Anyone else enjoy inline modern black powder

I'm curious why not just use regular firearms, as apposed to these? The advanced technolgy seems to have made them close in performance? Right?

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My state has an added week of deer hunting for "muzzle loaders only" with fewer restrictions compared to most muzzle loader seasons. Some states dont allow scopes and 209 inclosed primers during blackpowder seasons. Almost every year our regulations change so it does vary but we are not forced to use "primitive" firearms.

I have a plethora of "regular" firearms. Blackpowder shooting is a hobby. Yes its close to smokeless in performance. At the muzzle my loads equal or exceed 30-06 energy with the heavier bullets. It will push sub 250gr sabots slightly over 2000fps and the Barnes 285gr slightly under with sub 2MOA accuracy at 100yards. My best loads hover around 1 1/4" groups.

Its kind of hard to tailor your smokeless handloads WHILE at the range but with a blackpowder its a gimme. Ive gotten the ammo costs down too since i buy hard cast bullets and sabots in bulk. The Mag209 powder though is pretty expensive but i watch for deals on other powder too. I can get Shockleys Gold for under $20 a pound on sale.

Because of the extra week of hunting here, a lot of my friends hunt with a muzzle loader. They will use them all season so they are using a familiar gun the whole time.

That was a steal for $74

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Total in the gun minus scope is just under $300. The stock was a left over from old CVA surplus. I saw a post from a year ago about them selling on a BP forum. I sent an email and the same guy from CVA hooked me up. They no longer make the stock for their Kodiak rifle, just a standard laminate. It just required very minor fitting since both rifles are almost identical. CVA even gave me the 2 parts (collars and bolts) i needed for the conversion free.

I added a 1 piece stainless base and Z2 alloy rings and a scope i saved from my A Bolt combo i sold.

$360ish total

In all honesty though NOW you can buy one hell of a nice thumbhole camo stainless 50cal BP for just under $400 that will interchange with smokeless barrels too. Quality Bergara barrels cost in the $200-250 range new and standard on the gun. The cheaper Acurra series also uses the hi quality barrels. The rest are pretty cheap Spanish BPI brand like mine. Not terrible but i keep the loads reasonable.

The CVA Optima ELITE series, it has to be the Elite is great for the $$$$. They are being replaced by the CVA Apex that is more expensive but also closer in quality to Thompson.
Contenders ect.

I also have a Pedersoli Ovation...ugly as hell but a very well made Italian black powder. Its more of my brush hunting gun and stock for now. I couldnt pass it up for only $99 from Cabelas AND they still have some. Best sub $100 BP you can buy ATM and better than almost any import.

Anyone looking for a cheap but "proof load tested" BP should give them a shot.



http://www.cabelas.com/p-0071355217159a.shtml

This is my Ovation with temporary universal bases setup for medium too long eye relief and a 2.75 fixed 30mm. I got a 1 piece steel base that moves it a bit more forward but i havent finished it yet. This is going to be my woods BP and the metal fit/finish quality is fantastic. Ugly as hell but built like a bank vault.



The Apex will be getting a scope i posted on my 995 under the carbine section. Its HUGE on my 995. :cantlook:

Range results for the Winchester Apex with Barnes 285gr Spitfires and Blackhorn209 powder 20% under max charge.



Not too damn bad :devilsidesmile: