Muzzleloader recommendations?

[Colorado Cowboy]

I've been shooting BP in competition for over 20 years. I used to shoot 1000 yard matches with a Sharps and am a Cowboy Action Shooter, shooting 2 to 3 times a month. I shoot somewhere around 2000 rounds a month in matches and practice. Granted I shoot BP cartridge mostly, not M/Lers. But cleanup is very simple (I use water and a touch of simple green). I actually think BP loading is easier than smokeless. Think about it, had to be so the cowboys and buffalo hunters could load their own without a lot of tools. I have also never had a problem with misfires/nonfires when I use my front stuffer. Sure its not a flintlock and does use 209 primers, but if you follow a few simple rules, you won't have much of a problem with ignition in wet weather. I use a balloon over the muzzle to keep the water out...remove prior to shooting of course. The biggest problem I have with moisture is with the trigger mechanism, get a film of rust on it and gets sticky when it gets wet. Thats why I'm getting a new M/L.

The big advantage to M/L hunting here in Colorado is that I get to hunt during the rut. I'm not a bow hunter, never was and never will be. The biggest problem I have see is the attitude of the bowhunters, they don't want the M/L hunters to intrude on THEIR season. Sharing with them is ok with me, hell they could even bowhunt during rifle season too. Makes me no difference.

[Old Hunter]

the one were the 4 year old seen it he had his gun settin by the house door and when some one walked threw it they slammed the door the gun fell and went off, the other a guy was out with his son set the gun on hood of truck it fell off and went off as well, i know they shouldnt have still had their primers in, and i am pretty sure both the models were the inline type that use a a big spring behind the firing bolt instead of the new safer ones that break open like a single shot shot gun, but still i dont much trust them!

I'm going to guess they were the plunger type. The have an unusual safety. I bet they weren't set. Muzzleloaders are just as safe as CF guns if you practice safe handling.

It's too bad what happened, but I wouldn't just blame the guns.

[Old Hunter]

I've been shooting BP in competition for over 20 years. I used to shoot 1000 yard matches with a Sharps and am a Cowboy Action Shooter, shooting 2 to 3 times a month. I shoot somewhere around 2000 rounds a month in matches and practice. Granted I shoot BP cartridge mostly, not M/Lers. But cleanup is very simple (I use water and a touch of simple green). I actually think BP loading is easier than smokeless. Think about it, had to be so the cowboys and buffalo hunters could load their own without a lot of tools. I have also never had a problem with misfires/nonfires when I use my front stuffer. Sure its not a flintlock and does use 209 primers, but if you follow a few simple rules, you won't have much of a problem with ignition in wet weather. I use a balloon over the muzzle to keep the water out...remove prior to shooting of course. The biggest problem I have with moisture is with the trigger mechanism, get a film of rust on it and gets sticky when it gets wet. Thats why I'm getting a new M/L.

The big advantage to M/L hunting here in Colorado is that I get to hunt during the rut. I'm not a bow hunter, never was and never will be. The biggest problem I have see is the attitude of the bowhunters, they don't want the M/L hunters to intrude on THEIR season. Sharing with them is ok with me, hell they could even bowhunt during rifle season too. Makes me no difference.

That's a sore spot with me too. The bow hunters get a month, and we get 9 days in ML season. They can choose to hunt with us, or not. They still have 3 weeks if they choose to not hunt with us. If they're not happy talk to the DOW. All we can do as ML hunters is hunt when the DOW tells us we can hunt.

To be honest. If I had my way. I'd let the bow hunters have their season the way it is. Then give us the 9 days after bow season ends, and before 1st rifle season begins. There's room on the calendar to do that. Then we'd be in the rut better, and the weather would be a bit cooler. Just a dream though. DOW never listens.

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'm going to guess they were the plunger type. The have an unusual safety. I bet they weren't set. Muzzleloaders are just as safe as CF guns if you practice safe handling.

It's too bad what happened, but I wouldn't just blame the guns.

You are 100% correct! Gun safety is gun safety, no matter what kind it is.