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Inline Muzzleloader Advice - bolt or break action?

whippoorwill
I apologize if this has been beaten to death in the past . . . .

I've never owned a muzzleloading rifle before, and would like to try one out this hunting season.

Any advice on inline muzzleloaders? Any advantage of one type of action over another? Any brand reccomendations? Any brands to avoid?
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • THINMAN
    PERSONALLY I PREFER BREAK OPENS . MY REASONS ARE EASY ACCESS TO NIPPLE FOR CAPPING/PRIMING/CLEANING , SHORTER/LIGHTER , MANY HAVE INTERCHANGABLE BARRELS IN RIFLE/SHOTGUN AND THEY DON'T GET TO YOUR
    SCOPE LIKE BOLTS WITH EXPOSED NIPPLES WILL.

    THINMAN
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  • redice
    Definetly a break open, if you can exchange barrels. Your biggest problem at least with the old pyrodex "black powder substitute" was rust bp guns rust like that 47 chevy your hillbily cusin has sitting out on his lawn that he keeps flowers in and waters every morning.

    If you dont clean right after shooting and you put the gun in a different climate from what you were shooting it in, there will be rust on it somewhere the next day.

    I dont know about the new powders they have now, I havent shot bp in a good 2+ years and still have a half pound of old pyrodex that needs to be used up, maybe the new stuff is better and doesnt cause rust as fast.

    I also agree with the cleaning aspect, bolt actions suck ass to clean and are a onager to put caps on especialy if your using the bigger musket caps.

    I would go with the break open if I was going to get into an inline.
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  • Lance
    whippoorwill:

    I am curious. How did you identify that you wanted an inline or break-open (inline)?
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  • whippoorwill
    I've read a lot of various articles claiming that the new inlines are supposed to be much more accurate, less weather-sensitive, and easier to clean than your standard percussion or flintlock Hawken, etc. I figure as inexpensive as some of the kits are at Bass Pro and Cabelas, it would be a good way to get started in BP. Are there any reasons why an inline might be a poor choice?
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  • TaiChi
    whippoorwill,
    Check the hunting regs in the areas you plan to hunt and see what requirements they have for Black Powder hunting. Some states will not allow inlines or scoped muzzleloaders!!


    Steve
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  • Lance
    I've read a lot of various articles claiming that the new inlines are supposed to be much more accurate, less weather-sensitive, and easier to clean than your standard percussion or flintlock Hawken, etc. I figure as inexpensive as some of the kits are at Bass Pro and Cabelas, it would be a good way to get started in BP. Are there any reasons why an inline might be a poor choice?
    ******
    I preface my remarks by telling you I shoot flintlocks.

    1. There will be no significant differences in accuracy among ML systems. Period. But the important thing to remember is the range at which game is actually shot. In the 1960s (dunno about more nearly current data) Colorado F&G Dept. did several yearly surveys AMONG SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS ONLY. These were cartridge hunters responding. For mule deer, the average distance for the first shot was about 95 yards. For elk the average distance was about 111 yards.

    I am presbyopic. I cannot use open sights well. But there are many aperture sights available whose acuity-accuracy potential is greater than the "no worries" range of ML hunting projectiles. What I'm saying is that anyone with reasonable eyesight can shoot 2 MOA with aperture sights from a rest, and 4 MOA from solid position in the field. Unsupported (off-hand) shooting self-limits everyone to less than 90 yards when you're under the stress of a good hunt.

    Telescopic sights for this type of hunting are irrelevant -- not good, not bad, not evil -- just irrelevant.

    2. Weather sensitivity depends upon the gunner much more than the gun. A primer lock is obviously more reliable than #11 caps or all flintlocks except, perhaps, hand-tuned "best-quality." Any caplock rifle can use primer lock. And the difference in reliability between musket caps and primers -- I doubt it is significant, but I am unaware of a reliability-specific test of them.

    3. Regarding cleaning, your unfamiliarity with various mechanisms shows. The club I shoot with has mostly sidelock caplocks. These fellows clean their rifles after the shoot, on the spot. It takes them about 12-15 minutes on average. That's it. They're done. It takes me a little longer, but I'm obsessive-compulsive about "clean."
    ******
    4. The most important reasons for considering a traditional sidelock/mule ear/underhammer/flintlock/wheel lock are the fun factors. Inlines have no soul, no panache, no fantasy attached to their use. Sport hunting is just that "sport." Part of the thrill or fun or whatever you want to call the rush is getting close, very, very close. And part of the thrill is your skill at setting up the weapon. In the field you might do everything on the nuts -- and something doesn't work right. Powder is damp; misfire; hangfire. You are irritated as hell, but the humor of the event stays with you forever. And as you get better, the "events" become just a memory.

    The idea behind sport hunting is: the hunter deliberately handicaps his technological advantage to restore more sport, more fun to the hunt. Hitting an unsuspecting animal at several hundred yards is target shooting at live targets. Hitting one at twenty yards is a lifetime of satisfaction.

    If all you want is meat, try a supermarket. If all you want is to kill something -- I'm not sure what to suggest. If you want to enjoy the PROCESS of hunting as well as the event, at least invest a couple of weekends with your local National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association club. If you aren't aware of any, drop me a PM.

    Please note that inlines, as machines, are as useful as any other. There's just nothing THERE beyond the machine.
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  • sp306
    I would buy a Savage ML10 II. This gun shoots smokeless powder along with all the rest. Smokeless powder is great you have very little clean up, no smell associated with pyrodex, doesn't smoke when shot, and costs less to shoot. This gun will shoot more accurate at longer ranges than ml's shooting black powder. I owen a TC encore and the savage is a far more accurate gun. At 225 yds I can shoot a 3inch group using 48 grains of Hodgen Lil'gun powder. I have to use 150 grains of triple seven at 225 yds and can only shoot about a 8-10 inch group. Search the internet on this gun and see what you think. It cost me $400 for the stainless/camo. Also make sure that your state will allow inlines and smokeless powder. Do not shoot smokeless powder in any other muzzleloader. There is a slight learning curve on shooting this gun. You have to be careful on your powder measurements. 1 or 2 grains can make a big difference.
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  • whippoorwill
    Thanks for the input
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