New Muzzleloader Recommendations

Shop deals on ebay
L & R
Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
JJohnson2023

JJohnson2023

40 Cal
Joined
May 5, 2023
Messages
122
Reaction score
100
Location
U.S.A
I am looking to get a new front stuffer at some point. I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts or input. I'm posting on the hunting forum because I specifically want to be able to hunt with it, preferably as much as I legally and ethically can. I would like it to be able to run the gamut from squirrels to upland birds to deer in theory. Where I hunt, a muzzleloader must be at least .45 cal to hunt deer. I would also prefer a percussion so most fowling pieces are out, as they are flintlock. As of right now, I'm thinking about compromising birds and deer, and getting a .32 crockett rifle or a .36 santa fe investarms hawken. I think a .62 smooth hawken could be my perfect answer. Any input would be appreciated.
 
pedersoli rocky mountain hawken in 54 will cover all the game you may ever want to hunt in north america, as close to the originals as possible (for a manufactured gun) and will not break the bank.
 
laufer said:
pedersoli rocky mountain hawken in 54 will cover all the game you may ever want to hunt in north america, as close to the originals as possible (for a manufactured gun) and will not break the bank.
Click to expand...
I'd like a .54 but then that rules out small game hunting I think. I'd rather not be able to hunt deer than not be able to hunt small game with it
 
First, you have to decide on what you want to hunt, then the folks will point you in the right direction.
 
How about this, can I have recommendations for the most versatile percussion muzzleloaders in your opinions?
 
The OP said 45 cal was the smallest caliber one could use for deer. Since the OP would like one caliber for all hunting I would recommend a 50 caliber. It would be legal in your state and enough for deer depending on your hunting terrain. If you’re talking a wooded hunting area it would be fine. If your talking wide open terrain where the shooting would be over 100 yards you should consider a 54. In my state of Indiana hunting in wooded terrain where a long shot would be 75 yards, then a 50 would be fine. As far as squirrels, either go for a head shot only or do as I do and load down from a deer load. Shooting a lesser load requires time on a range to see what is accurate. My squirrel load is 30 grains. But I spent a lot of range time finding out which lesser load was accurate out to 30yards. Just my opinion. Other members may have different experience to share.
 
For birds.. pedersoli double.. dixi gun works model.

For deer.. a TC.. depends on the deals. There seems to always be a few
 
JJohnson2023 said:
I think a .62 smooth hawken could be my perfect answer. Any input would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Can you build a kit? Are you willing to pay for a custom build? Or are you only looking at production guns? Budget?

If a .62 smooth Hawken is your perfect answer, contact the Hawken Shop and talk to them to see what the possibilities are.

http://www.thehawkenshop.com/

I have an "Early Virginia" .62 caliber smooth rifle (mine is flint). Very versatile gun. It has a cylinder bore which gives me good shot patterns out to 25 yards...maybe more if I tried the Skychief load. While I use my rifles for deer, I have worked up a good PRB load for up to 75 yards. If I could only have one gun, this would be it.

Versatility comes with a price though. That price is range, in both cases.

If I was looking for a lower cost option, I might find a used TC Big Bore .58 (whole gun) and another used barrel, then send the one barrel to be bored to smooth. It's a 7/8" barrel, so you probably won't get 20 ga. But close. Two barrels interchangable in one stock.

If you were to build from a kit, you could pick any style you liked...just have the stock have no lock inlet so you can do a percussion lock. Outfit with a smoothbore barrel.

Just throwing out ideas. Lots of ways to accomplish what you want.
 
JJohnson2023 said:
I am looking to get a new front stuffer at some point. I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts or input. I'm posting on the hunting forum because I specifically want to be able to hunt with it, preferably as much as I legally and ethically can. I would like it to be able to run the gamut from squirrels to upland birds to deer in theory. Where I hunt, a muzzleloader must be at least .45 cal to hunt deer. I would also prefer a percussion so most fowling pieces are out, as they are flintlock. As of right now, I'm thinking about compromising birds and deer, and getting a .32 crockett rifle or a .36 santa fe investarms hawken. I think a .62 smooth hawken could be my perfect answer. Any input would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Curious at to what the single non-muzzleloader gun you would have hunted with or did hunt with as a youth? Obviously, a 22RF would have been out, though ‘adequate’ for deer if poaching, not likely legal. Any type of centerfire gun likely wouldn’t have been a good idea for small game. Likely left you with your best choice being some type of shotgun. Imagine the same single gun logic you may have used in your youth (assuming here that you are an all purpose one gun hunter) applies to your muzzleloader choice. Only question is what gauge?

Personally, I was fortunate enough to have been able to own 22RFs, shotguns and rifles, in addition to various muzzleloaders in my formative younger days. Delivered newspapers. mowed lawns and shoveled snow among other things to make it happen.
 
Pedersoli Mortimer flintlock can be had with a rifle barrel and a swap smoothbore. I had the 54 rifle, and it was really fast and accurate. Really beautiful and functional. I sold it because it was well over 10 pounds, and that is too heavy where I hunt.
 
I agree with the smoothbore option, I'd lean towards a TC .56 smooth if can find one. See them every so often on here and some online sites. Can shoot shot for small game and a RB for large. Cost would be middle road compared to buying new pedersoli or from the hawken shop but still not cheap. If looking for a rifled barrel, I'd not look any smaller then a .45 for all game. Big for small game and small for large game but will work for both. A lot to think about.
 
If you want one ML to do it all and a percussion then this is easy to answer. Get a percussion shotgun of 20ga or larger. Problem solved unless you want to shoot 100 yards or so.
 
You can always consider a 20 ga double barrel or single barrel. If deer and other big game are occasional and small game are your focus, then the shotgun seems like a good all-around gun. I just put a rear sight on my Pedersoli 12 ga and am hoping to test out the windage/elevation this weekend if the weather permits. In my state of CA, a double barrel wouldn't be legal during muzzleloader only seasons since it has 2 barrels. But a single barrel, like the TC New Englander might be right up your alley. #6 shot would do fine for small game and a .600 roundball would drop a moose.
 

Attachments

  • 2024-12-03 20.20.49.jpg
    2024-12-03 20.20.49.jpg
    4.8 MB
Spikebuck said:
Can you build a kit? Are you willing to pay for a custom build? Or are you only looking at production guns? Budget?

If a .62 smooth Hawken is your perfect answer, contact the Hawken Shop and talk to them to see what the possibilities are.

http://www.thehawkenshop.com/

I have an "Early Virginia" .62 caliber smooth rifle (mine is flint). Very versatile gun. It has a cylinder bore which gives me good shot patterns out to 25 yards...maybe more if I tried the Skychief load. While I use my rifles for deer, I have worked up a good PRB load for up to 75 yards. If I could only have one gun, this would be it.

Versatility comes with a price though. That price is range, in both cases.

If I was looking for a lower cost option, I might find a used TC Big Bore .58 (whole gun) and another used barrel, then send the one barrel to be bored to smooth. It's a 7/8" barrel, so you probably won't get 20 ga. But close. Two barrels interchangable in one stock.

If you were to build from a kit, you could pick any style you liked...just have the stock have no lock inlet so you can do a percussion lock. Outfit with a smoothbore barrel.

Just throwing out ideas. Lots of ways to accomplish what you want.
Click to expand...
I'd prefer a production gun, I can do some very simple kit building. The idea of the TC big bore is interesting, thank you
 
SDSmlf said:
Curious at to what the single non-muzzleloader gun you would have hunted with or did hunt with as a youth? Obviously, a 22RF would have been out, though ‘adequate’ for deer if poaching, not likely legal. Any type of centerfire gun likely wouldn’t have been a good idea for small game. Likely left you with your best choice being some type of shotgun. Imagine the same single gun logic you may have used in your youth (assuming here that you are an all purpose one gun hunter) applies to your muzzleloader choice. Only question is what gauge?

Personally, I was fortunate enough to have been able to own 22RFs, shotguns and rifles, in addition to various muzzleloaders in my formative younger days. Delivered newspapers. mowed lawns and shoveled snow among other things to make it happen.
Click to expand...
I think of the shotgun as the ultimate in versatility, you could probably hunt anything in North America ethically, although it may not be perfect for every situation.
 

Similar threads

Sebaney
Would-be hunter in NW Alabama
3 4 5
Replies
82
Views
2K
Trigger
Trigger
A
PA Conical vs 54 RB Advice
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
planefixer da50
P
Canadian Dragoon
Missed opportunities
Replies
12
Views
465
mikesto44
mikesto44
JJohnson2023
Hunting Stories Thread
2 3
Replies
44
Views
3K
yellowhammer
Y
Y
Hello from Maine
2
Replies
29
Views
511
Songwriter
Songwriter

Latest posts

Back
Top