School me on muzzleloaders

[Muleyslayer14]

I am getting ready to purchase my first muzzleloader, probably a knight ultra lite or mountaineer I’m unsure. The muzzy will mostly be used in Utah, Arizona and Missouri and possibly Colorado someday. I currently don’t have any elk hunts in mind with this weapon but who knows what’s in the future.

I would like to be able to stretch out to 300+ If attainable? .45 or .50? Ultra lite or mountaineer? BDC or turrets? Sabot or conical?

 

[MuleyFever]

If elk in CO are a possibility you will need a .50. If just for deer I may go with a .45.

Go look at some and get the one that fits you best. Any good inline will shoot.

 

[Muleyslayer14]

If elk in CO are a possibility you will need a .50. If just for deer I may go with a .45.

Go look at some and get the one that fits you best. Any good inline will shoot.

Good advice, I would like for my wife and kids to shoot and hunt with it also. Obviously recoil will be affected by charge and bullet weight but what’s a general difference in recoil between .45 and .50?

 

[Idaholewis]

For a Hunting Rifle, especially one you plan to Carry much, I would go with The Knight Ultra Lite HANDS DOWN!! If you don’t mind a little heavier Rifle, Go Mountaineer. If you don’t plan on Elk Hunting, i would Go .45 Cal 1:20 Twist! It is truly a Shame that some of our Western States Don’t allow .45 Cal for Elk. Here in Idaho we can NOT use our .45s for Elk, I shoot bullets more often than not that are Just as Big as my .50s, and in longer range target applications even Bigger, i shoot bullets all the way up to 540 Grains in my .45s, The Caliber restriction is no doubt geared toward Patched Roundball, a .45 Patched Roundball is NOT MUCH at 128 Grains (Totally understandable why they should be illegal, and stay that way) But a 400 Plus Grain Bullet is a Whole Different Animal in these fast Twist 45s! The Fast Twist .45s will do ANY, and EVERYTHING a .50 Will, and More. The fast twist .45s is where it’s at, and has been

 

[MuleyFever]

I have never shot a .45 but with similar weight projectiles and powder it should be similar. Recoil can be stout if loaded heavy but it’s not as fast as a rifle. If the family will use it you may be better off with something a little heavier. Another light option is the Traditions G4 Ultralight. I have both the G4 and the Knight U-light. I like the G4 better for loading and cleaning. Both shoot well.

I got my wife a Thompson Center Impact for the shorter LOP and it shoots well. They are pretty affordable.

 

[Muleyslayer14]

Good Info guys! I am leaning towards a .45 UL, but I did just look at the Thompson centers, does anybody have anything to say for long range accuracy from these or CVA? I would most likely end up in a .50 if I went with those brands due to what’s available.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have never been into long range Muzzleloader shooting. I will say if you want to shoot conicals I would stay away from Thompson. They can be hit or miss with accuracy using them. I had to sell my Encore as it just would not group conicals. Shot sabots great. I think it has to do with their barrel at the end as it opens up right at the end to make loading easier. There are a few threads on here about this.

 

[Idaholewis]

One thing I would avoid like the PLAGUE is ANY Form of QLA Muzzle, Regardless of the Brand, I would NOT own one!! TC called theirs a QLA, CVA is something different, like bullet Guided something? I would NEVER trust a Counter Bored Muzzle of ANY kind, I had horrible problems with TC’s QLA, I couldn’t hit the same Mountain side 2 times in a Row, That thing was a Brand new PIECE OF JUNK!! Supposedly they would Shoot a Sabot ok? I am a Lead Conical Guy, i later found out that TC’s QLA Muzzle was a VERY WELL known Problem Child with Full Bore lead, Some would shoot ok, But MANY did not, (Some were bored off Center) Lots of Guy’s that owned these things Had the Barrels Cut back to get rid of the QLA and then Re Crowned.
Knight Rifles knew better than this, Their Rifles are Rifled to the Crown where they should Be

I have a Gun Safe full of Bullet Shooting Muzzleloaders that will EASILY shoot MOA all day, ANY Day, if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be there! These rifles will do so with Grease Groove, Paper patch, and Copper Jacketed Bullets, I also have a YouTube Channel with most of these Rifles in Action to back up what i Say My YouTube Channel is under the same name as here, Idaholewis

With The above said, The Knight Ultra Lite is UNDOUBTEDLY the nicest Muzzleloader i have EVER had in my Hands, After i shot the U Lite i was 100% Sold, i HAD TO OWN a Rifle like it! Since i Shoot Mostly Benchrest/Target i chose to go with the Mountaineer Thumbhole Stock, i can only hope i am as happy with my New Knight Mountaineer when it gets here, as i was with my Friends new Knight Ultra Lite in .45 Cal 1:20 Twist, These Rifles are AMAZING!!

 

[Muleyslayer14]

Alright you guys sold me, knight UL .45 it is! Tons of great info in here.

Next question, BDC or Turret style optic?

 

[Idaholewis]

Alright you guys sold me, knight UL .45 it is! Tons of great info in here.

Next question, BDC or Turret style optic?

Scopes That’s a tough one for me, I just bought a brand new Scope for my New Mountaineer, i ended up going to a Close Friends Sport Shop And Looking Through his upper end Vortex. I have had mixed Feelings/opinions with Vortex in the past, Maybe bad luck? Anyway, i looked through a New Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5.5-25X50 FFP (first focal plane) And i fell in love with it! That is what i ended up with.

This is My Scope, I ordered from Euro Optics and felt like i got a REALLY Good deal on it at 749.99

Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 30mm Tube

vortexoptics.com

As for a Scope Base, i went with a 1 piece Murphy’s Precision 20 MOA in Bead blasted Stainless. They have a “Cutout” So you can access to place Primers. They make this Base in Titanium, EXPENSIVE, But really lightweight. For my application (Benchrest/Target) I will be happy with the Stainless. These are Not my pics below, i stole these from Squeeze, I’m sure he will be ok with it My Base hasn’t arrived yet or i would have my own Pics.

Here is a link to the Base

Knight Muzzle Loader - Bolt Action

Enhance accuracy on your Knight Muzzleloader with our indestructible scope bases. Secure optics flawlessly with our Picatinny Rail. Elevate accuracy—order now!

www.murphyprecision.com

 

[Muleyslayer14]

Scopes That’s a tough one for me, I just bought a brand new Scope for my New Mountaineer, i ended up going to a Close Friends Sport Shop And Looking Through his upper end Vortex. I have had mixed Feelings/opinions with Vortex in the past, Maybe bad luck? Anyway, i looked through a New Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5.5-25X50 FFP (first focal plane) And i fell in love with it! That is what i ended up with.

This is My Scope, I ordered from Euro Optics and felt like i got a REALLY Good deal on it at 749.99

Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 30mm Tube

vortexoptics.com

As for a Scope Base, i went with a 1 piece Murphy’s Precision 20 MOA in Bead blasted Stainless. They have a “Cutout” So you can access to place Primers. They make this Base in Titanium, EXPENSIVE, But really lightweight. For my application (Benchrest/Target) I will be happy with the Stainless. These are Not my pics below, i stole these from Squeeze, I’m sure he will be ok with it My Base hasn’t arrived yet or i would have my own Pics.

Here is a link to the Base

Knight Muzzle Loader - Bolt Action

Enhance accuracy on your Knight Muzzleloader with our indestructible scope bases. Secure optics flawlessly with our Picatinny Rail. Elevate accuracy—order now!

www.murphyprecision.com

That scope base is badass! How far are you intending on reaching your mountaineer? 5-25 and 20 MOA base will get you out past 1000 yards with most rifles but where does that put you with a muzzy? I’m so new to muzzleloaders I didn’t want to say a distance but I’m just uneducated but right now I would like to try and achieve 500. Not sure if that’s realistic or not, maybe it will just be for practice.

 

[*zap*]

tagged.

 

[Idaholewis]

That scope base is badass! How far are you intending on reaching your mountaineer? 5-25 and 20 MOA base will get you out past 1000 yards with most rifles but where does that put you with a muzzy? I’m so new to muzzleloaders I didn’t want to say a distance but I’m just uneducated but right now I would like to try and achieve 500. Not sure if that’s realistic or not, maybe it will just be for practice.

I should get 500 Yards with the 20 MOA, or there Close abouts. I spoke with Murphy’s about a Custom 40 MOA, maybe even a 50? No problem, he will make whatever i need i will get some video footage soon at 850 Yards with my New Mountaineer 45 1:20 Twist. I have access/permission to a Private Lake, it is 850 yards to the Back of it. I am confident My Camera will catch Hits on my 20” Square Gong at that distance.

The white Alder/Aspen trees at the back of the Lake edge is 850 Yards, we can actually get 1,000 Yards here by going back behind us and to the Right, The owner Shoots his 308 Here, I will Git R Done with a Muzzy

Here was a recent Camera test to see if i could Spot hits at 750 Yards on my 8” Gong with my Little Cheapo Cam Corder? This was Ranged with my Leica 1600, All was good

 

[Lou400a]

I have MK-85 that I use on whitetail. It's been a great rifle and I'm happy with it. I've upgraded to 209 primers, but its a pain sometimes to remove a spent rimer and I'm looking to purchase a new one that I can use more than 100gr of powder.
Any recommendations as to what to look for and what to avoid?
Thanks