Traditional muzzleloader question.

[Head Hunter]

I have never hunted with a muzzle loader. I bought a mule deer tag for my son for his16th birthday. It is a restricted muzzle loader hunt. Here is the definition copy and pasted from the game proclamation web site.

Restricted Muzzleloader (for certain deer hunts)
Any muzzleloading rifle (including a smoothbore flintlock or
musket) using open sights in which the charge and projectile
are loaded through the muzzle. Only black powder, Pyrodex
or an equivalent substitute may be used. Smokeless powder,
in-line ignition, pelleted powder, sabots, belted bullets, multiple
projectiles and scopes are illegal.

How far will he be able to effectively take a deer with these restrictions? I know nothing about muzzleloaders, I spent the first 15 years of my hunting life with a rifle in hand and the last 15 with a bow mostly. I am pumped about taking him he doesn't know about it.

[gatorgar]

I trust my Hawken up to 100 yards. Just need to get out to the range with it and shoot till you find the powder load and projectiles that it likes. Good luck with it and have fun.

[30-30]

+1 I got a Springfield hawken 50 cal a couple years ago and with a decent rest I can keep almost all my shots on a pie tin at 100 yards. I use a patch and ball with 100 grains of ffg pyrodex.

Do you have the gun yet? Percussion caps are more user friendly than flintlocks. They can be had for around $300, and can be mail ordered to your door.

[Head Hunter]

+1 I got a Springfield hawken 50 cal a couple years ago and with a decent rest I can keep almost all my shots on a pie tin at 100 yards. I use a patch and ball with 100 grains of ffg pyrodex.

Do you have the gun yet? Percussion caps are more user friendly than flintlocks. They can be had for around $300, and can be mail ordered to your door.

No gun yet, I am going with a percussion for sure. I am looking at the Cabelas sporterized hawken.

[Head Hunter]

Can a TC Pro hunter be converted to a tradional muzzleloader?

[Bowhuntamistad]

I am good to go up to 200 yards with my set up.

T/C Omega shooting a Hornady 250gr SST sabot and two 50gr Pyrodex pellets. I replaced the factory rear sight with a fiber optic ghost ring since Nevada doesn't allow scopes or anything battery operated.

Now, seeing your restrictions....I would say with practice no more than 100. The best thing will be to experiment with different loads until you get the best results. Muzzys are very finicky and they all shoot different(even between rifle of the same make and model). It will require alot of attention and care but can produce.


Where is he hunting, may I ask? Hunting stragedy will dictate how far he will have to shoot. I shot a muley last year and have a tag again this year along with helping on several hunts.

[Bowhuntamistad]

Can a TC Pro hunter be converted to a tradional muzzleloader?

It could...but would be an in-line system probably having to use 209 primers. I don't think it would fly under those rules.

[Phillip Fields]

I use a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .54 caliber. I use a .530 round ball with a .015 patch loaded in front of 110 grains of FFg black powder. I have taken several deer from 100 - 125 yards with it.

[Head Hunter]

He will be hunting on a private ranch SE New Mexico. No trees, but plenty of sand hills and scrub oak to hide behind. I have bowhunted with this ranch with good success for 10 years prior to moving to TX. I can get within 75 yards all day by myself but with my son it may be a bit more difficult.

[Uncle Saggy]

I've been shooting trad for close to 30 years with the same 2 rifles, 50 cal Hawken and a 50 cal flintlock. 100 grains of FF black powder and a round ball patched with pillow ticking. Very accurate to 100.

[Bowhuntamistad]

He will be hunting on a private ranch SE New Mexico. No trees, but plenty of sand hills and scrub oak to hide behind. I have bowhunted with this ranch with good success for 10 years prior to moving to TX. I can get within 75 yards all day by myself but with my son it may be a bit more difficult.

You've got it made

[Razorback01]

Mine is a Traditions Hawken- almost copy, sidelock with #11's, 385gn Hornady Great Plains conical over 90gns of powder (not pellets). I'm good to 100 as long as i get the get the open sights on them. 50 is more like it, I only use it in Arkansas and Florida.

Shooting a muzzleloader is similar to archery, get into a routine cleaning, drying, poppong a cap prior to loading, tamping the ball/bullet on the powder etc.