I was surprised yesterday when one of the men I teach in my adult Sunday School class said...Come take a walk with me I have something I want you to have. It was a muzzleloader, my first.
He gave me a very gently used Thompson Center High Plains Sporter in 50 caliber with a 1 in 48 right hand twist. It has a military style peep sight on the rear that is mounted just over the trigger as opposed to a blade rear sight mounted in front of the hammer. It is short, almost like a coach gun double barrel...so it will make an incredible deer hunting rifle, which I intend to use it as.
I am trying to figure out where to go from here..I am a muzzleloading moron having never picked one up until yesterday.
I will say that I would LIKE to use the pyrodex pellets but only because it would be easier for my son to load (he wants to hunt with it) and when hunting from deer stands 20 feet in the air it seems like less to go wrong. I would like to avoid ball bullets if possible. Having said that, I am not sure if my gun will reliably shoot the pellets using the #11 caps. I understand that I can upgrade to a musket cap system and probably will.
I am starting at ground one so any advise on charges, bullets, cleaning (I hear the soapy water method is good), maximum range for this gun, etc. will be greatly appreciated.
I will get some pictures up shortly of my new favorite gun!
Thanks,
New
He gave me a very gently used Thompson Center High Plains Sporter in 50 caliber with a 1 in 48 right hand twist. It has a military style peep sight on the rear that is mounted just over the trigger as opposed to a blade rear sight mounted in front of the hammer. It is short, almost like a coach gun double barrel...so it will make an incredible deer hunting rifle, which I intend to use it as.
I am trying to figure out where to go from here..I am a muzzleloading moron having never picked one up until yesterday.
I will say that I would LIKE to use the pyrodex pellets but only because it would be easier for my son to load (he wants to hunt with it) and when hunting from deer stands 20 feet in the air it seems like less to go wrong. I would like to avoid ball bullets if possible. Having said that, I am not sure if my gun will reliably shoot the pellets using the #11 caps. I understand that I can upgrade to a musket cap system and probably will.
I am starting at ground one so any advise on charges, bullets, cleaning (I hear the soapy water method is good), maximum range for this gun, etc. will be greatly appreciated.
I will get some pictures up shortly of my new favorite gun!
Thanks,
New