Blackpowder hunters? What are you using?

[El Jefe]

Okay, I decided that this would be the year I'd give the muzzeleloader deer season a try. So I purchased a CVA Optima, inline. I figured it's a decent place to start. Matt, my eldest will most likely inherit this rifle and I might get one of the Savage inlines in a year or two.



Stainless, fluted barrel.



Break open with hand screw out breech plug.



I've got some experimenting to do yet. This rifle is designed to use the 209 primers. I've got some Winchester Triple 7 209's. Thus far I've picked up a container of loose RS Pyrodex and a package of Powerbelt bullets. I'm also going to try some Barnes sabots, and the White Hots pellets. I'm hoping I'll find a combination that's accurate and dependable.

So, what are you guys using?

[old Grump]

Lyman Cougar inline with 90 grains of FFg and a patched round ball. I had an aperture sight installed which stretched it from 50 yards to 100 yards for me. I could do better with sabot or minnie balls and a scope but I know my limitations. Not a bad gun but not one I would buy again, To damn hard to pull the breech plug, had to mess up a soclet to make my own wrench for it since none was supplied and couldn't find any on the store shelves that would work.

I have no problems whatsoever with accuracy or ease of shooting. Anything from 45 to 110 gr of pyrodex makes it shoot where I point it.

[El Jefe]

OG, have you taken deer with it? Where I'm hunting during our muzzie season, a 50 yard shot is about as far as I'm going to get, it's real woolly back in there.

[old Grump]

Pistol, Revolver, shotgun and centerfire rifle but not BP yet. If I get one this winter it will be it's cherry shot. Also hope to take one with my crossbow. So far shots avaliable for the crossbow have been to far and last year I was sick during BP season. Didn't get a deer during regular gun season so I'm laying high hopes on the late season.

[El Jefe]

Pistol, Revolver, shotgun and centerfire rifle but not BP yet. If I get one this winter it will be it's cherry shot. Also hope to take one with my crossbow. So far shots avaliable for the crossbow have been to far and last year I was sick during BP season. Didn't get a deer during regular gun season so I'm laying high hopes on the late season.

Well good luck with it. As of now we can't hunt with a crossbow yet, I think they'll eventually be allowed but it hasn't happened thus far. Oddly enough for the first time you can hunt deer now with an atlatl, I guess that's okay, but I have a hard time justifying their use but no crossbow. I also really doubt many deer will be taken with them.

[Dieselbuilder]

When I do, I use a semi-custom .45 flintlock.

Can't stand the look of them new fangled inlines. Just as well be shooting a cartridge rifle.