Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Russ McDonald on November 04, 2011, 08:19:04 AM

Title: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: Russ McDonald on November 04, 2011, 08:19:04 AM: So with my,almost, full big game hunting season in the general rifle season. I thought I might take a try at a muzzle loader. What are you guys recommendations and what is legal in this state? Is it really hard to decypher their regulations here or is it just me? Thanks in advance for your help.
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: JColony on November 04, 2011, 09:26:40 AM: Well Russ, I am a big fan of the TC Black Diamond XR. I have one and absolutely love it. One kicker, TC no longer makes them, so it may be tough to get your hands on one. I made the changet to muzzy 4 years ago and haven't looked back. Considered it after the early deer season this year, then went out with my buddy and his son to help and was reminded why I switched in the first place.
If you like shootin rifles, you'll love shootin a smoke pole!
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: buckman202 on November 04, 2011, 09:34:09 AM: The regs aren't too tough to figure main things NO SCOPE, and Nipple has to be exposed to weather. I believe those are the main things you have to look at when purchasing your ML, Oh and I might be wrong but I believe for big game you need a .50cal or bigger
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: JColony on November 04, 2011, 09:40:27 AM: One other thing, no 209 primers. Gotta be musket caps or #11.
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 04, 2011, 09:47:14 AM: Youll never look back. I tell people if they realy dont want to bow hunt then muzzy is 10 fold better than modern.
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: Sabotloader on November 04, 2011, 11:51:00 AM: Quote from: russ_mcdonald on November 04, 2011, 08:19:04 AM
So with my,almost, full big game hunting season in the general rifle season. I thought I might take a try at a muzzle loader. What are you guys recommendations and what is legal in this state? Is it really hard to decypher their regulations here or is it just me? Thanks in advance for your help.

If I were going to suggest a ML for Washington, Idaho, and Oregon it would be a Knight DISC Extreme with a Western kit installed. The Western kit makes the gun legal for the three Western States.

I did a post on this some time back.. here is the information.

Got the new Knight Western Kit bolt in the mail the other day and I was excited to get out and try it. This new bolt is a modification that Knight has been working on; it should improve the safety factor to the shooter vs. the older style Western Bolt.

I did send pictures to Game officials in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Washington and Oregon both responded that the gun met the existing rules for muzzleloading hunting. In the “cocked and ready to fire position” the both the nipple and the cap are sufficiently exposed to the weather to meet the ‘open breech rule’. The official in Oregon did also agree that from the appearance in the pictures I sent it seems to meet Oregon’s rule also. He reserved final opinion until he or another Oregon game official could see and work the action. I am taking the rifle with me on my next trip to Kennewick, WA and I will run it down to Umatilla or Hermiston to get a State official to check the gun.

I did get some pictures hope you do not mind me sharing them…

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FArchive%2F2011WConv-1.jpg&hash=80a7efd65636fc4f71c7e0e5bdccb681ad634033)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FArchive%2F2011WConv-2.jpg&hash=f7b409afea82544f0aa3fb5c1e11aa60e1ca07ec)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FArchive%2FRangePictures.jpg&hash=bcdd9a30e0d5d2ce9c3b7f0526a002ca77917be7)

I chose to install the Western Kit in one of my DISC Elites to run this test, I really did not want take down one of the Extremes at this time.

At the farm I did set a target out, but after two shots into it, I got bored and started shooting clay pigeons at various ranges.

I was shooting with a CCI #11 Mag cap, (which I personally much prefer over a Musket cap) - 110 grains T7-3f, with a HPH-24 sabot and a Speer Uni-Core 250 grain bullet. I shot 31 times without any problems at all. I did run a moist Windex patch every 10 shots, but from what I felt in the bore it was not necessary.

On shot 32 I got my first hint of a problem… a very slight hang fire, shot 33-34 went just fine, shot 35 was more than a slight hang fire. I ran a nipple pick and it seemed to help for about 5 shots, then back to hang fires. At this point I pulled the nipple and checked it – it was clear… So, out came the breech plug… the flash channel was nearly plugged with blowback material. Not hard carbon but a soft material. Blew that out re-installed every and shot another 10 shots. During all of these shots – not once did I have a problem with the ignition of the cap. The Kit Works… and it is Pacific Northwest Legal!!!

I do not remember if I mention it or not but the scope is not legal during a prescribed ML season but in some application ML hunts you can use the rifle as a 209 – scoped rifle also.

mike
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: Russ McDonald on November 04, 2011, 12:12:29 PM: Thanks guys so far. I am a bow hunter too just first time hunting in Washington. So I figured the easiest way to learn was do general rifle. Bad choices on my part. Ml and Bow season seem to be better and longer too also late seasons. So I am looking for a ML and most likely bow hunting next year or a combonation of ml for elk and bow for deer. General rifle season is just a bad time of the year not hunting in the rut for elk and just touching to start of rut for deer and the end for the season. So thanks for the input and waiting for more. :tup:
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: spookgus on November 04, 2011, 12:48:15 PM: .40 cal min for deer
.45 cal min for other big game
Exposed #11 or musket cap
Open/peep sights only

If money is an issue a decent used Knight MK-85 or LK-93 can be found for under $200.
Title: Re: Recommendations of Muzzle Loader
Post by: whacker1 on November 04, 2011, 02:56:41 PM: There are few good options on the used market and a couple on the new market.

Used
Remington ML 700 - .50 or .54 cal depending on the vintage you find. I have a.54.
Knight Bighorn
Knight Wolverine
Knight Disc Extreme
TC Black Diamond

New
Knight Bighorn
Kingth Disc Extreme

There are others, but I would think this list covers the most popular. CVA also makes a few.