MAX Muzzleloader – Three Things You Gotta Know Before Buying a Bunch of Muzzleloading Gear
by Russell Lynch, Owner of M.A.X. Muzzleloader
The sport of muzzleloading has been experiencing unbelievable growth over the past few years. Technology has allowed the manufacturers in this industry to offer the consumer the most reliable and accurate muzzleloaders ever produced to date. Our ancestors would, without a doubt, be awed.
However, with growth comes options. In the case of modern, in-line muzzleloaders, the choices are so great, it’s sometimes hard to decide what to buy and try. So what do you need to know to narrow down your needs? Here’s three questions to help you narrow it down before you start to blow your dough (doe?).
1. Wha’chu hunt’n? You first have to decide what it is you are going to hunt with your muzzleloader. Most muzzleloaders are purchased to hunt the most popular big game animal in North America: the whitetail deer. But there are other options if that is not your preference. Whether your prey is larger or smaller, you need to know what you need to take that animal. The neat part about this great United States is, we got critters everywhere, so….
2. Where ya going’? So you want a buck? An elk? A muley? Before going too far, you need to check the state or area that you will be hunting in. This will make a big difference in the gear you use. Almost all muzzleloading rifles and bullets that the industry advertise are legal in most states at this time, but not all. There are some states that require an open-breech (where the cap would be exposed to the whether) so that is something to be aware of. In some areas of the country, only bore-sized bullets are legal. In others, only patched round-balls are allowed. Optics are also a no-no in some states, or rules may differ on special limited draw hunts or during specific seasons. Fact of the matter is, you better know the rules where you are going before you start purchasing your gear to save . So, now you know where you are headed…
3. What’s it like there? Depending on the terrain, your rifle, scope and load selection can be as difficult to pin down as, let’s say the whitetail itself. In “whitetail world”, you can expect a shot at anywhere from 10 yards (or closer) to 200 yards +. Habitat can be from so thick you can’t see more than 50 yards (where I live) to areas where you can see ‘em way farther than you can shoot ‘em (where I like to go). The biggest factors here are picking the correct scope or in some cases, iron-sights may be the proper selection, and choosing proper loads. Still, narrowing down the choices can be a challenge.
As you see in this short article, there are some very basic questions to answer before heading out this muzzleloader season. Think about these things: what will I be hunting, what is legal where I’m going and how far will I be shooting. Once you’ve answered these important questions, you can start purchasing your equipment – and now the real work of sorting through the choices begins!
Watch for my next post on how to select the high-dollar items: “The Latest & Greatest in Muzzleloading Rifles”.