Planning to buy a Knight this week Bighorn vs Disc Extreme thoughts?

[Westside88]

I'd planned to purchase a muzzleloader earlier this summer, but some things came up with the kids and my gun money got spent on other things. So here I am finally ready to do it. I looked at and handled every gun I could and I have it narrowed down to either a Bighorn Western with thumb hole stock or a disc extreme western with thumb hole stock. I've received some advice from very reputable people about the flexibility of the disc gun if I were to hunt in other states as well as the fact it has a bolt.  On the other hand it's about 25% more and I have no immediate plans outside Washington or Idaho.  I'm wondering if there is any other input. I think I'll be happy enough either way, just looking for some last minute input, thanks

[The100Road]

I have the Disc Extreme thumbhole and really like it so far. Like you said, Dont think you can really go wrong either way. Hook up with Sabotloader and he can tell you more then you would ever want to know.

[Sabotloader]

I'd planned to purchase a muzzleloader earlier this summer, but some things came up with the kids and my gun money got spent on other things. So here I am finally ready to do it. I looked at and handled every gun I could and I have it narrowed down to either a Bighorn Western with thumb hole stock or a disc extreme western with thumb hole stock. I've received some advice from very reputable people about the flexibility of the disc gun if I were to hunt in other states as well as the fact it has a bolt.  On the other hand it's about 25% more and I have no immediate plans outside Washington or Idaho.  I'm wondering if there is any other input. I think I'll be happy enough either way, just looking for some last minute input, thanks

Well, I was going to say that the added versatility of the DISC was well worth the difference.  + planning a little ahead might also be worth the added expense.

Either gun will work very well but I would go with the DISC.

When you get ready you might check the Sportsmans Guide on line for which ever one you want they have some outstanding deals going right now.

[Firedogg]

Big J's Outdoor in Orting has the Bighorn on sale for $349 and the Disc Extreme for $369.

  I got the Bighorn last year and for shooting iron sites for the first time in a long time I was real happy with how it shot. Easily in the kill zone at 100 yards unsupported. Either is a good choice.

[Elk whack master]

X2 on the disc with thumbhole. Makes for nice carrying and a good hold when shooting. Really accurate! 200yrds no problem. 100 yards bullet hits on top of sight and 200 yrds 4"drop.

[Wolfdog2314]

I started with a bighorn and upgraded to the disc with thumb hole. The thumb hole is a must. Also the breach on the disc is also a lot less "open". It's really only the size of a pinky nail and it's off to the side. A lot more protection for your cap.

Only negative to the disc is the weight and size compared to the bighorn. But I don't mind it.

110 grains triple 7 and a 300grain bloodline bullet was the nice combo for mine.

Good luck.

[CoyoteChuck52]

Disc Extreme  hands down your flavor of stock option

[Maverick]

I have the bighorn with thumb hole and love it. If anyone hears of sportsmans or anywhere online I can buy one when there's a good sale let me know cause I need another for my girlfriend.

[usmc74]

I have the Bighorn.  (3 of them)  Bought 1 and liked it, bought another for the thumbhole stock model, then bought a new stainless barrel and built a laminated stock thumbhole rifle with a Boyd's stock.

[Westside88]

Thanks for all the input. I'm feeling even better that either will be good, I'm starting to lean towards the disc if I can find a reasonable deal. I'll check out some of the places mentioned. Thanks

[usmc74]

My bighorn stainless sitting in the Boyd's stock

[Westside88]

Thanks for all the advice I've received. I decided to buy a Disc gun and bought the last one today at Sportsmans Warehouse. I didn't have much time so I didn't buy any of the other things I'll need. I just wanted to make sure to get it while I could. I'll be posting later looking for advice on all the misc. items needed. Again thanks everyone

[Sabotloader]

Thanks for all the advice I've received. I decided to buy a Disc gun and bought the last one today at Sportsmans Warehouse. I didn't have much time so I didn't buy any of the other things I'll need. I just wanted to make sure to get it while I could. I'll be posting later looking for advice on all the misc. items needed. Again thanks everyone

One of the first things I would ask you to do is to open the bolt and then pull the trigger as you are lowering the bolt. Next look at the open are at the end of the bolt and see how far the hammer is extended out of the face of the bolt and most importantly - How far is it from the top of the nipple?  It should almost touch the nipple or even appear to be resting on the nipple.

I am not sure which cap you might choose to use - #11 or Musket - I would suggest a #11 MAG cap.  I would also suggest the next time you return to Sportsmans see if you can find some RWS 1075+ caps.  Sportsmans normally carry these caps. They are just a tad bit hotter than CCI #11 Mag caps.  Both of the mentioned caps equal the heat of a the Musket caps being sold today.  When you get the caps and I would suggest a Traditions #11 capper that looks like this:





Then put  a few caps in the capper go out in the garage or a place of your choice place a cap on the nipple and fire it to verify that the rifle will ignite the cap.  Try three of them.  If it shoots you have cleared a very big hurdle - if it doesn't it is not a difficult fix.

Also do not take your bolt apart until you a familiar with how to do it and how to put it back together. It is a simple operation but it helps to know how to do it.

mike

[Westside88]

I did as you suggested, it basically looks like it's touching. I'll try and pick up the caps you suggested. The guy at the store was trying to convince me musket caps were way better because they burn hotter.  I've seen a lot of what you've posted about the #11's so I'll give them a shot. What other items should I be looking for? So muzzle loader use a specific cleaning kit or just a brush for what I have?
From what I've gathered on here it sounds like triple seven loose powder is better than pellets. As for bullets bloodlines? Barnes? Is a 300 grain a good place to start or 275?  I plan to hunt elk on the west side.

[Sabotloader]

I did as you suggested, it basically looks like it's touching.

Great! then basically you are in good shape - the caps will go boom!

I'll try and pick up the caps you suggested. The guy at the store was trying to convince me musket caps were way better because they burn hotter.

For some reason Musket caps are the choice in in Washington - they work very well for a lot of people.  I just feel there are some real advantageous for #11's.  One of the biggest in a Knight bolt the #11 capper fits so much better and it seems to me that more of the heat and pressure of the #11 is confined in the nipple and through to the breech.  If you look at your breech plug you will se the powder drops right to the base of the nipple - another reason I use T7-3f - it's granules are so small they definitely rest on the nose of the nipple. 

I've seen a lot of what you've posted about the #11's so I'll give me a shot. What other items should I be looking for?

A friend of mine create a list once exactly for this question - let me see if it is still posted. It is a huge read so I will just post an address to it. Hope that is OK with this site.

http://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=19040

So muzzle loader use a specific cleaning kit or just a brush for what I have?
From what I've gathered on here it sounds like triple seven loose powder is better than pellets. As for bullets bloodlines? Barnes? Is a 300 grain a good place to start or 275?  I plan to hunt elk on the west side.

I use a range rod with a Spin-jag 'Original' attached, I use regular blue Windex patches, Birchwood Case 2-in-1 Bore Cleaner and Montana X-treme Bore Conditioner and a 50-54 cal. Bore Snake to clean the bore. Very seldom use a brush any longer.  Sabots do not leave the fouling that they use to. And T7 is water soluble so it is easy to remove.  The Windex with ammonia does an excellent job of dissolving T7 residue.

One thing I would throw out there and the reason I use Montana BC is that is a synthetic oil.  I would suggest to not to use any petroleum based oil in the bore and especially keep oils with Teflon out of the bore. Both Teflon and petroleum burn and can create a sticky mess.

As with the choice of caps - choice of bullets get even more challenging. Lot of real good people use and totally believe in Barnes bullets and there is not doubt that they are good.  In the pre-ML days I would choose a Nosler Partition all-day over a Barnes and today hunting with a ML - I really prefer the Lehigh/Bloodline and eventually I would say to follow Lehigh Defenses web-site for their introduction of the 275/300 CF bullet.

http://www.lehighdefense.com/collections/bullets

This new bullet with the new design is probably a slightly better bullet than the Boodlines that he build for Knight + shipping is greatly less than Knight.

One more thought for you on bullets.  A couple of years back I found this bullet on his website...

http://www.lehighdefense.com/collections/bullets/products/458-controlled-fracturing-305gr-bullet?variant=1073755480

It is a .458x305 grain bullet built for the 45-70 rifle.  It is a long bullet, but it will stabilize in a 1-28 twist if you shoot it with authority.  I shoot it with 110 grains of T7-3f powder to get the velocity up. ALSO this is a bullet built for a 45-70 so it is slightly less in diameter than a normal ML bullet - instead of using a .458 x 50 sabot I use a MMP HPH-24 sabot (a .452x50 sabot) - this sabot will grip the bore and the bullet tighter insuring no slippage of the bullet in the sabot and no slippage by the sabot in the bore.

The bullet works very well on the thicker skinned elk and equally well on a thin skinned 4x4 Whitetail buck. One day I was frustrated elk hunter when this basketball sized Whitetail rack appeared on the scene about 60 yards out.  Frustration took over and I shot the deer.

Anyway it is a great bullet also.

In my mind the 275gr. Bloodline is the best all around bullet of the bunch... but I will hang on the 305's