Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Fshnpole on April 30, 2016, 02:56:42 PM

Title: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: Fshnpole on April 30, 2016, 02:56:42 PM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: JimmyHoffa on April 30, 2016, 03:10:28 PM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: Fshnpole on April 30, 2016, 03:23:16 PM: 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
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: JimmyHoffa on April 30, 2016, 03:26:38 PM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: Fshnpole on April 30, 2016, 03:33:05 PM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: JimmyHoffa on April 30, 2016, 03:39:58 PM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: raydog on April 30, 2016, 04:37:18 PM: 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!
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: fish vacuum on April 30, 2016, 04:54:47 PM: 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.

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Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: Fshnpole on April 30, 2016, 08:41:11 PM: Quote from: raydog on April 30, 2016, 04:37:18 PM
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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: usmc74 on May 01, 2016, 09:26:32 AM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: Red leaf 67 on May 01, 2016, 10:30:45 AM: I am always surprised how little many sales people actually know about the product's they sell :chuckle: You will get more help & advice on here :tup:
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s
Post by: Fshnpole on May 02, 2016, 11:55:25 AM: 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
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: follow maggie on May 31, 2016, 03:09:24 PM: Is the breech plug on the optima exposed to the weather?
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: syoungs on May 31, 2016, 03:58:20 PM: 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.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: raydog on May 31, 2016, 04:48:13 PM: Quote from: follow maggie on May 31, 2016, 03:09:24 PM
Is the breech plug on the optima exposed to the weather?
If it is the Northwest optima it will be exposed.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: Fshnpole on May 31, 2016, 04:56:40 PM: Well I finally got my new ML out yesterday and what fun. I shot both the 300 gr sst with supplied sabots and the 325 gr ftx with the mmp orange sabot both loaded very well. The sst loaded extremely easy the ftx after a few shots was a bear to get started but as soon as I did with the short starter the rest of the way was like butter. I had 100 gr pyrodex behind it and will play around some more maybe up to 120 next time out. Didnt get it totally dialed in but was pretty happy with where I got for the first time out. Not a huge fan of the sights but they could be worse, just seemkinda big at 100 hards they cover a good portion of the target so I sighted them in just below where I wanted to hit. I will for sure be shooting the 325 gr ftx and cant wait to get it back out there.

And to answer the question on the breech plug, yes on the northwest edition the breech plug exposes the musket cap with four holes that are drilled into it.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: Rainier10 on May 31, 2016, 05:04:41 PM: Congratulations now you are hooked.

I can't believe sabotloader hasn't chimed in here yet. He was a great help to me when get my muzzleloader setup for my daughter to use with the multiseason deer tag.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: raydog on May 31, 2016, 05:05:48 PM: Quote from: Fshnpole on May 31, 2016, 04:56:40 PM
Well I finally got my new ML out yesterday and what fun. I shot both the 300 gr sst with supplied sabots and the 325 gr ftx with the mmp orange sabot both loaded very well. The sst loaded extremely easy the ftx after a few shots was a bear to get started but as soon as I did with the short starter the rest of the way was like butter. I had 100 gr pyrodex behind it and will play around some more maybe up to 120 next time out. Didnt get it totally dialed in but was pretty happy with where I got for the first time out. Not a huge fan of the sights but they could be worse, just seemkinda big at 100 hards they cover a good portion of the target so I sighted them in just below where I wanted to hit. I will for sure be shooting the 325 gr ftx and cant wait to get it back out there.

And to answer the question on the breech plug, yes on the northwest edition the breech plug exposes the musket cap with four holes that are drilled into it.

I too dislike the factory sights. This peep sight is worth ever penny in my opinion. https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/optics/scope-rails/cva-ace-in-the-hole-picatinny-rail-peep-sight.html

As far as the front bead goes, I was trying to track down a smaller front sight. The optima front bead is so big it covers a lot of the target. I noticed that the bead on my cva wolf was smaller. I was going to get a front sight for a wolf, but the sights aren't exactly model specific. So I stole the front sight off of the wolf and put it on the optima. Muzzleloaders.com sells the durasight which looks to have the smaller bead. Maybe give them a call and see if they can confirm that for you. https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/optics/sights/durasightr-fiber-optic-sights-cva-rifles.html
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: Fshnpole on May 31, 2016, 05:11:17 PM: Huh I have an optima elite in 45-70, those sights are burried somewhere. Maybe I will find the and maybe put that front sight on the ML.
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: WoolyRunner on May 31, 2016, 10:33:12 PM: I, like you, drew the MS Deer tag last year and also tried Muzzy. Well...after hunting with muzzy in the late season whitetail... im hooked. This year im going strait muzzy
Title: Re: New to ML ?'s/ updated new ?
Post by: syoungs on May 31, 2016, 10:36:53 PM: That rear peep is what I have, I love it. Actually just bought a Williams peep for my 45-70, because I like the ml one so much.