Inline muzzleloader for hunting?

[red rick]

Used to be a gentleman in Indiana that made Ruger #1s into muzzleloaders

What a travesty .

 

[wild willy]

Like was said before be very careful buying used.There are a lot of muzzeloaders out there with bad bores.If they greased the inside of the barrel be extra careful it’s a way to cover pitting

 

[T.R.]

My son-in-law's brother always shows up at deer camp with his only rifle. Its a CVA Wolf in 50 caliber and it hits hard within the typical distances we shoot. He has toppled several deer and one bear with this rifle. TR

 

[Random 8]

I've got the cheap Wolf. I shoot cheap XTPs with aftermarket sabots, loose Pyrodex with some pellets for hunting and zero, and Cheddite 209s from my shotgun bench.

It is boringly accurate and reliable. Accuracy rivals my M1 Garand with military ball. It also does well for practice shooting with cast 44 SWCs and a half charge as well as some Minie style full bore bullets from a local shop.

The factory sights suck, but are serviceable for short range. Easy to fit optics or aftermarket.

Cleaning and takedown are straightforward. It's a very cheap, very ugly, very effective tool. Feel is remarkably good, comparable to a single shot Henry. The trigger is surprisingly good on mine. Is fun to shoot with light loads, not so much with full power, although I believe this applies to any inline of lighter weight. You're basically touching off a Marlin load 45-70 or .444

 

[entropy]

I personally don't own an inline, but I chose both CVA models. Wolf is less expensive, Optima is a little better, both will do the job.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I voted for the Optima and other.
I have the Wolf and the Optima, a friend has the Paramount, I also have an older Traditions.
I wouldn't try much over 100yds with the Tradituons. The wolf is good out to 200 if need be, but not as accurate as the Optima.
I won't ever do it, but if need be to keep from starving, I could without a doubt make a 300yd shot with the Optima, maybe further.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

An old New England Firearms Handi rifle in .45 inline is what I own, as although it's a re-engineered single shot break action..., it's antique-ish. Mine uses a #11 cap, and was the early version where ifin you have a misfire, you have to wait a bit, and then point the breech away from you incase it's a hangfire, so the breech insert doesn't fly backwards and hit you.

LD

 

[T.R.]

CVA Optima is TOPS!! - TR

 

[Oldelkhunter]

Like others have said be careful with used purchases. A few years back I purchased a Knight MK85 for a good price. I didn’t bother looking at it until a few months later and lo and behold it was loaded with powder and a bullet.

 

[alsaqr]

i have a switch barrel Encore, a very nice TC Black Diamond, a .54 caliber TC Fire Hawk, and CVA Magnum Hunter rifles.

Several years ago i received a Traditions Buck Stalker rifle for Christmas. i installed a Minox ZV scope and loaded 120 grains of Black MZ powder behind a 250 grain SST bullet in the black crush rib sabot. That combination makes one inch three shot groups a 125 yards . My range lacks butts at 100 yards because of a mud hole.

 

[Hookeye]

Put my Hawken Silver Elite back in orig box.
Am.done w BP.
Too cold.for.me.to.hunt that late season LOL
Plus last yr it was legal light and i still.couldnt see the irons.

Yeah I could go scoped inline, but that aint gonna change the weather. While i love venison I dont need a doe in the freezer that bad.

My hunting spot not the best but after reg gun season the bucks dont show back up til after MZ.
If then ( camera show sometimes week after deer seasons have closed LOL ).