Muzzleloaders, also often called black-powder rifles, give sportsmen and women in many states additional opportunities to hunt white-tailed deer and other big game thanks to special “primitive” seasons. And I know from experience that muzzleloading rifles have come a long way over the past three or four decades. Let’s take a look at the evolution of modern muzzleloaders.
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- What’s Changed?
- A Couple Muzzleloaders To Consider
I remember well a hunt in western Oklahoma back in the late 1980s. Using a caplock muzzleloader before inline guns were introduced, I popped a cap on three different bucks in the same wet weekend without igniting my powder charge. In those days, a rainy weekend during primitive season often meant disaster for deer hunters.
Fast forward to the present day, and muzzleloaders are nearly as reliable as cartridge rifles. Likewise, some are deadly accurate out past a couple of hundred yards.
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With a few exceptions, most of today’s black-powder rifles aren’t loaded with loose powder poured down the barrel, followed by a cotton patch, with a ball then stuffed down on top of those components. Back in the day, a piece of flint was used to ignite some loose powder in a small “pan,” which in turn ignited the powder charge in the gun.
Most modern muzzleloaders are still loaded from the muzzle. However, instead of loose powder, a pellet of powder is dropped down the barrel, followed by a conical bullet, often inside a plastic sabot to better engage the rifling of the barrel.
Additionally, instead of flint igniting the powder charge, nowadays most black-powder rifles use a 209 shotgun primer for much more reliable ignition. Consequently, the days are pretty much gone when you pull the trigger on your muzzleloader and wonder if it is going to shoot.
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A few muzzleloaders these days are even partially loaded from the breech. A few years back, Traditions teamed up with Federal and Hodgdon to bring to market Firestick technology. In this technology, the charge of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder is encapsulated within a plastic cartridge. This Firestick is loaded from the breech of a break-action gun designed to use the cartridge. However, the bullet is still loaded from the muzzle. So, the system is still legal in most jurisdictions that require black-powder arms to be loaded from the muzzle.
Loading a typical muzzleloader is easy. With a clean barrel, drop powder pellets down the muzzle for your preferred charge (most shoot 100 grains, but some are rated for 150). Next, seat the bullet on the powder firmly without crushing the pellet(s). Last, put a 209 primer on the nipple. You’re now ready to rock and roll.
For those wanting to dip their toe into the pool of black-powder shooting, several manufacturers make muzzleloading rifles for hunting and range use. The best part is, since they aren’t legally classified as “firearms,” you can buy one without a background check and even by mail order. Here are a few to consider that won’t break the bank.
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Traditions’ Buckstalker XT is reasonably priced while still equipped with the company’s Elite XT Trigger system, which features a precise, accurate trigger along with a rebounding hammer and manual cross-block trigger safety. Featuring 209 shotgun primer ignition, it has a 24-inch chrome moly steel barrel and the Accelerator breech plug, which works great with either loose or pelletized powder.
The company says this lightweight, maneuverable rifle is accurate out to 200 yards and beyond. Plus, the Buckstalker XT’s solid aluminum ramrod utilizes a Quick-T ramrod handle, which functions like a palm saver and t-handle all in one. MSRP starts at $289.99 for the base model.
The CVA Optima V2 is modeled after the company’s popular ACCURA V2, and even features the same triggerguard-actuated breeching lever, internal parts and trigger. The barrel is constructed of stainless steel and offered in either the standard stainless or treated with CVA’s Nitride rust-proofing process. Cleaning is made easy by CVA’s finger-removable Quick-Release Breech Plug.
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This rifle is available with a 26- or 28-inch barrel and ships with a DuraSight DEAD-ON one-piece scope mount or DuraSight fiber-optic sights, along with CVA’s solid aluminum PalmSaver ramrod. MSRP for the base model starts around $375.
