Post by: Angry Perch on November 01, 2018, 09:50:48 AM
1) Is the ML learning curve too steep to become reasonably proficient in a few weeks?
2) What kind of investment does a guy need to make in order do get a decent, basic gun with the necessary components?
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on November 01, 2018, 09:55:07 AM
Post by: usmc74 on November 01, 2018, 09:57:19 AM
I changed to ML when my shoulders couldn't tolerate pulling a bow.
The hunting is the same as bow, but the weapon can shoot 100 yards easy.
If you want to try ML, I could meet you at the Snoqualmie range sometime.
Powder, ball, then cap.
I have a modern inline.
Post by: bobcat on November 01, 2018, 10:03:44 AM
I'd recommend a CVA Optima. They're about $300 and easier to take apart and clean than any other muzzleloader that I've ever owned.
Post by: Angry Perch on November 01, 2018, 10:07:27 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on November 01, 2018, 11:20:54 AM
I'd like to just buy everything I need to get started at once.
Post by: High Climber on November 01, 2018, 11:31:55 AM
muzzle-loaders.com has an Optima V2 for $268. Anyone ever deal with them?I just bought an accura v2 from them a couple months ago, I also ordered everything to get started at the same time. Call them on the phone they had excellent customer service and were very knowledgeable. I think they will set you up nicely and the optima should be a perfectly serviceable weapon.
I'd like to just buy everything I need to get started at once.
Post by: Angry Perch on November 01, 2018, 11:39:38 AM
muzzle-loaders.com has an Optima V2 for $268. Anyone ever deal with them?I just bought an accura v2 from them a couple months ago, I also ordered everything to get started at the same time. Call them on the phone they had excellent customer service and were very knowledgeable. I think they will set you up nicely and the optima should be a perfectly serviceable weapon.
I'd like to just buy everything I need to get started at once.
Exactly what I was looking for! Also, "Northwest Legal" is no longer a concern, correct? Scopes are the only no-no?
Post by: bobcat on November 01, 2018, 12:00:50 PM
Post by: Lefty315 on November 01, 2018, 02:55:03 PM
Post by: WSU on November 01, 2018, 03:11:21 PM
Post by: flyfishWA on November 01, 2018, 03:19:31 PM
muzzle-loaders.com has an Optima V2 for $268. Anyone ever deal with them?Muzzleoaders.com is the best! great service, fast shipping, and some of the best prices.
I'd like to just buy everything I need to get started at once.
Post by: Angry Perch on November 01, 2018, 04:00:03 PM
FYI - I just switched from a CVA Accurra. It's easy to clean and accurate. But, 2 years in a row it failed to go off and cost me a bull each year (assuming I would have shot straight if it went boom). One time the cap failed to fire and the other the cap fired but the powder did not. Powder was dry both times. I've heard of similar problems from others. Then again, some seem to have no problems. Your mileage may vary and you may have great luck with yours.
In general, how common are mis-fires, hang-fires, etc?
Post by: WSU on November 01, 2018, 04:06:13 PM
Post by: Killmore on November 01, 2018, 04:30:40 PM
Post by: Crunchy on November 01, 2018, 05:02:41 PM
Post by: Angry Perch on November 01, 2018, 05:09:16 PM
I have the cva optima and have had zero misfires since switching to a 209 primer
Do you use pellets?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 01, 2018, 05:23:11 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on November 01, 2018, 05:23:24 PM
Thumbhole knight bighorn. Pretty solid smoke pole:yeah: :tup:
Post by: Samloffler on November 01, 2018, 08:26:56 PM
Post by: HntnFsh on November 02, 2018, 05:35:28 AM
Use loose powder it burns a little faster and you can dial it in better. Ive used Goex, Pyrodex, and Triple 7. I prefer Triple 7. I also think TC speed loaders are the best by far! Get a 1/2 dozen of them!
Post by: HntnFsh on November 02, 2018, 05:38:30 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on November 02, 2018, 09:39:33 AM
Post by: getreal711 on November 02, 2018, 09:48:35 AM
Post by: Killmore on November 02, 2018, 10:43:51 AM
Post by: Sabotloader on November 02, 2018, 10:54:19 AM
(https://i.postimg.cc/Wprgb2RW/Knight-Special.jpg)
Post by: Angry Perch on November 02, 2018, 11:02:07 AM
https://www.muzzleloaders.com/
(https://i.postimg.cc/Wprgb2RW/Knight-Special.jpg)
It's funny that there is www.muzzleloaders.com and www.muzzle-loaders.com. As if that's not confusing! I went with the latter.
I've yet to get my hands on the product, but the service has been top notch.
Post by: Angry Perch on November 02, 2018, 12:42:22 PM
Post by: Sabotloader on November 02, 2018, 04:11:24 PM
What's everyone's preferred sight? Factory? Peep? I have a peep sight on my 30-30 that I really like, so leaning that way.
I prefer the peep and front site hood setup - kinda makes you think you are looking through a 1X scope
(https://i.postimg.cc/v868PtjH/Williams-FP-Peep.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQ9SR195/Williams-Front-Sight.jpg)
Post by: usmc74 on November 03, 2018, 08:25:15 AM
Pintos guns in Renton sells reloading stuff, so they might have them
I would call either of them first
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 03, 2018, 09:04:37 AM
What's everyone's preferred sight? Factory? Peep? I have a peep sight on my 30-30 that I really like, so leaning that way.Sort of depends on range/set up. The little thing I'm using right now is just the three fire dots, and that works well at 50 yds...but beyond that I lose a lot of target sight picture. I've used trad muzzy with peeps, and those were much better for longer shots. Am planning to peep my next muzzy, especially for late season.
Post by: usmc74 on November 03, 2018, 09:13:45 AM
Had it on both mine & my son's Knights. Buddy also put it on his.
I take the rear insert out during dark/dim visibility in the woods.
Both my muzzy elk were shot without the rear insert.
68 yards and 100 yards
Post by: reelamin on November 05, 2018, 09:12:25 AM
To know your shooting skills with open sights is impossible, but I will go with what "most" people I have been around are capable of. I would say you are capable of a 100yd shot and 150yd all things being ideal. Solid rest, non moving animal, -3" accuracy, high quality bullet, and regular (3-4 days with 10-20 rounds) practice before you go.
I do not advocate anyone buy a cheap/inexpensive/beginner item of anything. I would suggest you purchase a least a mid level rifle. I started with a Big Horn, and ended up bedding the action, floating barrel etc. to get it to shoot better and more consistently. With a scope it would hold 3 right at abou 1.5"/100yds with 150gr charge and right about 3" with open sights. The major limiter was the fiber optic for precision shooting. Buddy went with a inexpensive stainless Traditions. His would not open with any charge over 100gr of powder. It would lock up and be almost impossible to break open past 120gr. Accuracy wise his was actually better at its max load, but not if I down loaded mine to 100gr charge.
Put a rear peep sight on if at all possible. I went with a Williams one size larger aperature and the factory front sight. I IMMEDIATELY FOUND THE FACTORY FIBER OPTIC FRONT SIGHTS SUUUUUUUCK FOR ANYTHING PAST 175YDS when sighting on a actual animal!!! Tighten them down....we both had the aperture loosen while shooting. My base was solid but his loosened. I will be replacing my front sight with a standard black post or Globe style sight. I was fully confident in a 300yd perfect conditions shot before I put my sights on the first elk. Immediately it was a 200yd maximum shot for no other reason than the crappy fiber optic front sight. Buddy experienced the same thing.
I had no issues igniting the different Black Substitutes with either a mag cap or 209. I did have issues with the BH209 with a cap, but no issue if I duplex loaded it with 5gr of T7. I use BH209 for hunting because ease of loading and fractionally higher velocity...fractionally!! I use T7 for my range and practice because I can swab the barrel between shots. No issues with BH209 and 209 primers in my gun, but my buddy was having issues with his even with 209 primers. It cost him his first muzzle spike this year at 95 yards. He did not tell me but he was having misfires and hang fires fairly regular. We had a few while testing together, but we just chalked it up to the "muzzle loader thing". In reality...I believe they are totally avoidable with proper preparation and equipment. He had a misfire and then a hang fire and that as all she wrote on his elk. We test fired it later at camp and it did the same thing. We drilled out the flash hole at camp....test fired some....problem solved!!! Another example of rifle cost was we drilled with it by hand in a "stainless" breach plug....pretty low grade stainless to drill as easy as it did.
We will both be upgrading rifles this year and my nephews say they want to try it. Right now leaning very towards for a CVA Accura....would get the LR version if it had iron sights. I am very anti Remington Company now...so that one is eliminated because others of equal quality are available. Will also be putting a muzzle brake on it. My gun guy thinks we can make it work....so my Bighorn will be the test bed. I hate the plastic Knight cap...just inserting a primer seems super nice.
So I would go mid grade rifle, 209 primer, T7 Powder, quality Bullet in the 300gr or heavier range, peep sight, and practice as much as you can. Hope you get one and good luck to you. I'm sure I missed some stuff but I have enough coffee and elk camp is still in the PU and trailer I need to get taken care of.
Post by: Sabotloader on November 05, 2018, 09:56:16 AM
Wish it wasn't so far to your place - it would be fun to drive over and do some shooting with you or vice-versa...
Don't forget that sale on DISC Extremes and you can get the bare 209 primer option
mike
Post by: cjhaan on November 05, 2018, 10:41:14 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on November 06, 2018, 05:20:11 PM
Post by: Angry Perch on November 22, 2018, 02:03:31 PM
Post by: lamrith on November 22, 2018, 03:58:25 PM
Let us know what you went thru and prep you did to be hunt ready. What powders/bullets you went with, etc. You did not have much time between getting it and using it!
Post by: Angry Perch on November 23, 2018, 10:30:52 AM
Congrats!!
Let us know what you went thru and prep you did to be hunt ready. What powders/bullets you went with, etc. You did not have much time between getting it and using it!
I got a complete ready to shoot kit from muzzle-loaders.com. They recommended 270 grain Power Belt Platinum bullets, and 2 White Hot pellets. The learning curve is very short. Besides the loading and cleaning procedures, shooting a rifle is shooting a rifle. I had it sighted in with about 15 shots, so not much more than I would with a scoped rifle. I did miss twice, but that's due to my fat butt huffing and puffing after racing 60 yards up a really steep clear cut, laying on a side hill, and having a half ass rest. Having my buddy standing 75 yards away laughing out loud didn't help either! Note to self; Practice shooting all my rifles from odd positions. Anyhow, caught up to him again, and connected with a perfect double lung shot at about 25 yards. The exit hole was barely bigger than the entrance, so not too sure about bullet performance, but dead is dead I suppose. Marinated heart on the grill tonight!
I highly recommend Muzzle-loaders.com. They spent a ton of time with me on email and phone, and were more than happy to provide all the assistance I needed.
Post by: JakeLand on November 23, 2018, 10:24:52 PM
Post by: huntnfmly on November 23, 2018, 10:34:02 PM