Legal in Washington?

[nwhunter]

I'm not much of a muzzie guy but drew the multi elk tag so snooping around for a smokepole and want to be sure its legal in our state. The thompson center omega 50 cal shoots 209 primers and has a closed breech when primed so is that legal in Washington?Also any input on this gun or suggestions on what to get or not get. Thanks nwhunter

[lokidog]

No.  No 209's allowed.

[Sabotloader]

I'm not much of a muzzie guy but drew the multi elk tag so snooping around for a smokepole and want to be sure its legal in our state. The thompson center omega 50 cal shoots 209 primers and has a closed breech when primed so is that legal in Washington?Also any input on this gun or suggestions on what to get or not get. Thanks nwhunter

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho have simular ML rules, in that you are not allowed to use any type primer for ignition purposes.  During ML season you must use a percussion cap or Flint lock.

Most inline rifles produced these days do not fit the rules.  Three that do are the TC Northwest  Hunter, a Traditions Vortek, and Knight is again offering a Big Horn, which is a plunger gun and works very well for the Oregon Territory rules.

Another option is a Knight DISC rifle.  It is a rifle intended to be shot with a 209 primer, but Knight offers a Western Kit to modifiy the bolt operated gun to shoot percussion caps.



With the kit in place the gun meets the open breech and percussion cap ignition requirements.

Open Breech

[Armadillo]

yeah 209's are so reliable and so "modern" that its just closing the gap between a traditional smokepole and a centerfire therefore we cant use them. Any hammerlocks can be used though

[Armadillo]

SabotLoader..Nice info! So does the bolt stay there to ignite the cap and eject it? or do you work the bolt also to eject the cap? and (assuming thats your gun pictured) have you had any problems with misfiring or hangfires?

[MtnMuley]

You're going to be pretty limited on the choises that are legal here in WA. My best recommendation would be to try and find a Thompson Center Black Diamond XR.  They discontinued that model, but they are a great muzzy, that I've seen several kills in the 100-150 yd range.  Also, the Knight Bighorn or Wolverine are also very good muzzys.  I've also owned Traditions and CVA's, but would definately recommend the T/C Black Diamond over any.

[Sabotloader]

SabotLoader..Nice info! So does the bolt stay there to ignite the cap and eject it? or do you work the bolt also to eject the cap? and (assuming thats your gun pictured) have you had any problems with misfiring or hangfires?

No the bolt will not extract and or eject it.  If you have shot the rifle and the cap has been used NORMALLY... it will just fall out of the breech area when you tip the gun to the side.

I shoot T7-3f and I use #11 mag primers.  The 3f powder is much easier to ignite and drops right down on the nose of the nipple so the heat of the cap gets right to the powder.  I have not had a misfire or hangfire, but to be honest with you I have only been testing it for a short time... did not know that Knight even offered the kit until I started to talking to Washatonian about it.  I also can tell you I will use that kit or part of it to hunt with in Idaho this year.

I should also tell you, you might not have to buy the whole kit, we will know for sure in the next couple of weeks.  You may be able just to buy a Knight DISC and then use the regular FPJ bolt as you see in my rifle with a different breech plug.  Washatonian has ordered some breech plugs from Knight and it they work like I think they will then you will only need to replace the BP as I have done in my DISC.

The FPJ breech offers more protection from weather, debris, and even blowback than does the Western Kit bolt.  If you look at the picture of the Western bolt there is no hood extending from the bolt face.

Here is a picture of the whole kit installed in a DISC…



Should mention the scope has to come off for ML season.  I use this rifle for all seasons in Idaho, but when ML season gets here the scope is removed.

Here is a picture with the FPJ bolt installed…



This picture shows how far the hammer comes out of the face of the bolt so it has enough reach to get the cap…

[whacker1]

nwhunter - if you decide to look at used guns.  The Remington 700ML in .50 and .54 were also popular in the late 90's and early 2000's and conform with said requirements for WA.  I have a .54 that I like from Remington. 

[Sabotloader]

nwhunter - if you decide to look at used guns.  The Remington 700ML in .50 and .54 were also popular in the late 90's and early 2000's and conform with said requirements for WA.  I have a .54 that I like from Remington.

And I would add the older Remington 700 ML's were/are probably one of the best ML's of the time... great gun.

Another gun you might look for are Whites.  They are very good NW legal guns also... Hard to find though and kind of pricey - but worth it.

[MtnMuley]

Sabotloader, you seem very knowledgable on muzzys.  What's your take on the Black Diamond XRs?  For some reason, everybody I know has switched and they all shoot incredible, even at long distance.

[Sabotloader]

Sabotloader, you seem very knowledgable on muzzys.  What's your take on the Black Diamond XRs?  For some reason, everybody I know has switched and they all shoot incredible, even at long distance.

I am sure that point could be debated a bunch....

TC Black Diamond is/was an excellent gun - the only knock I would have on the Black Diamond, whether it be the regular Black Diamond or the XR, is that they are really dirty over a given number of shots.... Which probably has nothing to do with hunting.  The barrel on the BD-XR is the predessor to the Omega and it is very acccurate.  Even though I have or had several TC's the QLA does cause me some concerns at times especially when it comes to shooting conicals.

For many years this was my ML of choice for Idaho ML season.... It is a 50 cal Green Mountain - Long Range Hunter SS fast twist barrel. I called it my Idaho White as for a time in Idaho we could not use an inline.

[huntnnw]

+1 on the BlackDiamond

[carpsniperg2]

The xr's are great guns I have killed more then a few deer with mine. I prefer a bolt action to a slide action. That is why my #1 gun now is the cva elkhorn. I still sight the xr in every year as a backup gun. They both shoot very well.

[nwhunter]

Great info guys thanks. I will keep looking around and see what I find. Just what I need is another gun to buy and figure out. nwhunter

[carpsniperg2]

You got lot's of help on here, it will help with the curve