I guess even ugly rifles can make meat.

[diyj98]

A Traditions was my first muzzleloader just because they were a cheap way to gain entry to the sport. It was accurate enough to take deer around the house.

 

[WalnutRed]

My friend said that this particular Deerhunter was the easiest ML rifle for which he ever tried to find a good load and zero. 70gns of 777 by volume and a patched RB gave him a good 100yd group right out of the box. He chose this rifle because it was a good size for his young son to handle. No argument from me there. Zach did mention that on the first shot at the deer the rifle just went "click". He reached over, recocked the rifle and told his son to shoot again. This time the rifle fired. We both figure the cap was not seated firmly on the nipple. He thought his son was aiming at the doe standing broadside but it turns out he was aiming at the young buck facing them. It was an effective shot with an sufficient load in an rifle with plenty of hunting accuracy. I was not trying to bash Traditions products in general or the Deerhunter specifically. Honestly the main thing I dislike about the rifle is the gap between the ramrod and the barrel. This gap between the barrel and the ramrod at the muzzle is a potential brush catcher and in my opinion a real flaw in a rifle designed to be a hunting firearm. Traditions should move the underlug out closer to the muzzle or extend the rib closer. I'm sorry that my opinion of the cosmetics of the rifle detracted from a 7 year old's great shot and first deer.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

Congratulations to that young man on a Fine Harvest and an even finer shot. But you're right about that rifle being ugly. I have one in there in the cabinet, ugly yes, but the thing will shoot.

 

[Steve Wagner]

My friend said that this particular Deerhunter was the easiest ML rifle for which he ever tried to find a good load and zero. 70gns of 777 by volume and a patched RB gave him a good 100yd group right out of the box. He chose this rifle because it was a good size for his young son to handle. No argument from me there. Zach did mention that on the first shot at the deer the rifle just went "click". He reached over, recocked the rifle and told his son to shoot again. This time the rifle fired. We both figure the cap was not seated firmly on the nipple. He thought his son was aiming at the doe standing broadside but it turns out he was aiming at the young buck facing them. It was an effective shot with an sufficient load in an rifle with plenty of hunting accuracy. I was not trying to bash Traditions products in general or the Deerhunter specifically. Honestly the main thing I dislike about the rifle is the gap between the ramrod and the barrel. This gap between the barrel and the ramrod at the muzzle is a potential brush catcher and in my opinion a real flaw in a rifle designed to be a hunting firearm. Traditions should move the underlug out closer to the muzzle or extend the rib closer. I'm sorry that my opinion of the cosmetics of the rifle detracted from a 7 year old's great shot and first deer.

Red, 70 grains seem to be the magic charge for t-7 in Traditions cap rifles. It works great for me in PRB, 240 grn. and 385 grn. conicals. Remember that according to hodgdon, 85 grns. = 100 grns. of black powder. So 70 grains is no slouch load. I think, in general, Hodgdon gets this conversion about right. SW