Meat and Fun With A Muzzleloader

[CaptainMal]

Here's the first of two I took during last week's muzzleloader season in Georgia.



Really only hunted a total of 6 hours. During that time I watched 14 does and 3 smaller bucks. None of the bucks ( 6 pt. the largest) interested me. I wanted all our meat for the next year and got it.

Here's # 2...



This one is actually a bit larger than the first one. It's a hoot to shoot and see nothing but smoke. I listen during the shot and that big 50 cal. sure makes a smack when it hits that is easily heard. See my tripod in the background of the second deer?

In a couple weeks I go back to seek some nice bucks with center-fire. For now it's been a fun hunt and my wife and I did almost 600 miles on the motorcycle around Georgia and Alabama filling in a memorable hunting and riding week.

 

[MrMajestic]

Good stuff Cpt.! I got a large bodied scruffy 5 point with the X-bow and now looking to fill two doe tags. Farmer wants them gone and if he catches you trophy shooting you don't get invited back. I just want the meat, well the daughter and son do! They like Dad's freezer! Good luck on a big one!

 

[NickB1075]

Congratulations!!!

Hunting with my old 54 cal TC Renegade is one of my favorite things to do.

What smoke pole were you using?

Thanks for sharing, I still have a few weeks to wait for season.

Nick

 

[Dgd6mm]

CaptainMal, always like reading your hunting reports on your quests.
Congratulations on the two harvested, I'm a meat hunter myself and usually end up with a decent buck also.

 

[CaptainMal]

I have been using a Thompson Center Omega since the mid-90's when it came out. Topped it with a Camo Burris 2-7 Ballistic Plex in see-through mounts. I have full use of the iron sights. Blackthorn 209 with TC 250 gr. spire points and the black sabot do 1 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. I tried the Super Glide sabots but they were a mess to shoot. Also spent lots of time trying those Hornady FPB 300 gr "full size" bullets with the concave base.

Best new discovery was the Blackthorn 209. Now I can shoot over 20 shots with no cleaning. Then I find cleaning easy with normal solvents. This rifle has killed almost to 200 yards for me. I have tested it farther but my results are not consistent past say 225 yards. My ES when chronographing is a bit much to cut down the vertical past 200 yards.

Killed at least one deer with it each year but one for the last 15 years. Strong gun. Once at Manatee I shot it with the metal ramrod still in the barrel. Knocked me off the bench to the concrete, broke my nose and bloodied the place. No gun damage and I did consult with TC on that issue. Bought a new breach plug and put it back in service.

It's a rifle I recommend.

Stop laughing. It was not funny and the cause is rather complex. The end blame is still my stupidity.

 

[savagedasher]

Congratulations Mel What primers are u using ? Larry

 

[CaptainMal]

Good question Larry. CCI 209M.

Had trouble with many primers. Normal Winchester 209's worked but the original breech plug had a small flash hole and was flat in the front. Tried many and mostly gave up, staying with Pyrodex for good ignition. Blackthorn 209 worked but sometimes caused trouble.

After I broke my nose ( you and the club know of that mess), I bought two new breech plugs. Both had concave fronts to the plug that allowed a smaller bit of powder to sit in from of the flash hole. That flash hole was also a bit larger than the original one. The Winchester ones worked perfectly as did the Remington Muzzleloader primers that were not to be used with the Blackthorn 209.

On a lark I tried some of the CCI 209's. Found perfect ignition, better ES and accuracy with that primer. Still have some of the other kinds and they will work. Blackhorn is oh so much nicer to shoot than Pyrodex. With that I literally had to clean after each shot to get reliable and consistent seating. Now I have done 26 shots accurately in a row without cleaning. Sore shoulder and no need to test further stopped me from trying to seat #27.

 

[MrMajestic]

Love Blackhorn also Cpt.! Use it in my Encore with Fed 209A's and Barnes/blue sabots. We have until Saturday for inlines and then back to Archery until after Thanksgiving. Had a young hunter discharge his muzzle loader near me last night with 10 minutes still on the clock! I wanted to yell at him "Use Blackburn 209!" As I let mine loaded for days without degradation.

 

[rwk]

What is the name of the thing you use to lift the deer. Rich

 

[savagedasher]

What is the name of the thing you use to lift the deer. Rich

;D ;D ;D Mal rig . ;D ;D ;D ;D Larry

 

[CaptainMal]

RWK,

It's a Kolpin "Tilt N Tote", or something like that.

Never really touch the deer. Open the slide bar, attach the animal and crank it up, tilt it over so the body is in the basket, slide the bar back inside the carrier and have at it.

I have had and used it for years. Only thing to remember is don't tell anyone you have one. They will then call you when they get something and beg you to ride over and get it out for them. I just drive my quad onto the trailer, close up the ramp and pull trailer, quad and deer right to the skinning rack or processor. If I'm going to the processor I don't even bother to gut the deer. It works so well and I can transport so fast, it's not worth the time and effort.

Think you can see it folded up with nothing on it in the background of this picture. I never take if off the quad.

 

[MrMajestic]

You're livin' large Cpt.!