Try muzzleloader?

[Armored farmer]

To me, the appeal of an inline, modern, scoped, 209 or electronic primed rifle isn't there.
I am, however, drawn to the traditional rifles for their beauty, history, simplicity, and independence from some federal regulations.
The flintlock is the essence of shooting sports in my opinion.
The BP club that I belong to has been a huge source of enjoyment for me for decades.
The traditional styled bp rifle is a different discipline than modern rifles (or inlines).

 

[H&Hhunter]

The muzzleloading season here in Oklahoma is my favorite deer hunting season. It comes early in the year when the large mature bucks are predictable as to where they bed, where they eat and their travel patterns. This all ends when the rut starts because the big mature bucks quickly lock down with a doe and are hard to find and predict. Early in the year the best hunting times are early in the morning and late in the evening but when the rut starts the activity can be all day long. I have hunted with both a Thompson Center 50 caliber Hawken and since 1995 I have been using a White Super 91 50 caliber inline. Attached is a picture of my 2023 buck with my Super 91 rifle.View attachment 1189685

Wow! That is a stud of a whitetail buck…

 

[.38 Special]

However, I can't help but wonder if "crabby old men" complained about the newfangled cap locks, when flint locks were the standard. Darn little copper cups with their priming compound. LOL

I'm sure they did. Hell, I still do! Most of it, though, is half-serious at most. I personally have no use for plastic-and-stainless inlines, but if someone else wants one, that's not my business. The only bit that does grind my gears - and this holds true for centerfire hunting as well - is the obsession with sniping game animals from the next county over.

 

[.38 Special]

While I honor and understand your crabbiness, some muzzle loaders have come a long way since this was true. Something like a scooped CVA Paramount is capable of making clean kills at 400 yards.

There are some high dollar rigs like the Gunwerks ML that have been reliably making kills at 500+ yards.

These rifles do not in any way resemble a traditional ML. But muzzle loaders they are.

Frankly, I hate this sort of thing. I mean, I am aware of the existence of such guns - my Gibbs is technically capable of taking deer at a thousand yards - but it's essentially a stunt; artillery practice at live animals. Yes, with laser rangefinding, a handheld computer, and a reticle that looks like a flowchart, you can often drop a bullet into a deer at long range - but you're always on the ragged edge of gut shooting some critter that will limp off into the brush and die in agony. Big egos, fat wallets, and the pursuit of internet fame is an ugly combination anywhere, and nowhere more so than in the hunting field.

Meanwhile, there's the guy considering the $199 special so that he can take advantage of another week in the field, and the last thing he needs in his head is the idea of 400+ yard shots.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Always hunted deer with centerfire rifle. Never took to bowhunting. But, our state permits a couple of weeks of muzzleloader hunting at the beginning of archery season, and getting to hunt in September during the rut is appealing. I'd appreciate the thoughts/comments of anyone who has taken to muzzleloaders after years of centerfire hunting.

Idk what state your in but here ruts in November and December

 

[.308 Norma]

Idk what state your in but here ruts in November and December

I'm pretty sure the timing of the "ruts" depends more on species and latitudes than on the state lines.

Hunting the Mule Deer Rut - NSSF Let's Go Hunting (letsgohunting.org)

How to enjoy elk rutting season safely | Advnture

 

[nvcdl]

I just ordered a Kibler Flint lock kit so I could take advantage of hunting during muzzleloaders season. Seems like the rut is pretty much over by the time rifle season starts in VA. I usually get bucks during second rut then. The modern muzzleloaders just seem stupid to me. I figure the flintlock will at least be a cool wall decoration the rest of the year.

 

[bratch]

Getting into the field with a muzzleloader is my goal for 2024. I picked up an old CVA Optima a couple years ago but didn’t shoot it until this fall. I had some consistency issues that I’m planning to work through this spring to be ready for October.

I bow hunt so I’m not getting an extra season but it will extend my range during that week of October and there is at least one WMA by me that is open to ML but not centerfire during our rifle season.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I can't help but wonder if "crabby old men" complained about the newfangled cap locks, when flint locks were the standard.

Oh yes, many old timers stuck to their flintlocks. Many years after the percussion cap became popular. Harley introduced the overhead valve engine in 1936, but the flathead bikes were still being sold up until 1948. Same motorcycle, but you could get it in either flavor. So yes, crabby old men like to stick with what they know and like, and nothing wrong with that.

On range, I've never shot a deer over 110 yards, no matter what I was hunting with, 7.7, .30-06, .303 British, etc. (I shot one deer at 275 with a 7.7)

The guilty party of the 110 yard shot.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

So yes, crabby old men like to stick with what they know and like, and nothing wrong with that.

There certainly isn't.
I'm only 43 but I already am guilty.
In the 80s and 90s where I hunted the big debate was always .30-06 vs .270 Win. My father fell into the .30-06 camp, and that's still where I reside today. I shoot the '06 even though I know there are a lot of newer cartridges that are more efficient, flatter etc. It's what I grew up with and it's what I'll die with.

But for some reason with muzzleloaders, I'm going the other direction. I've hunted with scoped inlines for 20 years, and I just acquired these 2 rifles.
The top one is an Investarms .54 caliber carbine that I got for a steal last weekend.
The bottom one is actually my fathers. It's a .58 caliber Ardesa. He got it years ago and I don't know that he's ever shot it.
I'm researching the heck out of caplock rifles, and hope to hit the woods with them this coming October.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

There certainly isn't.
I'm only 43 but I already am guilty.
In the 80s and 90s where I hunted the big debate was always .30-06 vs .270 Win. My father fell into the .30-06 camp, and that's still where I reside today. I shoot the '06 even though I know there are a lot of newer cartridges that are more efficient, flatter etc. It's what I grew up with and it's what I'll die with.

But for some reason with muzzleloaders, I'm going the other direction. I've hunted with scoped inlines for 20 years, and I just acquired these 2 rifles.
The top one is an Investarms .54 caliber carbine that I got for a steal last weekend.
The bottom one is actually my fathers. It's a .58 caliber Ardesa. He got it years ago and I don't know that he's ever shot it.
I'm researching the heck out of caplock rifles, and hope to hit the woods with them this coming October.

Wow, those are nice, and certainly Crabby old Man approved. (crabby old men is a lifestyle, not age related! Yes wow. I made a carbine or 'trapper" out of a trashed .50" barrel I have, for my TC. (also have a nice long barrel) Looks much like that. I had the barrel smooth bored to .58".

Anyhow, I think those rifles will do you well. Nice calibers. I think the key to success with any ML is the cleaning prior to loading them up to hunt. Clean them within an inch of their life, clean it again with alcohol, (denatured) dry patch them to death, then let them sit for an hour before loading. !!! You'll never have a failure to fire. For target shooting or sighting in, "meh", not necessary.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Get a Civil War replica minie gun and learn to use it. Practice range estimation with your eyeball so you can adjust the sights. Those guns could hit minute os soldier at 500 yds.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Get a Civil War replica minie gun and learn to use it. Practice range estimation with your eyeball so you can adjust the sights. Those guns could hit minute os soldier at 500 yds.

Except, the replicas don't have progressive depth rifling. They can be frustrating with hunting loads. Don't ask me how I know that!!!

 

[HB]

Inline muzzleloaders are more capable than a 30-30 in my experience, assuming you aren’t trying to shoot 2 deer at a time. Caplocks are more fun but typically limit you to 75 yards are so with roundballs. Conicals shoot well as far as you can see/know your drop. I have no experience with flintlocks but would like to get one some day.

 

[brewer12345]

Inline muzzleloaders are more capable than a 30-30 in my experience, assuming you aren’t trying to shoot 2 deer at a time. Caplocks are more fun but typically limit you to 75 yards are so with roundballs. Conicals shoot well as far as you can see/know your drop. I have no experience with flintlocks but would like to get one some day.

Heh, I would not hesitate at 100 yards with a 58 ball.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Caplocks are more fun but typically limit you to 75 yards are so with roundballs.

Yes, as brewer12345 says, it's more like 100 yards or so, probably a good 120 if you are sighted in a little high at 100. But that is a bit of nit-picking. My Jeager pictured above did a buck at 110 paces, (.62 caliber, .600" ball) and I didn't hold high or anything. (he was trotting from right to left also) And again, except for my only one long-shot, 275 yards with a 7.7, I have never had to shoot over 75 yards, more typically in the 50 yard range, and one doe I got at 20 feet. !!! But, perhaps that all depends on where you hunt.

 

[brewer12345]

But, perhaps that all depends on where you hunt.

Quite. There is a property I can use a ML on, but I've yet to get closer than within 150 yards of a deer there and mostly iy is 200+ yard shots. Other places I routinely kill deer at 50 yards.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Here in Kansass the muzzle loader season was in early November or late October but that was changed to mid September a few years back. That's still too warm and buggy for me so if I want to hunt with one of my muzzle loaders I just hunt during the regular gun season. I've taken deer with both flint and cap locks, round ball loads all, and it's a very satisfying accomplishment. I've also taken a couple turkeys with my smoothbore flintlocks and that was fun.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I've also taken a couple turkeys with my smoothbore flintlocks and that was fun.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Armored farmer]

I just ordered a Kibler Flint lock kit so I could take advantage of hunting during muzzleloaders season. Seems like the rut is pretty much over by the time rifle season starts in VA. I usually get bucks during second rut then. The modern muzzleloaders just seem stupid to me. I figure the flintlock will at least be a cool wall decoration the rest of the year.

An excellent choice.
The very best deals in the BP industry.

 

[HB]

Heh, I would not hesitate at 100 yards with a 58 ball.

For what its worth, I need to experiment more with my hawken. It seems to have fliers that get a little wild at range. My smoothbore
.54 took a lot of experimentation to get it to shoot roundball but its good to 35 yards even without a rear sight.

 

[AK Hunter]

Our muzzleloader season comes in after rifle season so there is not many deer left in our public woods.
But one tip I can give you, many times I have sit in the rain during ML season & as you know water and muzzleloaders don't get along. So to keep my powder dry a small piece of black duct tape keeps the water out of the barrel.

 

[Armored farmer]

Our muzzleloader season comes in after rifle season so there is not many deer left in our public woods.
But one tip I can give you, many times I have sit in the rain during ML season & as you know water and muzzleloaders don't get along. So to keep my powder dry a small piece of black duct tape keeps the water out of the barrel.

View attachment 1189905

I use cling wrap around my caplock lock.

 

[brewer12345]

For what its worth, I need to experiment more with my hawken. It seems to have fliers that get a little wild at range. My smoothbore
.54 took a lot of experimentation to get it to shoot roundball but its good to 35 yards even without a rear sight.

I'd regard 100 yards as my limit simply due to vision limitations. That said, the nice thing about the bigger bore balls is that what would ordinarily a marginal hit is a very dead deer.

 

[red rick]

Are Armi Sport .50 caliber Kentucky rifles any good ? Would you pay $400 dollars for one unfired ?