New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?

[Fshnpole]

So I drew the MS elk tag and thought why not get a muzzleloader to try this year.  I have been looking at inexpensive used ones, but have a couple dumb questions.  I think i figured out the open breach (exposed to the elements) thing, but cannot figure out how to tell what ignition system a muzzleloder uses and cannot get answers from any employee in any store I have been to.  So by looking at the breach how do you tell if it uses 209 or #10 or #11, are they interchangable?  I have seen conversions for each so it leads me to believe they are not.  Will all NW legal muzzleloaders have NW edition stamped on them?  Sorry if this is a commonly asked question but I have spent some time researching this and cannot get any answers.  Maybe it is just that dumb of a question.

Thanks in advance.

[JimmyHoffa]

A 209 is pretty big compared to the #10 and #11.
The 209 fits inside of the nipple and the #10 and #11 fit over it.  You have to swap the breech plug to go from 209 to the others.

[Fshnpole]

Thank you for the quick reply!  So the 209 will just be a hole for the primer to fit in and the 10 or 11 will have an actual nipple?

Thanks again

[JimmyHoffa]

Yes.  And the others vary in diameter slightly.  So you would need to size the right cap to the nipple.  The 10 is a little smaller than the 11. 

[Fshnpole]

Thank you for the info! Now I have to go look at them again.  I should of come here sooner after visiting several stores and asking everyone at the firearms counter at each i couldn't get an answer.  I get an answer here in just a couple minutes!  Thank you again Jimmy.

[JimmyHoffa]

For the NW legal restrictions, I tended to favor the #11 'magnum' primers.  They were made by CCI I think.  I don't know if they really bought me real improvement over the #11, but they seemed to be a little faster.  I used 100 gr of FFg and it seemed like faster ignition.

[raydog]

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/rifles/inline-muzzleloaders/cva-optima-v2-pr2024s.html?___SID=S

I don't know what your price range is, but I just recently ordered this CVA Optima from Muzzleloaders.com. I drew the multi elk too and wanted to upgrade from the CVA wolf that I had. I think it is a really well made muzzleloader. Congrats on the tag!

[fish vacuum]

The manufacturer should list the ignition system for each model on their website. Muzzle-loaders.com also has the ignition system in the description for each rifle.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[Fshnpole]

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/rifles/inline-muzzleloaders/cva-optima-v2-pr2024s.html?___SID=S

I don't know what your price range is, but I just recently ordered this CVA Optima from Muzzleloaders.com. I drew the multi elk too and wanted to upgrade from the CVA wolf that I had. I think it is a really well made muzzleloader. Congrats on the tag!

I was looking to go super cheap to see if it was something I was interested in, not sure if I will just hunt with my bow during muzzleloder season yet.  The more research I do the more I am leaning towards stepping up and buying something like this.  Thanks for the link and all the info.

[usmc74]

I moved from bow to ML after my shoulders stopped liking archery.  Pretty much the same kind of hunting, just you can shoot 100-150 yards (if you have practiced).  With bow, my closest elk was 15 yds (avatar),  with ML, 67 yds. 

[Red leaf 67]

 I am always surprised how little many sales people actually know about the product's they sell   You will get more help & advice on here 

[Fshnpole]

Well I just ordered a new CVA optima v2. I figure I should just get one that hopefully wont give me any headaches and I will enjoy it more and probably get more use out of it.  Thanks for all the info guys.

Sounds like a pretty popular rifle anyone have any ideas on a good deer/elk load?

Thanks again

[follow maggie]

Is the breech plug on the optima exposed to the weather?

[syoungs]

ive got the optima v2, it is nw legal.

Mine doesn't like pellets, at all.  I shoot a 250g hornady sst, with 110g of 3f, better accuracy then I can muster, and it hasn't had a problem putting down deer. I may step up to a 300g for elk.

There are some reviews online saying that the hornadys tend to pencil through game, I haven't experienced that first hand though.

I hated the stock sights, so I put on an adjustable peep sight, made the gun worlds easier to shoot for me.

[raydog]

Is the breech plug on the optima exposed to the weather?

If it is the Northwest optima it will be exposed.