Hello all, I'm new here and to rifle hunting. I've always been into archery and thought I would give muzzle loading a try.

Here is my question, and excuse me if I'm beating a dead horse.

I'm needing some advice on a good muzzle loader to start with. Somewhere in the $350 price range. I know nothing about these other than what I have read. I'm not sure which caliber to start out with or weather I should use an inline or side?? I'm in Ohio and this would be for whitetail deer.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Matt

Welcome,ohiohunter
You will like it here;it's a friendly place.
I just got a new inline MZL myslf,for Christmas.It's a CVA Wolf;considerably les expensive tenwhat you want.
I consider 50 caiber a good choice for whitetails.There is some good talk here on this forum about the best bullets to use.Justsearch for them.
Frank

Welcome, Matt.

I do not have any experience with muzzle loading, but your first step should be to check with your local game regs to see what is the min. cal. and what specs your gun have to meet for whatever you want to hunt. I know that I gave you "homework" instead of answering your question, but it does not matter what advice we give you here if you cannot use it there. Good luck, be safe, and have fun. I have thought about getting into muzzle loading sometime, but I have not even found time to get the loads worked up for a rifle I bought over a year ago yet!

I'll add my welcome Matt.

Like Kansas says the first thing I'd do if you plan to hunt is check the hunting regulations to see what's legal. Some states have limits on the kind of muzzle loader, caliber and kind of ammo you can shoot and you don't want to buy something you can't use or get caught using something that doesn't meet the regulations.

Here in Idaho for instance we can only use swing hammer guns and no pellet type powder and no sabot's and no shotgun primers for ignition. That makes selection of a gun a little harder to meet the state requirements to hunt in the muzzle loader big game season. Our state has done this to limit folks to more primitive weapons and get folks away from using the modern inlines that shoot as far and as accurately as most centerfire rifles.

If you already have the rifle, just make sure it meets the criteria necessary to hunt they type of game you want to hunt in your state.

Like Kragman says there are several good muzzle loaders on the market for less than your budget. CVA makes some dandy ones and remember you have to buy powder, nipples, cappers, slings, patches for round balls or bullets of some kind and all the accessories really can add up.

welcome to the addiction ohiohunter. i too am from ohio and you can use flints, caplocks or inlines. although i own 4 inlines, i still prefer caplock. to me its just more fun. its kind of a to each his own thing. i might suggest before going out and buying something that you shoot a few. just bought an inline before b/p/season and got a lot of help on different loads right here on this forum. when you settle on a m/l, make sure you come back here and pick these fellows brains. i`m a short timer here also and they helped me alot. goodluck:D

--Welcome Ohio Hunter,
-Black powder kinda gets in the blood. Besides, it's a good excuse to get out there more. As to your question as a muzzle-loader to start deer hunting with, I'd also go with a .50 caliber. It's the most common size with an almost endless assortment of projectiles to choose from. Side lock, inline, flint, underhammer, lots to choose from. Consider also whether you have a local group that shoots and go see what they're using, just to give you a chance to see what's out there. It's a lot of fun.

Hi nice to meet you! Here is a Idea for you take the 350 you want to spend. Buy a TC 54 or 58 cal Hawken or Renegade. Then get a Green Mountain 1-28 twist barrel. Now you have a switch barrel rifle that will be a big round ball shooter for those types of hunts, and a Fast twist conical barrel for longer range and elk. I have done this and I have three rifles set up this way. I use Lyman peeps and Lyman and lee shavers globe front sights. All three of my rifles have shot groups under 1" at 100 yards. Just another thought, here is what mine look like. This is my .458 with a 32" 1-18 twist barrel. I shoot 385 gr paper patched bullets behind 90 gr of Pyrodex P. My other rifles look the same but are Stainless Steel. I will add a group from the .458 Ron

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/2250458_bennit_mountain_mag_2_5.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/11-24-07--_45-70_small.jpg

Thanks for the welcomes.

Sounds like I have all sorts of options. I have know idea what I'm going to do. I dont know anyone that hunts with a ML, so its hard to find one I can test fire. I guess in the end I might go Bass Pro(not to excited about them, from past experiences) and talk with the sales rep and pick something out. I figure I have to start somewhere.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

Matt

ohiohunter,what part of ohio do you reside. there are some gun store with indoor ranges around that will let you fire some of their range m/l`s. something else to consider is what you`re going to do with the m/l, (I.E. range shoot,mostly hunt,combo of both). if its hunting than in ohio where i`m at its very seldom you can safely get a shot off over 100yds or so unless your hunting flat open crop fields up north or northwest. if your hunting eastern or southeastern region than you understand what i`m saying about the 100yd shot. most all m/l`s are capable of accurate shots with right load to that range.it just becomes a matter of preferance as to what you want to shoot. if you want to hunt distance(i.e. say out to 200yds )than i would go to an inline. you`ll need the extra magnum powder charge most the inline`s offer. if you go with an inline check to see how its cleaned. i have a rem.700 that is extremely accurate but alot harder to clean than my optima or pro hunter which are just as accurate. i agree with idaho ron. if i were deer hunting i would pick the 50 cal. especially shooting distances over 100yds. (don`t want to start war with 45 cal. shooters out there, just personal preferance :p). goodluck and don`t get frustrated, go to some of the local gun shops and handle some different m/l`s.:)

TC Omega, Triumph or Knight products. You can hunt inline in Ohio and that is the only gun [I]use here. 50 caliber gives you the most flexibility in bullets, equipment and advice. 45 is a dead issue and unless you are going for deadly game 50 is fine. I shhot aPro Hunter and am deeply hooked on the inline sport. T7 FFF , start at 90 grains and move up in 5 grain volumes until you find your sweet load, 250 grain shockwave bullets in the easy glide sabot (buy em' at Wally world). I started w/ a $150 scoped Wolf until i learned what I wanted to move to in a more expensive weapon. Good 100 yard or less ML, shoot SW 250 grain bullet and 85 grains volume T7FFF. I do not shoot Powerbelts anymore. I shot deer, killed deer and had one **** of a time tracking because no blood trail/exits. Good Luck and ask questions, the inline shooting will keep you in good fun!

sorry that 100 yard or less and 85 grain volume and SWn250 grain was for the Wolf if interested.MY BRAIN GETS SIN FRONY OF MY FINGERS SOMETIMES.