[ESelman]

I have fired a black powder rifle about 28-20 years ago, when I was really young. Other than that, I have zero experience.
I go moose hunting, and I am becoming interested in the idea, of doing so with a black powder rifle.
I guess what I need to know most, is, how effective will a black powder rifle be on a moose, and if it is an effective rifle, then which rifle do I look into?
Im on a budget, so I can't go blow 2 grand. I could probably afford to buy a rifle next summer, and then a scope in the fall (or use an existing one...are there different scopes for black powder, vs smokeless rifles?)

I appreciate any help at all!

 

[jack404]

G'day ESelman, Welcome to the forums

i've never shot a moose with a BP rifle , never needed that much meat while that way

but dropped big buffalo here in Australia's top end 1800 lb + range

theres quite a few sub $600 rig's with scope for BP shooters in the US , i'll leave the locals to advise you which is best as we dont get the range you folks have

i had a quick look

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...28/Muzzleloaders/CVA WOLF 50 24 W/SCP OUTFIT/

this kit is $579 here plus tax ,, sheeesh its a good starter kit for inline BP without spending a lot

 

[jack404]

 

[Hawg]

That's a nice Zouave Jack. Is it a Zoli?

 

[ESelman]

Thanks for the reply! That is definitely affordable for me! It's a lot cheaper than getting a new smokeless rifle!

 

[jack404]

nope its a jack i made that one in 1984 for a gent who's now bought a guenuine one for his re-enactment group nothing about it is legit oldest thing about it is the sling ..

we got him a real CSA rifle and he traded his old one on it, $395 complete and its yours

 

[Yadkin]

Eman I have been shooting BP weapons for over 35 years the best way to go is traditional (forget the inlines and scopes) you will open yourself up to a whole new way of life and fun. I would look at a Lyman great plains rifle in 54 cal. for your moose hunts, good weapons I own one myself and have refered this rifle to many new shooters, it will down your game at range up to 200 yds, fancy gadgets (scopes, red dot sights) are no match for skill training and patience and practice, I will help you all I can and I thing you will agree with me and the thousands like me that a good sidelock is the only way to go when it comes to this hobby and sport.

Shoot straight
keep your muzzle up
and you powder dry
Yadkin

 

[mogunner]

I shoot an inline, it keeps on working when my buddy's are sitting there cleaning the nipple passage on their sidelocks after a misfire...maybe not a "traditional" blackpowder but function is more important to me when hunting, your flintlocks and sidelocks are fine for competition.

 

[aa1911]

I treat inlines like kryptonite, to me it's just a lazy man's black powder gun to get around hunting regulations to maximize season (oops, did I say that out loud?) sorry, I just hate in lines but to each their own on that one, I suppose they have their purpose like any other gun, just not my cup of tea.

A nice flint or percussion .54 rifle would serve you well for moose using good conicals. I've only used Goex black powder but I'm about to experiment with some of the newer BP propellents to see if they are a viable substitute or not. Someone else hopefully can shed some light on the different (newer) propellents out there.

There are BP specific scopes, they are usually listed with shotgun scopes but not necessary; a standard rifle scope will also work just fine. A good peep sight is plenty for BP ranges though IMO, unless you have a cartridge BP gun for sillouhette or something, I wouldn't shoot much past 200m with the old smoke pole for hunting, especially big suckers like moose.

lots of folks hunt elk here with .50 cals though too so that's always an option, slightly more common than the .54 but both have decent selection of bullets and accessories.

 

[JasonS]

sorry to chime in but trying to stay on topic without the moose however, you can get a black powder rifle for around 600? Ive yet to see a moose in my town 2 hours from Hollywood other than Bullwinkle.

 

[aa1911]

most of the common kits are running around $400, about an additional hundred bucks for already finished. Lyman, CVA, Thompson/Center and a bunch of others are mostly reasonably priced.

 

[Hawg]

I'm with some of the others. I despise inlines. Take the time to learn a sidelock and it will shoot when the inlines wont. The Lyman GPR in 54 would be good but its a round ball only rifle, but a .54 caliber hole going in and well over .60 coming out should have no problems putting a moose on the ground. After all they've been doing it for more years than smokeless has been around.

 

[dragonrider]

Been shooting black powder for about ten years now and a flinter or percussion is the only way to go.Here in PA. we have a flintlock only season and a muzzleloader season where you can use an inline. I got suckered in and bought a Lyman Mustang inline and I hate it.(Going to try to sell it)My BP rifle of choice is a Lyman Trade Rifle in 54cal.With PRBs it really does the job on PA whitetails.

 

[mogunner]

dragonrider brings up a good point...not being familiar with Canada's regulations as far as season and firearm limits, both of those could be an important variable as to what you buy. Here in Missouri we don't have a muzzleloader season any more, it's now an "alternative method" where you can hunt with a varied assortment of weapons, from a centerfire handgun using expanding ammo, black powder rifles, and something called "atlatls" which is basically a freaking spear thrown with a special "launcher"!

Pay no attention to them "purists" that want you to mess with one of them antique BP rifles, they probably still churn their own butter and poop outside...if you're wanting to bring home the meat, get that inline that Jack posted the link to or one similar. Push a 400gr bullet with 100grs of BP behind it and you won't have any problem with Bullwinkle. Then once the BP bug bites you it'd be time to play with the sidelocks and such. I remember reading somewhere that y'all might have restrictions as to firearms up there, does that include black powder or are you pretty well free to own and shoot as many of those as you like?