legality of pellets in Wa

[Mike450r]

I got an ad booklet from Cabelas in the mail and I know not to put a lot of stock in their knowledge of WDFW laws but they did have a section referring to muzzleloading laws for all states.

It stated that pellets are not allowed in Wa. State which I had never heard before so I thought I would look into it a little.  I know a call to WDFW is the right thing to do but I haven't muzzleloaded in a few years and don't plan to anytime soon so I figured just some online research for now, however I found the information below interesting which I got out of the regs.

a.   Muzzleloader: A firearm that is
loaded from the muzzle and uses black
powder or a black powder substitute as
recommended by the manufacturer for
use in all muzzleloading firearms.

I am still researching but I do not think that pellets are recommended for use in ALL muzzleloading firearms, so maybe Cabelas got it right?  I know I have used them and a lot of people do, but are they legal?  Everything I am finding so far recommends using pellets in inline rifles only which would seem to show pellets may be illegal in Wa.

[syoungs]

I have never heard this. I'm on my way to buy a box of pellets now, I put more faith in my local spoetsmans warehouse then cabelas, I'll ask when I'm there to verify.

[10thmountainarcher]

Pellets are black powder or a substitute. Even if the Pellet itself wasn't recommended, the make up of the pellet should be exactly the same as the loose powder.

[oneshot12]

as far as i know the pellets are only good for the in line  rifles .  folks been using them for a long time here abouts   never had no problems any of us know about   as far as powder that is pretty much the very best thing for the traditional  muzzle loaders.  i know first hand the pellets dont work very well   watched a buddy fuss over them at the range one day finely   had to but some 4 f down the nipple to get it to go off

 

[bobcat]

Legal

[Bob33]

Pellets are legal in Washington.

[Blacktail Sniper]

I have never heard this. I'm on my way to buy a box of pellets now, I put more faith in my local spoetsmans warehouse then cabelas, I'll ask when I'm there to verify.

I really wouldn't trust either one as my legal reference source....

[10thmountainarcher]

as far as i know the pellets are only good for the in line  rifles .  folks been using them for a long time here abouts   never had no problems any of us know about   as far as powder that is pretty much the very best thing for the traditional  muzzle loaders.  i know first hand the pellets dont work very well   watched a buddy fuss over them at the range one day finely   had to but some 4 f down the nipple to get it to go off

I've had two sidelock style percussion cap muzzleloaders and have shot pellets in them just fine.  The #11 cap wasn't good at igniting it, but Musket caps push a little more spark to the powder.

[Vulcan]

I got the same catalog; I think it refered to use of pellets in regards to hunting and not general use.  That said, I'm from CA and have no idea about many laws in WA.

[oneshot12]

as far as i know the pellets are only good for the in line  rifles .  folks been using them for a long time here abouts   never had no problems any of us know about   as far as powder that is pretty much the very best thing for the traditional  muzzle loaders.  i know first hand the pellets dont work very well   watched a buddy fuss over them at the range one day finely   had to but some 4 f down the nipple to get it to go off

I've had two sidelock style percussion cap muzzleloaders and have shot pellets in them just fine.  The #11 cap wasn't good at igniting it, but Musket caps push a little more spark to the powder.

yep that just what he was using on his  side lock, guess maybe if he had bee using the musket caps  might have been a different  story,  i have never used them but he wasnt to impressed at the time  guess he might have better  done a bit more research be for trying them out  with the number 11 cap    so your saying if you use the musket capo they work out fine then   i will pass that along to my friend may be he will give it another go

[Mike450r]

I sent an email to WDFW asking for their interpretation.  Here is what Hodgdon's website had to say. 

Triple Seven and Pyrodex Pellets are designed for use only in newly manufactured muzzleloading, in-line rifles of 50 caliber, 54 caliber, and 45 caliber. Use Triple Seven only in a 209 primer ignition system. 

I am not saying legal or not at this point but this doesn't look like recommended by the manufacturer for use in ALL muzzleloading firearms to me.   

[oneshot12]

i know the black horn 209 powder  says its primarily for the 209 primer ignition system  and will not work well with the # 11 caps and has had some problem with the musket caps also   .as i said  folks been using the musket caps and pellets  for some time now with no issues   on the in lines  guess it depends on what you want to shoot in your rifle is about all

[Mike450r]

i know the black horn 209 powder  says its primarily for the 209 primer ignition system  and will not work well with the # 11 caps and has had some problem with the musket caps also   .as i said  folks been using the musket caps and pellets  for some time now with no issues   on the in lines  guess it depends on what you want to shoot in your rifle is about all

I am talking legality,  not functionality.

[oneshot12]

well if it loaded from the muzzle its correct     powder form or pellets  as long as it is what the gun is designed to shoot  it is a matter of personal preference    the same as just what size and type of powder you decide to use in your muzzle loader .as lone as its not smokeless powder is the point they are trying to  make . the ignition system for muzzle loader system it the main issue   no 290 primers period.   that is unless you decide to shoot modern  season then have at it put the scope on  use the 209 system or the disc  its not a muzzle loader then  but for the black powder season it must be a #11  or muscat cap  and black powder or the substitutes  pellet or powder form
 

[Mike450r]

well if it loaded from the muzzle its correct     powder form or pellets  as long as it is what the gun is designed to shoot  it is a matter of personal preference    the same as just what size and type of powder you decide to use in your muzzle loader .as lone as its not smokeless powder is the point they are trying to  make . the ignition system for muzzle loader system it the main issue   no 290 primers period.   that is unless you decide to shoot modern  season then have at it put the scope on  use the 209 system or the disc  its not a muzzle loader then  but for the black powder season it must be a #11  or muscat cap  and black powder or the substitutes  pellet or powder form

I am thinking more and more that this is something that officers are just ignorant to which happens a lot, case in point would be a lot of leo are not aware of the exceptions for concealed carry.

The WAC is clear to me that black powder substitutes must be recommended by the manufacturer for use in all muzzleloading firearms to be legal.  I don't see any other way to read it.

  I am still waiting for a response from WDFW but I presume Cabelas checked with them before printing their information.  I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out pellets are illegal in Washington's attempts to keep muzzleloading as a primitive method.

[bobcat]

I'm confused to how you are reading it to say pellets are not legal. The law doesn't even differentiate between loose powder and pellets.

To meet the requirements a muzzleloader must use black powder or a black powder substitute. Pyrodex, Triple 7, and others are black powder substitutes. They are legal, whether in loose or pellet form.

Don't make this more complicated than it is. If the state intended for pellets to be illegal, the law would specifically say so.

[Bob33]

If you literally interpret WAC 232-12-051 as written, a conclusion could be reached that since the powder company does not recommend it for use in ALL muzzleloaders, then it is not legal.

I seriously doubt that is the intent of the WAC. I suspect that pellets were not even around when that portion of the WAC was written. I have never heard of anyone being cited for using pellets in Washington.

You cannot escape the possibility that some officer, somewhere, sometime, will decide to enforce this literally as you have done, and cite you. A letter from WDFW will do you no good, if the information provided conflicts with a judge's view. That's been proven on here, many times.

You could have 50 officers tell you they are legal, but the 51st may view it otherwise.

Your options as I see them are (a) go ahead and use the pellets with 99.99% confidence that you will never have an issue, or (b) use something else.

[oneshot12]

   i would go along with just that idea as well