Advanced Muzzleloading Rifle Characteristics
Magnum and Pellet Capability: Advanced muzzleloading means a bolt action or hammer style in-line ignition system optimized for Hodgdon's Pyrodex pellets and 209 shotgun primer ignition. They work equally well with non-pelletized powder. Magnum capability today is recognized by the ability to handle charges of 150 grains of FFg (or equivalent) pellets or powder. That doesn't mean the magnum capability is always good or that its always needed but it does indicate that the rifle has to be designed to withstand the higher pressures. Better quality almost always means better accuracy also, even if shooting moderate loads. Of course, better quality usually means higher cost also. However, a quality in-line muzzleloader will generally cost somewhat less than an equivalent centerfire and be just as accurate as many centerfires. A new definition of advanced muzzleloading also means the capability to use smokeless powder such as the Savage 10 MLCaliber: The fast twist 50 caliber muzzleloader
is the 30 caliber of the muzzleloaders, appropriate for all big game with the right bullets and loads. Its popularity along with
the sheer number of accessories and ammunition available for that
caliber make it the hands down favorite of most shooters.
The new 45 caliber has not proved to be as useful or as accurate as the 50
caliber and it popularity appears to be waning. The 54 caliber is the optimum caliber for
roundball but it
is fading in popularity with conical and sabot shooters as it won't do much
that a fast twist 50 caliber won't do. However, if limited to open
sights there is nothing lost with a fast twist 54 caliber. One way to
look at the calibers is : 45 caliber - varmints if you can get the needed
accuracy) and deer ; 50
caliber - varmints, deer, and elk, moose or bear; or 54 or bigger caliber if you
just have to have the heaviest possible bullet weight.
Barrel Length: The 26" barrel is hard to beat for accuracy and
versatility and seems to be the de facto standard. While some rifles may
have longer barrels, a long breech plug and a quick loading feature (without
rifling) can quickly bring the "useable" length down a couple of
inches. Shorter barrel short comings can be overcome using FFFg type powder
if the manufacturer allows it.
Twist Rate: For shooting sabotted bullets, the .50 caliber rifle
shooting .45 caliber bullets in a sabot is hard to beat for accuracy and
versatility. Twist rates from 1:20" to 1:38" work the best. Heavier
bullets generally require the slower twist rates. The 1:28" twist rate is
usually necessary to stabilize extra long bullets such as the heaviest Barnes copper
bullets and it is now the de facto standard.
Reliability: This is mentioned first as it is the most overlooked aspect of hunting with inline muzzleloaders. Hunters take it for granted with centerfire rifles but that's not the case for the inline muzzleloader with its exposed ignition system. The rifle MUST fire every time the trigger is pulled during a hunt and it needs to do that in the worst possible weather conditions. Firing during heavy and/or prolonged rain is the Achilles heal of muzzleloaders. Most ignitions can be weatherproofed somehow someway but a convenient way to quickly weatherproof the ignition is highly desirable. The best ones offer a convenient way to enclose the ignition from inclement weather. NOTE: Some states require open breech for muzzleloader deer hunting in which case other methods must be used.
Accuracy: The barrel is the heart of muzzle loading accuracy. An inline rifle shooting appropriate weight sabotted bullets should group within 2"or less at 100yds with at least one good load. The rifles listed are those that have a good reputation for consistent accuracy. Where we have personally tested them we have added our experiences with them.
Action Type: Its been long recognized in the centerfire world that bolt action rifles with solid bedding, short lock times, and good triggers are the pinnacle of accuracy. Its no different with muzzleloaders. A muzzleloader in the same configuration as an accurate bolt action is highly desirable. It should also mean that it can be cleaned with a cleaning tube inserted through the action to avoid getting solvents into the trigger area. A rifle with these characteristics will be the easiest to find a good load for and to maintain. That's not to say that other actions can't be accurate enough but if a hunter is looking for the absolute best accuracy this would be the best place to start. For some recommendations refer to our deer hunting rifle guide.Ignition: Hotter ignition does not always mean better accuracy or more velocity, sometimes the opposite is true. #11 caps, musket caps, and 209 shotgun primers are all options for most modern muzzle loading rifles. Cappers are almost necessary with scoped rifles and #11 caps work best in cappers that are easiest to carry in a pocket. Hotter #11 caps such as the CCI #11 Magnum cap are a good place to start for hunting rifles that can use them. 209 shotgun primers may be the most reliable. Early 209 primer holders didn't work well but there are now beginning to be good 209 primer holders. mlhunter.note: Rifles that have options for ignition can make for easier load development. I wanted to use two 50 grain Pyrodex Pellets and Precision Rifle LBT 330 bullets in my Austin & Halleck 320 Scout. With CCI #11 Magnum caps they shot into 1 1/2" at 100 meters (110 yards) . When I switched to the RWS musket cap it "patterned" bullets all over the target at the same distance.
Barreled Action Finish: Matte stainless or nickel finishes are best as it is easier to see black powder fouling on the lighter colored stainless (stainless steel or nickel) finishes. Stainless (stainless steel or nickel) finishes are also more resistant to rust but are not rustproof. Matte black or satin blue is fine for hunting and generally cost less than the silver finishes. Polished blue is hard to beat for beauty and can be covered with camo tape to avoid spooking game. mlhunter.note: Camouflage finishes are the rage right now but be advised that camouflage patterns are all about fashion, they go out of style very quickly and the value of that camo rifle will go down very quickly with it. The matte stainless or electroless nickel finishes cost a bit more but they hold their value the best and are the easiest to re-sell if and when the need arises.
Trigger: A lot of poor shooting gets blamed on triggers. Almost any trigger can be managed with enough practice, however its long been determined that the ideal hunting trigger should break smoothly between 3 and 3 1/2 pounds. I'm ok with trigger pulls up to 4 1/2 pounds on carbines IF they break cleanly. I have found trigger pulls over 12 pounds with some of the testing I have done. The best rifles have trigger pull and let off adjustments. NOTE: Only qualified gunsmiths should adjust triggers!
Mechanical Safety: Responsible gun handling is the best safety there is. There is no substitute for managing the muzzle of a gun so an accidental discharge fires into the ground or a safe background. Mechanical safeties don't make a gun safe. That said, the muzzleloader rifle should have at least one working mechanical safety that can be used with heavy gloves as many muzzleloading hunts are held during very cold weather.
Stock: Non-reflective finishes (synthetic or satin finished wood) are best for serious hunting. Muzzleloader bullets and large powder charges generate recoil - the stock should be designed to absorb it. Most hunters stock their advanced muzzleloader and the drop of the stock should be appropriate for scope mounting if that is desired. Comb raising kits are available for those rifles were the comb it too low for scope mounting. It should also have sling studs so the muzzleloader can be shouldered when dragging that field dressed animal to civilization. Glossy stocks can always be camo taped to avoid spooking game.
Cleaning Method: Consistent bedding is one key to accuracy and this requires cleaning the bore via a tube that is threaded into the breech well or cleaning from the muzzle instead of the breech end. If the gun has to be broken down for cleaning there is always the possibility of the stock not quite mating up with the barreled action the same way each time. This can affect accuracy unless the barrel and action is pillar and/or fiberglass bedded into the stock.
Overall Length: 26" barrels give optimum performance. These longer rifles have a balance point a bit closer to the muzzle than their centerfire counterparts. While a bit different than today's standard centerfire rifles which balance closer to the action, it is a decided accuracy advantage when shooting offhand which is the way most deer are shot. The alternative is to use a shorter barrel and give up some velocity. After a half day of hunting with my rifle with the 26" barrel rifle, I adapted to it and never noticed it again.
Overall Weight: Most high quality muzzleloaders weigh approximately 9 pounds or more with a scope mounted. This weight is optimum for magnum performance and for managing magnum recoil at the level where most people can (or want to) manage it. Recoil for such a rifle is in the .30-06 with heavier hunting bullets range. Recoil with 100 grain loads is moderate with the heavier rifles. This is on the heavy side for mountain hunting and woods hunting so compromises such as using a peep sight instead of scope, dealing with heavier recoil for lighter magnum rifles, or giving up distance with lighter rifles and moderate loads may be appropriate. The following categories of hunting rifles discuss these compromises is more detail.
Texas senderos, southern bean fields, stand hunting over farm fields or power line right of ways where shots up to 200 yds are planned for, and antelope and mule deer hunting in the vast plains out west are just some of the places where this type of inline muzzleloader really shines. The ideal inline muzzleloader rifle for this category has a bolt action for field access to the breech, has a barrel length of 26" for maximum velocity, and weighs 9# or better with scope to absorb much of the recoil from large powder charges. Unless hunting from a covered shack, this muzzleloader rifle must also shrug off snow and rain showers frequently encountered while hunting during fall to late winter. A 3x9x40 scope is plenty of scope for this type of muzzleloading rifle although bigger doesn't hurt anything. While primarily used for stand hunting, these rifles shouldn't be so heavy that they couldn't be carried for some still hunting such as back and forth to the stand.
Austin & Halleck Rifles have been a good choice for shooting magnum loads, however this company is going out of business again. Rifles may still be available both new and used, however there is no warranty service. The long actions of these rifles require extended front base and rings to set the scope back enough for a useable eye relief with normal objective scopes. The Monte Carlo scope aligns the eye best with larger objective scopes..
Knight Rifles 26" DISC models fit in this category. I have owned a couple of Knight muzzleloaders and I just am not a fan of the extra safety they have. However, if you like them they can do a good job for you.
The Savage 10 ML II muzzleloader also fits in this category. Based on the tried and true Savage Model 10 action this rifle with its longish (advertised as short) action and heavy 24" (21" useable) barrel when scoped weighs 9# - pretty good for stand hunting. The laminated, stainless steel, version is especially noted for its accuracy but is one pound heavier. Some muzzleloading hunters struggle with this concept the but the Savage Model 10ML II is the only muzzleloading rifle that will work with smokeless powder. Its not as well publicized but it will also work fine with Pyrodex P and FFFg black powder as well. NEVER USE SMOKELESS PROPELLANTS IN ANY OTHER MUZZLELOADER UNLESS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
mlhunter.note: These rifles are interesting to use as varmint rifles in the off season. So far I have taken one coyote at 175yds and one crow as that same distance. Its another way to hunt and really gets one ready for the big game hunting season.
The all purpose rifle by definition must be a compromise. This rifle must be accurate enough for stand work yet be light enough and balance well enough for still hunting and drive hunting. Many hunters I know stay on stand as long as they can stand it, usually until 8:00 to 9:00 am and then take to the woods still hunting or hunting via an organized drive. Towards evening, they are back on the stand again. A scope may or not be desirable depending on the expected range shots are likely to be taken.
In my opinion Thompson Center owns this category with the Encore being a good choice if scoped as most folks will. It weighs approximately 7#. The short single shot action can handle a 26" barrel without compromising balance. Add a compact scope and the rifle will weigh right at 8# even. Add the centerfire capability and you have an incredibly versatile rifle. The new 7# Omega with its 28" (26" useable) barrel is also a good choice.
Of all the inexpensive choices, the synthetic version of the H&R SideKick is a solid rifle with a good trigger and it is a good choice if adding a scope is not an issue.
mlhunter.note: I purchased an early Thompson Center Encore 209x50 and the trigger was bit rough. However, it smoothed out fairly quickly and now breaks between 3.5 and 4.0# with just a bit of creep. I can live with it but if I ever can get the time to arrange it I'll have an action and trigger job done on it. Also, the synthetic stock has a bit higher comb and is a better choice if the rifle is to be scoped.
mlhunter.note: NRA sponsered testing proved that 41 feet field of view at 100 yds is optimum for shooting at running game and its also long been proven that 2.5x power is the most magnification that allows shooting with both eyes open which is necessary for close cover shooting. When fixed power scopes were popular the 6x power scope was considered adequate for those 300yds shots. Based on this knowledge, MANY veteran hunters have settled on a 2.5x to 4x fixed power or a 2x7x32 variable power as the "do it all" general purpose scope.
The All Purpose Scout Rifle (First introduced on this web site)
Made popular by Jeff Cooper, the "gunner's guru", this configuration makes a lot of sense with a muzzleloader as high power scopes are not necessary for hits on deer sized game out to 200yds. The Scout concept rifle is extremely fast on target, designed so both eyes can be kept open getting a full field of view while also getting sufficient magnification for good shot placement. That makes an excellent rifle for hunting in heavy cover such as timber. It also makes a rifle that can be used in all types of weather. In addition, if survival in the wild is one of those things that crosses your mind once in awhile, it would be hard to find a more versatile firearm for that purpose.
Ideally, the "Scout" rifle has a barrel length of 19" - 20" and a total weight of 7 pounds or so. These rifles feature both a quality peep sight system as well as the capability to forward mount a removable "Scout" type or pistol scope. The Austin & Halleck 320 LR Scout Series we offer is the first of its kind to our knowledge. Built and offered only at mlhunter.com, this rifle is the ultimate general purpose muzzleloading big bore rifle. These are a custom proposition as we no longer offer them for sale. NOTE the wide open capping area. This is great for capping with gloves on and also provides a great balance point for easy carrying. To compensate for the shorter barrel I use up to 100 grains of Pyrodex P (my favorite) or Triple Seven which is not a problem with good strong rifles such as the Austin & Halleck..
mlhunter.note: When we had the prototype Scout rifle built we thought we might have to give up some accuracy but we found the stiff barrel of the Austin & Halleck Scout Rifle along with a target style muzzle crown made it shoot just as accurately as with the longer barrel.
Muzzleloading in Extreme WeatherSerious hunters hunt no matter what the weather is. The ignition system of most advanced muzzleloading rifles either are or can be made to be weather proof and the muzzle can be taped with waterproof electric tape or a covered with a balloon. However, in the really and truly bad stuff (driving rain or blinding snow) a scope is useless. In this situation, big and bold open sights are needed..
The most common solution and still a good one is to use Weaver style bases for quick removal of the scope and have a good set of open sights on the rifle. This is a good solution if you hunt quite a ways from the starting point and its not practical to go back and get another rifle. A Scout rifle makes this more practical but this is an option that has been used for many years and most people are used to the concept.
mlhunter.lament: The old-timers knew that a patridge style front sight and wide notch rear sight with good light bars on both sides as part of the sight picture worked well on their traditional muzzleloaders under all conditions and for many of them their life depended on it. Most hunters can't hit anything with open sights any further than the effective range of those rifles which was about 125yds. These sights continue to be favored among handgun silhouette shooters as they're the easiest to hit the target with. Over the years I've modified the sights on several military rifles and revolvers and I've always found I could shoot them better when I did. My lament is . . . why is it impossible to find (or even buy!) these type of sights on modern hunting rifles?
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