COFA: Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America

[mountainman]

Always been a rifle and bow man; but this year our group has decided to try and hunt in a little warmer weather then 1st elk season here in colorado, hence we are trying our hand at muzzleloading for deer this year. My 1st time hunting with a muzzleloader.

SO the questions begin:

I have a 54 cal

1.what bullets for muzzleloading is legal here for colorado.
2. what type/weigh bullet is best for deer.
3. where do u get your bullets,powder etc.......

I try to plink with the same weigh bullet that I will be hunting with but I know the lead balls i am plinking with are around 220g and hunting bullets are like 300g+. Guess i will have to do some adjusting on that unless I can find some plinking rounds that weigh close to the hunting rounds.



any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. This is a new learning experience for me and I want to get it right the 1st time.

thanks again in advance

[Mike Brooks]

Mountainman, did you guys apply for your black powder tags? I applied for a bull tag in my area, got a tag last year, hope to get one for this year. Where are you in Colorado?
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[mountainman]

Hey Mike,

we applied for deer tags in unit 26 up by the Flat Tops. We will being hunting elk rifle this year also in Gunnison. We applied for 1st season elk rifle like we do every year. Seems like the last 4 years we have one nice day and then it just dumps on us with snow. I guess we could be smarter and not camp/hunt at treeline but I enjoy it right at treeline. I use to live in Bailey and I am now down on Parker.

[silvertip]

Hi MM.I like the older fashioned cast solid bullets...but I also have an old T/C Renegade50 cal for almost 30 years...I guess it depends if you have one of the newer high tech" in lines", most of them opt for sabot's ...but for bigger deer ,Bear or especially Elk I would want the biggest cast bullet you can get...JMO...in 54 cal there are some special "big boys"...it all depends on the ranges we are talking about...

Colorado has a rew new regs on the mr's...they initially were going to allow the new electronic ignition system...but now have decided against them...I myself think Muzzle loaders are supposed to be primitive...I like them especially for that reason...the same way I like my bow...and then I like centerfires too...

in 54 cal the good 'ole T/C Maxi Ball is a good choice...also the Hornandy Great Plains bullet...both are over 425 grains...and on reasonable range shots (75-90 yards) work great......past that IMO and its pushing it...my experience is only with Deer...and the effect of a muzzle loader(unless you break a back or neck) generally requires them to run 30-60 yards at least...the hydrostatic shock that a 7mm has is just not there...so the heavier bullet at a lower velocity must be used to its maximum extent...good shot placement is very important...I use the same idea that I do with a pumpkin ball in a shotgun...and that is generally 1 oz of lead...so plan accordingly...

we need some more posters here with solid advice on the bigger critters...Smokewagon....where are you...

all the best...t

[Smokewagon]

I have an old Knight .50 cal Wolverine that has a lot of dust on it. It has been a while, but if memory serves the Harvestor brand of sabots with heavy hard-cast bullets were the rage. I don't know about now, but back when I was really into the front stuffer mode only lead bullets were legal in Col. These days, you also need to find out if 209 primers are legal, as well as in-lines, sabots, copper clad bullets.

If I drew a muzzleloader elk tag, I would use the old Wolverine with 100 gr. 777 FFFg or try one of the new TC Omega inlines that can use three Hodgdon 777 pellets, a 209 primer, and one of the Barnes Spit-Fire MZ bullets (if legal). Randy Brooks owner of Barnes shot a HUGE NM bull at long-range with one of his MZ bullets.

[silvertip]

OK...SW...whats the dope on old school bullets and ranges...also whats up with the new powder pellets??

I am an old FF guy...is it safe to keep shooting from my old cannister...I have been taking a few shots a year for a while...I think I have a pound left...I shoot my old T/C Renegade regularly...its kind of a tradition...t

[Smokewagon]

Like other weapon technologies, the world of muzzleloading has seen so many changes and new developments in the last few years, people can get really overwhelmed. From a pure "primitive" point of view, some shooters feel that nothing other than a flintlock or sidehammer cap & ball rifle stuffed with GOEX FFg would be considered to be "real" muzzleloaders. When compared to an in-line using 209 primers, sabots with jacketed pistol bullets, and three 777 pellets, it looks like apples vs. oranges.

Depending on your point of view, you can take your pick. Until the rules change, if the in-lines and their ilk are legal, then use them. If they turn you off, use a flinter or cap & ball. It is really a luxury to have the choice.

Regarding powders, I never did like the cleanup from using the genuine GOEX black powder. It amounted to shooting very few shots on the day followed by hours of messy cleaning. Pyrodex is a wee bit better, but sometimes was hard to ignite, which caused misfires. The 777 powder and pellets may not be genuine black, but you really do get more shots before cleaning. It still smokes, and you still load/fire one at a time.

My old .50-cal. Knight Wolverine shoots good with 100 gr. of 777 in FFFg and either the Nosler 260 gr HG Part./sabot or the Barnes 285 gr. Spit-Fire MZ/sabot, and a RWS #11 cap. The FFFg burns cleaner/hotter than FFg, but is not too hot to use in the old guns rated at 120 gr. max.

I don't know the shelf-life answer to your old FFg black powder. Smokeless powder will last a long time if stored cool and dry. Maybe someone else can answer the question.

[DaveHawk]

Mountain, I have shot and built flintlocks for years. I'm not a tec-no guy by any means but I can tell you is that 3 pellets lesson your accuracy. 2 50 grain pellets is more then sufficient for hunting.

I shoot a 54, 50 call flint-locks and 50 cal knight disc 45 cap lock TC. I do prefer round ball and flint over in-line hunting and the clean up is just part of the sport.

Good old worm soap and water do the job best. I usually will keep a wet cleaning patch in my mouth to swab the barroll after my shot.
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[Fourthwind]

since this never got truly answered, in CO you cannot use pelletized powder, Sabot bullets, electronic ignition, or scopes on a muzzle loader. anything else goes. I hunted with the smoke poles here a few years, but I still couldn't get away from the road hunters, so I went to Archery for the primitive season. More time to hunt as well

[milehiscott]

I'm new to the smoke pole also (last fall was my first hunt), so here is some info that I am learning:
1) For Elk, the heavier the bullet the better, solid nose over hollow point.
2) Jim Shockey Gold is good powder. It has been dependable for me.
3) If you use 777 loose powder (pellets are out for CO), decrease your load by 10%. If not, you may get into dangerous pressures.
4) Precision Rifle (prbullet.com) makes lead conicals for CO. They shoot straight in my Knight Vision .50 cal.
5) Depending on where you hunt, you may be alone in the field during smoke pole season. Archery is more popular here.
6) 209 primers are legal. Use them in good health.
Hope this helps.
Scott