Looking at inlines , suggestions ?

[antiqucycle]

Take a bore light with you and head for several gun shows. Very few used muzzleloaders retain their original prices. Just make sure its easy to mount a scope.
Of course you should decide in advance, if you want a hunting gun with some some scratches or a wallhanger.
As far as getting one that will hold or increase in value, buy a Thompson Encore. Later you can pickup a pistol barrel, a 22 rifle or some high power like a 7mm mag barrel.

 

[giles]

But they're so fun too shoot lol

I don't now about all that... First shot is ok. Second shot kinda sucks packing down the down barrel. Third shot you about break your hand just trying to get it started... Fourth shot you need a damn fence post pounder to get it down! And after you squeeze the trigger you can't see a damn thing... It's a rush for sure, but I don't know that I'd call it fun, lol! Accuracy is usually worth it though.

 

[Flathead76]

Encores are excellent rifles as I have 2. As you said a little more in price but the switch barrel to other calibers is a value saver.

10 years ago I would have agreed with this statement. For what an encore barrel costs you can damn near purchase a tack driver rifle these days. Savage axis, ruger american, or weatherby vangaurd come to mind. Its rediculious how well these rifles shoot at under 400 bones. I believe that all three also have adjustable trigger from the factory. I do like the design of the encore but I would probably look at the FX model at a lower price point but you can not change barrels.

 

[Jackalope]

Clean immediately after firing it. And clean with hot soap and water. Hot air dry and oil. Never had a spot of rust for 45 yrs with blackpowder guns using the soap and water cleaning. But I sold them all and went with 2 converted Encore smokeless muzzleloaders. Like Mike said 'I would never buy another black powder gun after going to smokeless'.

Never had to buy or try any of this new fancy cleaning products on the market. In my mind the new black powder cleaning supplies are just a fast and easy way for the companies to make money. Opps sorry about that. IMHO

Or the safest way to avoid rust is not to shoot it!! LOL

My Accura is a break action so I take the barrel off and put it muzzle down in a bucket of scalding hot water with dawn soap. I'll run a brush down it then use a mop to suck water up the barrel and push it back out. I'll then take it out and run patches down it until dry. The last step is a couple patches coated in RIG. I'll soak the breech if in a shot glass of solvent and clean the fire hole with a pipe cleaner. Then I set the plug on top of the wood stove or the glass cooktop to get it hot and evap all the water.

 

[Flathead76]

Thanks for the tips guys! I'm gonna have to try this next time. I despise cleaning that damn thing...

This. I hate cleaning my muzzle loader.

 

[oakswamper]

I bought an Encore 209x50 mag when they first came out and it's the only gun I deer hunt with and I wouldn't part with it. I have heard good things about the Savage from a couple different guys but I haven't even held one yet

 

[jeremy44230]

I have the TC Omega w/thumb hole stock and love it!

Same here! LOVE IT!

 

["J"]

I don't now about all that... First shot is ok. Second shot kinda sucks packing down the down barrel. Third shot you about break your hand just trying to get it started... Fourth shot you need a damn fence post pounder to get it down! And after you squeeze the trigger you can't see a damn thing... It's a rush for sure, but I don't know that I'd call it fun, lol! Accuracy is usually worth it though.

Run a patch in it in between shots and that'll cut down on that happening....
How many grains of powder you shooting?

 

[giles]

100 grains/two pellets of #7 (or whatever its called) sulfur free. I think the bullet is a Hornady Aftershock? Basically the same design as the SST, they seem to fly pretty good and group good enough to get the job done. I can also run 50 grain out of it for the kids to shoot and don't need to change the scope settings. (out to 75'ish yards anyways)

We need a ML sticky! Great subject BTW.

 

[giles]

I'm pretty sure this is the one…it's been a number of years since I bought any. They look the same only with a yellow tip.

http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-Sabot-Low-Drag-with-45-Cal-250-SST-Bullet/

 

[Clay Showalter]

CVA optima can't beat it for the price. My buddy had a great tc omega and sold it because he liked the CVA better. Also blackhorn 209 takes care of the cleaning issue, it the cleanest burning powder there is

 

[Dustinb80]

Whale shit....
I went to the sulfur free powder and it seemed to help. Any other tips to help keep the corrosion down?

I thought I was the only person who said this. LMAO awesome, Im not alone in this world.

 

[giles]

I thought I was the only person who said this. LMAO awesome, Im not alone in this world.

I thought it was just an Alaskan thing. Gotta really draw out that "a" to seal the deal. "Whaaaaaale shit, me nipples could break concrete, we better head in Jim"

 

["J"]

I'm pretty sure this is the one…it's been a number of years since I bought any. They look the same only with a yellow tip.

http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-Sabot-Low-Drag-with-45-Cal-250-SST-Bullet/

I shoot a knight muzzleloader and mine don't that tight until 5-6 rounds thru it... I run a patch down it a couple of times and it frees it right up.... I'm shooting shockwaves and 100 grains of powder (pellets) as well....

 

[mossbergbryson]

I shoot a Knight Disc extreme I got on trade for a bow I didn't shoot. I like it.

 

[runhunter]

I shoot a knight muzzleloader and mine don't that tight until 5-6 rounds thru it... I run a patch down it a couple of times and it frees it right up.... I'm shooting shockwaves and 100 grains of powder (pellets) as well....

I shot the shockwaves for years, and while my Omega loved them accuracy wise, I was never happy with how they performed on deer. I've switched to the Barnes expanders and have been very happy

 

[giles]

I shoot a knight muzzleloader and mine don't that tight until 5-6 rounds thru it... I run a patch down it a couple of times and it frees it right up.... I'm shooting shockwaves and 100 grains of powder (pellets) as well....

Those are the ones!

 

[Boarhead]

Hell i still have my old Knight Muzzy with the walnut stock and it works just fine,very lightweight also.Bought it in 93.

 

[Lundy]

All of th MZ's mentioned will work well for deer hunting and provide similar accuracy and ballistics. No one MZ shoots any faster or flater than another with similiar length barrel and load, they all work.

If I were ever going to hunt with a MZ,

Keep a MZ clean in good working condition is something you just have to be committed to doing, it's part of the game. You can however chose some options that reduce the efforts required. Buy a gun that has an easy way to remove the breech plug for cleaning, you will doing this a lot. Purchase a SS barrel if you can, they don't save you from neglect but they extend your time a little. Choose your power carefully. I strongly suggest that you pony up the extra money to shoot Blackhorn 209. It is an extremely clean, efficient powder. Stay away from pellets in Triple 7 or Pyrodex, use the loose powder and measure each load for maximum accuracy and efficiency. Bullets will be trail and error to find which one your gun likes the best. I am partial to the Barnes all copper MZ bullets. I am very much not a fan of Powerbelts.

Good luck

 

["J"]

Hell i still have my old Knight Muzzy with the walnut stock and it works just fine,very lightweight also.Bought it in 93.

I have the wolverine LK93 in synthetic and the big horn stainless in synthetic... Both are tack drivers... I keep the older one in case my son needs it when he's home....