I became intrigued with muzzleloaders as a kid. My dad owned a defunct old ‘long rifle’ that had shot it’s last round a half century before my dad purchased it from a farmer friend. The old ‘smokepole’ had spent several decades stored in the farmer’s barn. We never knew the old rifle’s history but I grew up with some fantastic daydreams of all the game the rifle had taken.

My mind’s eye conjured up images of a buckskin clad mountain man toting the rifle along on his trap line runs and using it to procure meat for the winter. For all I know, the old gun might have spent its early days in the hands of an Appalachian farmer where it was used to shoot squirrels and rabbits. But, to me this old gun of my youth was used to ward off grizzlies and shoot elk and buffalo! 

I was well into my thirties before I decided to learn about shooting and hunting with muzzleloaders. My first muzzleloader was a 50 caliber Hawken replica. I read several books on muzzleloading and found the learning curve pretty sharp. With my volumetric powder measurer, short starter, ramrod and patched round balls, I soon found myself shooting very acceptable groups out to 75 yards. That first season, I harvested a fat 7-point white tail buck that I was more proud of then any animal I’d taken with my centerfire rifles. 

Much of the allure of shooting muzzleloader is the act of actually building the round right in the rifle’s barrel. First the powder is poured down the muzzle or pre formed propellant pellets are dropped in. Next the ‘round’ is loaded. This can be anything from a patched round ball to a lead conical bullet to a modern day sabot which is basically a bullet of lesser diameter than the bore of the rifle, encased in a sleeve. The variations are myriad and experimenting with various powder charges, bullet weights and styles is half the fun. 

Dave Ehrig shows off a fine buck he took with his traditional muzzleloader. Dave is chairman of the Longhunter Committee of the National Muzzleloader Rifle Association.  photo courtesy Dave Ehrig

Before purchasing that first smokepole, one must made a few decisions. Is it the allure of shooting replica rifles that attracted you to the sport? Do you wish to take the supreme challenge and begin with a flintlock or replica Hawken or do you prefer to go with a modern inline muzzleloader that, when loaded properly, has the potential to match accuracy with your center fire deer rifle out to a little over 100 yards. 

Regardless the style muzzleloader you choose to begin shooting, you will accept the one shot challenge. You will no longer be able to slip a shell into the chamber of your center fire deer rifle and shoot! No, you will begin experimenting with powder charges, primers or flints and bullets. You’ll spend many pleasurable hours perfecting your shooting skills. Remember experimenting and practice is what muzzleloading is all about. If you require instant gratification, better stick with that scoped deer rifle that shoots ‘ready roll’ shells! But I’ve seen many center fire rifle shooters/hunters readily take to the challenge of shooting muzzleloaders.

That KA-BOOM  made by a discharging muzzleloader and the pungent smell of burnt powder is extremely addictive, especially on a crisp fall day with a buck or wild hog in your sights!  When you see those groups tighten up and learn that out to reasonable distances, your muzzleloader will harvest game just as well as your deer rifle, you might just become hooked!

These days, I shoot and hunt with an inline muzzleloader and shoot 250 grain sabots. With 100 grains of Triple Seven propellant, I sight in 2 inches high at 100 yards. Out to 150 yards, the bullet is within a couple of inches of aiming point. If I’m shooting 175 yards, I simply hold the crosshairs about four inches higher than where I wish the bullet to hit. These variables can only be learned through shooting and experimenting. For instance, in the muzzleloader I shoot, an increase of power charge to 150 grains causes the group goes crazy. I learned that by shooting… a lot of shooting! 

I’ve found muzzleloaders are great for beginning hunters. My youngest son began his hunting career shooting a scoped inline and hunted several years with it before taking his first deer with a centerfire. Recoil can be reduced in a muzzleloader by using less powder. Just as centerfires offer ‘reduced recoil’ ammunition, the muzzleloader shooter has the same option. All that’s necessary is to pour less powder down the muzzle! But, expect any change from a ‘worked up’ load to change point of impact. For instance, a rifle is shooting well with 90 grains of powder with a 300 grain lead conical, reduction in powder charge to 60 grains in order to reduce recoil will definitely alter the bullet’s path. A good rule of thumb is to shoot a 5 shot string to determine point of impact any time the slightest change is made to power charge or bullet weight or design. 

If all this is beginning to sound a bit too complicated, don’t worry. Muzzleloading, at its core is very simple; powder is poured into the barrel and a bullet is seated tightly over the charge, spark from a percussion cap or flint ignites the powder and KA-BOOM.  

Did you know that we muzzleloader hunters have our own record keeping system for scoring trophy big game animals, the Longhunter Record Book?

The Longhunter was formed in 1988 by the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association(NMLRA) to promote muzzleloading hunting throughout North America. It brings deserved recognition to hunters who have chosen to pursue North American big game with the type of guns used by their forefathers. The Longhunter recognizes the increased challenge accepted by muzzleloading hunters who abide by stated fair chase standards. The Longhunter also honors the trophy animals taken with muzzleloading guns. The Longhunter fully supports the conservation of all North American Wildlife. Continuing effort to preserve habitat and manage wildlife resources is crucial to the preservation of our sport.

For all information concerning Longhunter contact Joyce: fieldrep@seidata.com (812) 667-5131. 

The  NMLRA is a great source for muzzleloaders, veteran and beginners alike. The Magazine “Muzzle Blast” is chock full of entertaining articles and how-to information. To learn more and become a member, visit the web site www.nmlra.org.

Listen to Outdoors with Luke Clayton at www.catfishradio.com. Contact Luke  via the web site with hunting and fishing news from your area.