A deal on my 1st muzzle loader a Traditions Pursuit Pro.....Any advice?

[Thunder496]

Since checking into public hunting land in Texas and having the possibility of hunting on the 80acers my mom acquired last year in Missouri I have decided to diversify my hunting arsenal.

I was at Gander mt. today and came across a Traditions Pursuit Pro .50 cal, nickle plate, Real tree cammo, and Fire sights. The tag said $199 marked down from $249. It ended up $149 when I got to the register. I already though $199 was a deal after researching it for a few hours on the internet. With a box of Pyrodex 50/50 pellets, box of T/C 200 gr Shock Waves, and a pack of 209 primers the total was $211.02 out the door.

Ok other that bragging about my apparent deal. I wanted to see what BP shooting advice the folks here on THR have for a new guy to BP. The only BP experience I have is shooting a T/C Hawken about 4 times. It was one my step dad picked up cheap($150) at a gun show. About a month after our only shooting session with it we found the rust, it like brown mold growing on it because we hadn’t cleaned it. After that my step dad decided BP shooting required too much work. I do know (now) a few of the BP basics like that you have to wash these good with soap and water after every shooting session, and always make sure the bullet/ball is seated firmly on the charge.

I had planned on using powder but I didn’t want to spend the extra $ on a powder measure right now so I got the pellets. I got the 200gr bullets thinking they would probably be plenty for White tail dear and feral hog.

 

[mykeal]

The best advice I can give is to read the sticky thread: Black Powder Essentials at the top of the list of threads on this forum.

 

[arcticap]

When shooting tight fitting saboted bullets, first swab with a wet patch and then a dry patch in between shots as necessary or loading can become very difficult and accuracy will suffer.
Make sure to put some breech plug grease or anti-seize on the breech plug threads so the breech plug will be easier to remove after shooting.
.50 caliber sabots are made in several diameters and designs to fit various caliber bullets. The sabots and bullets can be bought in bulk once you find which ones shoot well from your rifle. It's good to have some extra sabots on hand to be able to try different bullet/sabot combinations.

http://www.mmpsabots.com/

http://www.harvesterbullets.com/

Good luck with your new Pursuit and let us know how it shoots.

 

[TomADC]

I bought one of the Traditions 50 cal inlines, I might think about sabots in it since I have a few thousand .230 gr .451 hard cast bullets sitting around.
Those two sites have me thinking!!