What to avoid

[KYEric]

Looking to buy a percussion rifle that I can use for hunting whitetail and possibly try out competition shooting at Friendship.

I'm an NRA Master shooter at CMP Service rifle and wanting to try my hand at black powder.

I've read and read and think I know what I want but before hitting some gun shows and pawn shops I wanted to see if there is anything specific I should avoid.

Looking for a .50 caliber but open to a .45 or a .54. From what I've read the .45 is probably more accurate and would take down a whitetail no problem. Only reason I'm thinking .50 is I've done some black bear and boar hunting and might give it a try in black powder. I'm going to give black powder competition shooting a go but not sure if I will stick with it so don't want to buy a rifle for that alone.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Billnpatti]

Take a look at this and play with it a bit to help you choose a caliber. http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/rbballistics/rbballistics.html

Scroll all the way to the bottom where it says "Click Here to download an application....." click on that and it will take you to a round ball ballistics program. Then just plug in some data for the different calibers and muzzle velocities and it may help you to select a caliber that best suits your needs.

 

[KYEric]

Thank you. Great info. Much appreciated.

 

[mooman76]

Do you have a price range?

 

[Don Steele]

Since you asked:
The first thing I'm going to say is that if you plan to hunt Whitetail and hogs a .45 will work...but I'd not go so far as to say "No Problem".
A .45 will "work" providing you know your limitations, and the limitations of the rifle and load you choose.
As old "Bear Claw" Chris Lapp said to Jeremiah Johnson: "you got some larnin' to do".
If you're bound to only own 1 rifle,and are asking "what to avoid"... I recommend you avoid a .45.
If you get a .50 your limitations go down a little while your options go up a little.
I started shooting muzzleloaders in the 1970's. 50 caliber all the way, ever since. I've taken deer and hogs and never lost a critter I shot at. Even so, if I knew THEN what I know now, I would have gone with 2 rifles: a .40 for paper punching and a .54 to hunt.
There's my 2 cents, and worth every bit of it..!!
Good Luck, and Welcome. :hatsoff:

 

[AZbpBurner]

I've been shooting other people's BP rifles for over 45 years, mostly in the .40 - .50 cal range. My first rifle was a .54 cal. breechloader that I've had since the early 80's. While nothing special on its' own, I did cast for it, which paved the way for decisions on rifles to get later on. I bought both flint and percussion .50 cal rifles a few years ago, and they are accurate to shoot, fun and pack a punch. Opportunity arose to get a percussion rifle in .54 cal, and I remembered my long-forgotten .54 cal molds. The price was right, and it proved to be easier to develop accurate loads for than my .50 cal's. I went on to get a flintlock in .54 cal, and it about points and shoots on it's own. At 100 yards, grapefruit didn't stand a chance.

If you want to spend more time shooting, and less time breaking in a rifle & developing an accurate load, .54 cal can't be beat.

 

[KYEric]

I'd like to get setup for $1,000 or under. Willing to spend more if I take to black powder.

 

[KYEric]

I already cast for .44 mag and .45/70. I reload for all my shooting and hunting ammo.

Might end up just getting a .50 or .54 and playing at Friendship this year. If I like it buy a target gun.

I own property and have a small horse farm here in KY. I have places to hunt but black powder sure does extend my hunting season and give me a bunch of public grounds to hunt on.

 

[bob308]

I would say a tc Hawkins,lyman gpr or trade rifle. one with a barrel that is easy to remove. that way later you can get a .45 cal barrel or a .40.

 

[KYEric]

Bob. I didn't realize it was easy to swap barrels. I would think resighting of the rifle would be required after removing a barrel.

 

[KYEric]

I like the Hawkins style but would like a 33" barrel or close to that.

 

[KYEric]

I really don't like Cheaper Than Dirt but they have a good a good price on a Lyman .50 Great Plains Rifle. Fixed front sights and elevation on ky adjustable rear sight.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/6-0509594
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/6-0509779

 

[jamieorr]

These guys, http://muzzle-loaders.com/ , have the Great Plains for $528. I bought my Trade Rifle from them and although they ran out and had to back order, I was satisfied with the service.

Jamie

 

[KYEric]

Jamie, that's a link to this forum.

 

[KYEric]

I think you meant this site:
http://www.thegunworks.com

 

[azmntman]

I would get a .54 myself. Lyman is a good bet but I would look for a used one in near new condition (as I heard quality control is lacking these days and was outstanding a while back). With a .54 you can load down for smaller stuff and way up for mean things.

I would move to KY if you could get our humidity (or lack of it). I hate humidity. All my folks from there. Pop was born in "good luck" KY, ever heard of it? Nobody else has LOL :rotf: :shake:

 

[KYEric]

I have heard of Goodluck, KY. My family is from Greensburg. Not far from it.

 

[biliff]

Check your states regs for minimum caliber requirements for the game you intend to hunt. .50 seems to be minimum for bear out here in the PNW.

 

[KYEric]

I bear hunt in Idaho. I wouldn't hunt near with anything less than a .50.

 

[Jim C]

Eric.....go to "Muzzleloaders.com" they are $528. I've been shooting a GPR 50 cal percussion now for about 15 yrs. I absolutely love it. I squirrel hunt with it and actually hit the little boogers in the head with it! Can't get much more accurate than that.