I'm finally going to take the plunge into black powder. Now the question is which rifle to buy.

I'm left handed so when it comes to traditional percussion guns there's not too much choice. I don't think I want my left eye lying just inches from the nipple and cap, so a left handed model is a must.

I really like the look of Cabela's Hawken rifle, which comes in a left handed version. Price is $270 and from what I've heard it's a quality piece. They also make a Rolling Block rifle that would work okay for a lefty.

Of course if I went with an inline there wouldn't be an issue with left v. right handed. I like the simplicity of the break action inlines, but their esthetics leave me cold.

Maybe I should buy one of each. I could buy the Cabela's Hawken and an NEF Hunstman for less than $500.

Oh, one last thing. The Hawken is available in either .50 or .54 caliber. I'm thinking the bigger the better, but am I thinking correctly?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I'm finally going to take the plunge into black powder. Now the question is which rifle to buy.

I'm left handed so when it comes to traditional percussion guns there's not too much choice. I don't think I want my left eye lying just inches from the nipple and cap, so a left handed model is a must.

I really like the look of Cabela's Hawken rifle, which comes in a left handed version. Price is $270 and from what I've heard it's a quality piece. They also make a Rolling Block rifle that would work okay for a lefty.

Of course if I went with an inline there wouldn't be an issue with left v. right handed. I like the simplicity of the break action inlines, but their esthetics leave me cold.

Maybe I should buy one of each. I could buy the Cabela's Hawken and an NEF Hunstman for less than $500.

Oh, one last thing. The Hawken is available in either .50 or .54 caliber. I'm thinking the bigger the better, but am I thinking correctly?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Esthetics are what tradtional rifles are all about...more about the hunt than the killing. IF you enjoy the tradtional rifles simply becasue they are traditonal, then by all means hunt with them.

Yes...a 54 would be a better big game rifle in traditional models. With the sabot shooting moderns type ammo, the bore size is secondary to the bullet riding inside the sabot.

If you just want to take advantage of a BP season without getting all historical, then go with the inlines. No doubt about it, they handle bigger charges, shoot closer to early smokleless ballistics, and can kill game farther than I'd trust myself to shoot with an open sighted tradtional rifle.

But for me, it's about enjoymnet...and I prefer the rifles to look and work like they did back then. So I'm more or less wedded to thew tradtional rifle..rock-lock or percussion, what gets my money are the ones that are closest to the originals.

Michael:

Look for my comments in this thread under "CVA Muzzleloaders".

Left handed traditionl muzzleloaders are available. Check out Track of the Wolf, www.trackofthewolf. They have some nice left handed models including the Lyman Great Plains in .50 or .54 for $455.

I have the Lyman GPR both percussion and flint in left handed as well as the Lyman deerstalker in left handed. The Cabelas are made by Investarms, the same folks that make the Lymans. I think if you go traditional, the best prices on the internet is midsouthshooterssupply.com. I purchased all my Lymans from them and their price and service is hard to beat.

I prefer going more traditional myself. Not one to dress in buckskin but enjoy the hunt alot more with my flinters. There are plenty of traditional rifles out there to choose from in RT or LT models, TVM & Jim Chambers to name just two places to look. There are also many private builders who will make you whatever you want. Flint is not for everyone but it's my first choise followed by BPCR. Had a few percussion guns and sold all of them, just didn't do it for me.

As for killing distance, there is no difference if the proper size rifle is selected. You're somewhat limited with a .50 RB as they loose a lot of energy quickly. .54 is a better choice and if you want a good all around big game hunter, get yourself a .62 Throwing a 330 grain RB with enough powder behind it, a good vital area hit will drop anything in N.A. at 200 yds. You can't realize the raw power behind a RB until you see one strike a 85 pound steel gong at 200 yds. Just my thoughts, not to discount perc or in-lines but traditionals are a lot more fun and interesting and they are a great excuse to practice (that means more range time!)

I'm finally going to take the plunge into black powder. Now the question is which rifle to buy.

I'm left handed so when it comes to traditional percussion guns there's not too much choice. I don't think I want my left eye lying just inches from the nipple and cap, so a left handed model is a must.

I really like the look of Cabela's Hawken rifle, which comes in a left handed version. Price is $270 and from what I've heard it's a quality piece. They also make a Rolling Block rifle that would work okay for a lefty.

Of course if I went with an inline there wouldn't be an issue with left v. right handed. I like the simplicity of the break action inlines, but their esthetics leave me cold.

Maybe I should buy one of each. I could buy the Cabela's Hawken and an NEF Hunstman for less than $500.
Oh, one last thing. The Hawken is available in either .50 or .54 caliber. I'm thinking the bigger the better, but am I thinking correctly?
Thanks in advance for any advice.


I have found two used T/C LH caplocks in gunstores and am very pleased with them both. One is T/C's New Englander in .50 cal ( I bought from Fox ridge a new .12ga barrel for it), and a T/C Renegade in .54 cal. both needed a good barrel scrubbing but now are in very good shape. Point is, I paid less than $120 for each one. The new .12ga barrel cost me more than either of the rifles.
Look around and you may just find one that follows you home.
Good Luck!

Well I'm not big into muzzle loaders. With that said I have owned and shot half a dozen over the last 30 or so years. I started with a Lyman Great plains rifle in .54 with a slow twist.

I think that rifle was as close to a triditional rifle as I've ever used. It was beautiful, shot well, but was a bugger to carry.

Got a couple of CVA's in 50, both wood and blue steel and plastic and stainless. Used a CVA stainless plastic inline in .50 for a while.

Now that I'm getting older and am to crippled to walk the woods as I would like I ended up with a Remington 700 ML in .54 cal. It shoots like a house afire and I use it only to extend the elk season here in Idaho.

It's as familiar as the rest of the Remington 700's I use for deer. It's in stainless and plastic and is easy to shoot and load. I use a set of Williams fire sights and they are easy for me to use out to a hundred yards and perhaps a little further.

I have a friend with a Cabelas Hawken. I am not impressed with it. I shot it a couple of years ago and It would not group as well as the CVA's I had. It was a blue and wood gun. I like Cabelas and have purchased lots of things from them, but I would look at alternatives to their Hawken. It was a pretty gun. Problem is pretty didn't shoot nearly as pretty as it should have.

What would I recommend: Haunt the gunshops and try the fit and feel of them all. For a lefty the Lyman is a nice gun if you don't mind the weight. You can get it in a faster twist now to shoot the conicals for heavier game.

There are lots of nice muzzle loaders now on the market and the decisions are endless. Talk to other shooters here and at the range. Just remember you can never own enough guns.

Good luck in your search.

A month or so back I was on the phone to Dixie Gun Works. while they have stopped selling/importing the Tennessee Mountain Rifle, they still had on hand a few of the left-handed ones in 50 caliber. these are nice looking, plain finished, traditional caplock rifles.

The GPR at Walley World $318 last time I checked.

Nim :cool: