First Muzzleloader

[emac]

So my wonderful girlfriend, she really is wonderful, got me a trip to Ireland for my birthday this year.  Which is a bad ass birthday present.  The only problem is that it is during modern firearm deer season.  Since I don't wanna miss a hunting season I have decided to muzzle load this year.  I haven't been around them very much at all and don't know much about them.  So I was just wondering if anybody on here could give me some tip on which guns i should look at buying, bullet, powder primers etc...any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks

[carpsniperg2]

Look threw and read a lot of posts in this area. There is a ton of info in hear, on all the washington legal guns+ acc. You will be shooting caps and not primers. primers are not legal here in washington. Barnes tmz's are one of the most popular and work well. A good good, and not a whole lot of money is the elkhorn by cva.

Does your girlfriend have any sisters? Yes I am married but for the right gal I might convert to polygamy   

[MtnMuley]

Start searching the muzzleloader forum.  All your questions can probably be answered there.  Just another benefit of this site --  info is everywhere.

[Blsum]

I may convert to polygamy as well. How about 2 sisters.  So where bouts do you live. I found that the best way to learn (at least for me) was to get out to the range with someone. First hand experience is a lot better then reading about it, and doing some trial and error. You could kill yourself if you error to badly. There are a few types of guns that are legal in WA. Each of them has there own following. Some like CVA, some knight, some T/C, or what ever else there is available. One thing that I will recommend is learn your limits. Your owe yourself and the animals you hunt that at the least. Good luck.

[JimmyHoffa]

If it more about not missing the season than the type of gear, I'd take a look at a modern inline muzzle loader in .50 or .54 caliber.  I would suggest imagining what kind of shot you will likely encounter, and what type of projectile to use for said shot.  My reason for saying this is, if you want to shoot 'long range' (100 yards maybe 150) you may want to use sabots with jacketed bullets, which work better with certain twist rates.  Whereas a roundball gun may not have the best barrel for a sabot.  If you plan to use it on the wetside, there are factors about weather that may help with your decision.  If you're not planning to go all traditional, it would seem like a .50 cal synthetic/stainless inline would be a good choice, with peep or fiber optic sights.  Also, the pyrodex pellets look good and quick in theory, but loose powder seems to offer more consistency when shooting.  There are a few threads here that can help answer more specifics.

[emac]

Thanks guys for the info.  To answer a few of your ?'s.  I am originally from ea. wa. but now live in seattle.  I still do 90% of my hunting back home, just cause i know where to hunt and got permission on plenty of land. I am trying to learn some spots over here so I am not having to travel all the time and with gas prices its gettn tougher to do.  I have to buddy's that hunt with muzzy's, so I will be going to the range with them a few times to make sure I am comfortable on my own.  They have giving me some good info, but I like to get as much info on something before I make a purchase.  So I will be hunting in ea. wa. so I am sure most shots will be in the 100 to 150 range, unless I can sneak up on a stupid muley.  Well if you guys fell like sharing anything else that would be great, but thanks for starting me in the right direction.  And by the way my girlfriend is an only child so I can't throw you and siblings to take you on a nice vacation..

[Ray]

I traded into a .50 cal Lyman Deerstalker. It came with powder, caps, balls, sabots and a few other gizmos. I took it out to the range and toasted it off yesterday. Today I went back and moved a little more lead. I like the lead balls. I learned a few things right away which are already posted on this board. Anyway, so far I am happy with this thing and I feel comfortable I could kill something at 50 yards without issue. As long as the powder stays dry and ignites anyway. Not sure if I'll hunt with it this season but if the opportunity permits, I have it available. These things are about as simple as can be. Just get one and start launching lead down range.

[carpsniperg2]

That's cool Ray. We need some pics

[400out]

Look threw and read a lot of posts in this area. There is a ton of info in hear, on all the washington legal guns+ acc. You will be shooting caps and not primers. primers are not legal here in washington. Barnes tmz's are one of the most popular and work well. A good good, and not a whole lot of money is the elkhorn by cva.

Does your girlfriend have any sisters? Yes I am married but for the right gal I might convert to polygamy   

[carpsniperg2]

  I forgot about that

[Ray]

That's cool Ray. We need some pics

I don't want to hijack the topic. Here's a photo of part of my setup.