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Muzzleloading Newbie

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idsman75

New Member
I posted something like this awhile back but I had to format my hard drive and lost the file where I saved all the replies. I'm sorry if I'm repetitive.

I'm a newbie to the muzzleloading arena. I've never touched off a "smoke pole" but I went and bought me a T/C Omega with the camo barrel and stock from Scheel's. I have no idea what I am doing but am considering Pyrodex. Can anyone recommend a good book and/or video that would step me through the process of becoming a muzzle-loader hunter. I'm looking for a resource or two that covers the use of Pyrodex as well as traditional black powder.

Thanks a bunch!
 
Hey, I just figured out how to research my old posts. Learn something new everyday. I'd still appreciate any recommended resources for study. Scheel's really had nothing to look at in the way of books or videos.
 
I have one that is an overview of Muzzleloading by Toby Bridges. It is part of a series called The Complete Hunter. It is a nice hardbound book. I think I bought it at Scheels. It gives enough info and information to get you going as well as a little history.
 
Before you buy the Pyrodex powder, you should look into the Triple7 powder by Hogdon. I switched to it last year, and really love it. It doesn't foul the barrel as much, it doesn't stink like Pyrodex does when it's been fired, and it cleans up a whole lot easier. Also, I think it is now available in pellets. I still use the powder, and have no real motivation to switch, but I suppose the pellets are more convenient. They're just so darn expensive when compared to the loose powder - in either brand.
 
I'm going to swing over to Scheel's this afternoon and check things out and maybe see if they can order that book for me. If not, I'll find it online.

I heard rumor that there is an impending black powder shortage. I heard that Triple7 is one of the types that is going to be hard to get real soon. Any truth to this?
 
Theres no black powder shortage,just less people carrying the stuff because of blackpowder being a explosive and the lisance to sell it is a big hassle.
Pyrodex and tripple seven are a blackpowder subsatutes and can be found in good supply about ever where.
Tripple Seven is some good stuff.Been using it for a spell now in my inline and my gpr round ball shooter.
777 has quit a bit more power than pyrodex.80gr of 777 is faster than 100gr of pyrodex and it dont stink you out.I never did like pyrodex,it just stunk worse than the goex i shot and wasnt anymore accurate.777 is good stuff but remember to use it in more moderation.
dont let them store fellers tell you how great your new gun will shoot with 150gr of pyrodex or 777 because it probably wont.The best loads are the most accurate.I have yet to see a gun that will shoot sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards with 150gr of any powder.
I was shooting my Knight today with 250gr shockwave sabots and 80gr of 777fff and get good sub inch groups at 100 yards,of courase my 4x12x40 scope helped out a bit.
Anyway welcome to the front stuffer shooten you going to have some fun.
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Which Knight model are you shooting? I've heard amazing things about Knight and almost bought one but the T/C Omega intrigued me. Maybe my next one will be a Knight.
 
Belive it or not it is the cheapest Knight made.Its a USAK American Knight.
the Disc Extreme or Elite would be the big dollar guns.
I dont shoot pellets and 209 primers arnt needed for powder,many belive the 209s with powder accually are pusing the powder charge and bullet forward before they ignite completly.The USAK came with a standerd 11 cap shooter.
The TC Omega is a fine gun and have heard good reports about them,they look to be easy cleaning anyways,but cleaning is something that aint all that hard in any muzzle loader once you get it down.
The problem with pellets is you can not work up any kind of load other than what pellet combos you can come up with.No 2 muzzle loaders seem to shoot the same with the same loads.With loose powder you can start out at les say 70gr and shoot 3 bullets,then increase the powder charge by 5 gr for another 3 shots.At some point the groups will start spreading where you start to loose accruacy,you then back it back down to where the accuracy is.
You gonna learn a lot about swabing between shots and how much ramrod pressure you put on a load and many other varibles when shooting loose powder.
The most important part is to be consistant in how you load.Only change 1 thing at a time to see what effect it has had when experimenting with loads.
Then there is so many different size bullets and weights to choose from,finding the right combo is half the fun.
Pellets are easyer to load,and you wont have to worry about ramrod pressure as long as you dont crush them,they may shoot good groups or they may only shoot fair groups.The longer the distance you want to shoot the better the groups your going to need.
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I'll be heading to Southern Iowa for the late ML season this year. I read on the DNR site that there is no restrictions on in-line or disc rifles. Does this mean that I can shoot smokeless powder if I want to
 
for those of you who use Pyrodex, is it a bad idea to use Pyrdoex pellets left over from last year? I thought I read somewhere to get new stuff year to year, but the hodgon site didn't tell me that. If I should get rid of it, is there a best/safe way to do so?
 
I think they changed the law last year allowing smokeless smokepoles,which would be the savage inline.The only muzzle loader i know of that can shoot smokeless.
Pyrodex and tripple seven both can obsorb moisture from the air if left in a area open to humidity.If you want to get rid of them just soak em down good with water,once wet it will never ignite as before.Some people then throw it out in the yard,they say it makes the grass grow.Black powder is the only stuff you can get wet and dry it out and it will shoot again,it has a indeffant shelf life where pyro dosnt.Dont know about 777 yet as it is a new sub.It also can suck up moisture out of the air it is belived,no one seems to know how badly it does it yet.Time will tell.
 
Thanks buckknife, that's the first response that I've gotten to that question. I was beginning to wonder if it was legal or not. I email DNR about it but they have not responded yet. A hunting buddy of mine own's a sporting goods store and he has a Savage. He shot a Pronghorn with it at 240 yards. I have seen some of the groups on paper for the gun and have been pretty impressed by it, it's all about the right combination in that gun. Needless to say I told him to order me one being that I got late season ML tag this year. I look forward to going to the great state of Iowa again for this is my first ML hunt there. I will be staying with friends near Corydon so if any of you guy's see a "Big One" around there just tie him up and hold him till I get there. Thanks to all of you folks in Iowa for the great hospitality.
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,many belive the 209s with powder accually are pusing the powder charge and bullet forward before they ignite completly.

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Is this true or myth? I've never heard of this before. I just bought some Triple-7 powder and am going to give it a whirl with some Hornady XTP saboted bullets. Will the 209 primer/Triple-7 Powder combination cause problems? Should I get the pellets instead?
 
I HAVN'T TRIED TRIPLE SEVEN YET BUT HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT AND WILL BE GETTING SOME PELLETS FOR THIS YEAR TO TRY. FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS I'VE SHOT MUZZELOADERS AND HAVE FOUND THAT EACH GUN DEFINETLY LIKES A CERTAIN LOAD AND BULLET. I WOULD SUGGEST BUYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRANDS AND WEIGHTS OF SABOTS AND CONICALS AND NARROWING THEM DOWN DOWN THE ONE YOUR GUN LIKES BEST. ALSO, DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY WITH BIG HEAVY BULLETS. YOUR NOT SHOOTING MOOSE OR GRIZZ. A 250 GRN SABOT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN ANY DEER. A 245 GRN SABOT WITH 150 GRN'S OF POWDER ALSO HAS ALOT LESS KICK THAN A 300 GRN SABOT. WHEN YOU ARE AT THE RANGE SIGHTING IN YOUR GUN MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN THE BARREL BETWEEN EACH SHOT. POWDER OR TRIPLE SEVEN FOWLS THE BARREL, SO YOUR GROUPS WILL OPEN UP IF YOU DON'T. BELIEVE ME.......I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU WILL GO OUT HUNTING WITH A CLEAN BARREL. I REALLY LIKE HUNTING WITH A MUZZELOADER. LIKE BOWHUNTING, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT SO YOU WANT TO MAKE IT COUNT.
 
I appreciate all the good advice. I bought a bunch of 180 gr Hornady SXT saboted bullets. I was told by an acquaintance that the rate of twist in the Omega causes the gun to "prefer" some of the heavier bullets. I'm wondering if I should buy some of the heavier stuff. I know I need to buy a bunch of everything and see what my gun likes but I'd like to start in the right direction. Does anyone have any experience with the Omega and what bullet weight it leans towards?
 
idsman the 180gr may group good but is more effected by the wind at longer ranges.A 250 will not be effected as much but will have a little more drop.
The 209 thing is only a theory right now by some people,aint been proven yet.
Start out with 80gr of 777 and sight in at dead on at 25 yards,when you get it to cut holes then move to 50 yards,sould be shooten someware around 2to3 inches high at 50.
Then increase your powder charge by 5gr.shoot 3 shots.
Keep going up 5gr of powder every 3 shots.At some point your groups will come together or they will start spreading.
When you find the right load you sould be able to group closer than 1 inch at 50 yards.after that move to 100 yards and see whats going on.scope would help at the longer ranges.
Now that you got it sighted at 100 yards you can start trying out different size bullets,the bigger they are the more they drop,but pack more punch and are effected by the wind less.
Heres a link to precision bullet,it talks about the 209s and the Encore.
Have fun and be safe.
www.prbullet.com
 
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