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johnnyv

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I'm putting away the slug gun this year in favor of an inline muzzleloader and have a few questions for you experienced black powder hunters. I just bought a T/C Black Diamond XR 50cal. with 2.5-7x32 scope and all the goodies except primers and powder. First question is did I get a good deal on this at $160 (it's used, been shot about 20 times)?
Second, do any of you use 777 instead of Pyrodex? I've read some of the pro's but wondering if there are con's to the 777. How much charge?
What projectile and grain weight would you recommend I get started with?
What other gizmos and gadgets am I gonna "NEED"?
I'm anxious to get an opportunity to shoot this thing. The previous owner says it's sighted in at 100yds with a 100 grain charge and a 240 grain 44cal. sabot.
Thanks for any info.
John
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I now consider Porodex obsolete. Tripple 7 is alot nicer. I've not found any cons. I'm sure Hodgen looked very hard prior to marketing it. It costs more, thats the only con.
I'd start with the sabot 240gr (xtp) pushed with 100gr (eq) of T-7. If you like the groups it will knock them down fine.
As for price... What kind of scope? A Tasco, Bushnell or Simmons would have been less of a bargin than a Nikon, Burris or Leupold. (the price says Bushnell. I'd change it out when you have some $)
 
Yes I think it has a cheaper scope, I'd bet it's the Cabela's Pine Ridge scope as they offered this package in last year's catalog and it's still on their website. I know the seller got it from Cabela's.
Thanks for the input on the triple 7. I'll buy it today, before Wally World sells out of it.
 
The Cabela's Pine Ridge scope is an excellent scope for the money. I've had mine on a 50 cal. Disc for several years and it has held its zero extremely well. Probably not the light gathering capability of higher dollar scopes, but an excellent choice on a budget.

NWBuck
 
I'd say you got a decent deal.

Powder - Personally I am also going to 777 just as soon as I shoot up my 1 1/2 lbs of pyrodex.

Bullets - I prefer heavier bullets, and my favorite 50 cal is the ?348? grain CVA copper PowerBelts. I've shot them in 2 different 50 cal guns, one with 1:25 twist and the other 1:66 twist, and in both cases they shot great groups. I plan to try powerbelts in my 54 cal before next year. (it has a 1:48 twist). PowerBelts are more expensive than the sabots or pure lead conicals, but I think they are worth it.

Scope - I have never had a pine ridge scope, but Cabela's stuff is usually average or above so I'd say give it a try. I used to be a Leupold fan, but I am planning on trying some of Simmons higher end stuff. (both manufacturers have lifetime warranties, but in the past Simons customer service has treated me better and repaired/replaced much faster).

IaCraig
 
NWest Buck,
thanks for the input on the scope. I am glad to hear you have had good luck with it, as I am on a really tight budget and cannot buy a new scope. If this one works out well, I won't need to. We just bought a 40 acre farm west of Ottumwa (about 7.5-8 miles from the spot the Lovstuen buck was harvested! I hope he spread those genes around to a lot of does!!!). I hope we will close on it or have possession around the openning of the late muzzleloader season. Can't wait!
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I have that same scope on my Knight, and really like it. I got a Knight for my son and put the same scope on it. He took a doe at last light on the last day of youth deer season. He could see the doe at 50 yards very clearly, so don't worry about your scope. It will work well for you.
 
johnnyv. you have some good info on where to start. you don't need a bigger grain bullet than that for deer. One of the most important thing with blackpowder guns is when you get good groups, stay with what ever combination you have. Then repeat that combo evertime. That's one of the best things about the pellets, less chance for error.
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Very true, 240 grain sabots are plenty big for deer, most elk are shot with lighter bullets (going faster though). Johnnyv, asked for projectile advice based upon others experiences so for what is worth, my experience in 50 cal is that the 348 Grain PowerBelts shot as good or better than anything else I tried in 2 very different guns, including 240 grain sabots. (and PowerBelts go down the barrel easy)

IaCraig
 
I tried a new bullet this year, and was very suprized. I tried the T/C Shockwave 250 grain bullets. I shot 2 deer with them that literatly dropped in their tracks, and a friend got another the same way. I don't know what is different about them but I have never knocked a deer off it's feet before with a muzzle loader. I was only using 100 grains of pyrodex. I have used powerbelts and knight bullets in the past but I want to try more with these shockwave bullets.
 
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I hope we will close on it or have possession around the openning of the late muzzleloader season. Can't wait!
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Don't forget you can use that new muzzleloader during shotgun season if you don't want to wait until late season muzzleloader. Thought I'd mention it since you are new to muzzleloading.
 
Hey Hawkeyfan,
Thanks for the info, I had forgotten that muzzleloaders are legal during shotgun season. I don't think I'll have possession of the farm until the end of December, but I may take the black powder out before that. I can get first shotgun and late muzzleloader can't I? The regs. are so screwed up trying to figure out what combinations of tags you can buy, they should just let you buy an any sex tag for all seasons you choose and then a set number of doe tags to be used with whatever combination of any sex tags you've purchased. Just my opinion, if they want to reduce numbers of deer.
Thanks,
John
 
As for the regs here it goes. You can get ONE any-sex tag (for a gun, bow is seperate).

If you get an any-sex tag for shotgun season 1 then you can get antlerless tags for late muzzleloader.

If you get and any-sex for late muzzleloader you CAN NOT get any tags for Shotgun season 1, however you can get antlerless tags for season 2.

I agree the regulations are poor in some areas, however there is a good table in the deer and fall turkey reag book. I don't like the fact that there are atleast two different books to look at to get all the regs. That is crap
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Also the "Special Late Season" is not explained at all, unless you look on this board in an older thread. Good Luck and I hope this helps.

Dave
 
I just got my regs out and read through that table. They have changed the any sex tags haven't they?
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In years past some of my family members would get any sex bow, early ML, shotgun 2, and some would get any sex shotgun 1 and late ML. This appears to be a change to get us to take more does. Not such a bad idea I guess, but I still believe there are more than anough deer to support any sex tags for ALL seasons you choose. For example; if I wanted to get bow, early ML, shotgun 1, late ML, I should be able to. That seems like a better way to decrease deer numbers, which is what the IDNR has stated as their objective.
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