildlife using a
muzzleloading firearm that does not meet
the following specifications
a
A muzzleloading shotgun or rifle must
have a single or double barrel, rifled or
smooth-bored
b
A muzzleloading shotgun or rifle used
for deer must be 40 caliber or larger
Buckshot size #1 or larger may be
used in a smoothbore of60 caliber or
larger for deer.
c
A muzzleloading shotgun, rifle, or
handgun used for all other big game
must be
45 caliber or larger
d
Persons lawfully hunting small game
with a double barrel, muzzleloading
shotgun may keep both barrels loaded."