Got my first Muzzle loader!

[whtelk]

  My daughter and son in law gave me a gift card for Christmas so I applied it to buying my first muzzle loader. I have been looking at this gun quite some time and the research on it looks good. I bought a "Traditions Evolution"
50 cal. It has the black synthetic stock with the fluted stainless barrel. The fiber optic sights are sure bright! And best of all it is legal for our states....anyone else own one of these?
 I figure if I got one now then by deer and elk season I will be ready!!!

[one shot kill]

Good gun. I shoot a knight bighorn but my dad bought the evolution last year and it shoots very well. We shoot almost every weekend and this year he took his deer at 305 yards with it. No possible way we could get closer. WE  both use 120 grains 777 and 250 spitfire TMZ.

[BOOM!!]

wow! 305 yards with open sights! Thats amazing. Some serious practice went into that shot. 

[BOOM!!]

Just out of curiosity, explain to me how you make a shot like that. Maybe with a scope on I might try a shot like that if I was certain of where my shot would hit. Open sights, they would completely cover the entire animal.

[coyotewallace]

Open sights, they would completely cover the entire animal.

And don't forget the 40" +/- inches of drop if your zeroed at 100 yards

[Kowsrule30]

Good gun!!!!!         I don't own one but a friend does.... Great shooter it is.....


And I'm about 2 1/2"-3" high at 100 yards..... About dead on at 150-155 yards..... 200 yards 18"-20" low....... 300.... I didn't hit the target out of 5 shots.....       Good shooting...      

[one shot kill]

I knew i might catch some crap for this but oh well. We dont zero our guns at 100 yards. Out here on our property its flat and open 12000 acres so you learn to shoot long distance. We zero our muzzleloaders at 200 yards and I carry a range finder. Like I said we shoot alot and having the property to do so helps. we also practice long range with our rifles. Both elk we shot this year were were in between 550-600 yards. Although thats not really long range anymore if you have newer equipment. So any way I ranged the buck for my dad at 305. He had a great rest laying down against a fence post, pulled the trigger and put right through the tip of shoulder and hit the top of the heart.

[C-Money]

Congrats on your first muzzel loader! It is a great sport! I am looking to trade my T/C Blackdiamond for a T/C Hawken.

[one shot kill]

Sorry whtelk didn't mean to hi-jack your thread. Have you shot it yet? Once you do you will be hooked.

[whtelk]

I don't mind hijacks, heck I'm maybe the worst!!!
 Nope, haven't shot it yet...waiting for payday so I can buy powder, and lead and the essentials. I do have a question though...my good friend shoots conical s and he uses a pre lubed patch, do you need to use a patch if shooting conicals?

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

I don't mind hijacks, heck I'm maybe the worst!!!
 Nope, haven't shot it yet...waiting for payday so I can buy powder, and lead and the essentials. I do have a question though...my good friend shoots conical s and he uses a pre lubed patch, do you need to use a patch if shooting conicals?

you dont need a patch with conicals but he might be trying to waterproof his powder a little more than most.

[BK]

I don't mind hijacks, heck I'm maybe the worst!!!
 Nope, haven't shot it yet...waiting for payday so I can buy powder, and lead and the essentials. I do have a question though...my good friend shoots conical s and he uses a pre lubed patch, do you need to use a patch if shooting conicals?

You don't need a patch, in my .50 I use a paper patched conical with a lubed felt over powder wad, that's what it likes. My .54 likes a TC Maxi Ball no paper patching and a cardboard over powder card, I'm pretty sure I could go out and buy the same rifle as you today, we could go to the range and each of them would like a different load, Muzzies is like that. Consider buying a mould and casting your own boolets, way cheaper that way, you'll pencil out around at 200 rounds or so if you compare the cost of buying ready made bullets.

[whtelk]

My good friend at work all ready has a mold so I think I will buy some lead for him and we will cast a bunch of rounds.....looking forward to this sport.