I am thinking of muzzleloader hunting next year for elk, I've been bow hunting for 25 years but with all of the hunters and the rut seeming to run later and later I'm going to switch.
What are any suggestions on 50 cal's? we have to use what they call Northwest models. I was looking at a CVA Optima V2 also we have to use solid bullets, No sabots and what powder?
Thanks for any help/idea's

CVA 0ptima is a good choice also Traditions makes some real nice models.

I like 777 Tripple seven for powder. Practice a lot and clean often. Before you reload after cleaning fire a cap of to dry all out.

Go to " modernmuzzleloading.com" spend a week there asking questions and reading past threads. That's what I did and ended up with the knight 45 ultra lite in nitride. Pretty sweet rifle!!!

I spent most of my time in the "inline" forum as I knew that is what I was going to get.

Go with .54 cal

I like the Hornady great planes conical and if you don't want to use real black 777 is good

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002234681

a rear peep sight and a good front post I like a nice square blade

My TC encore shoots very well with Barnes bullets and blackhorn 209. Accuracy surprised the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out of me

I didn't know Barnes made any non sabot bullets for muzzle loader?

Wife’s gun is an optima, it’s been a good gun. Accurate and easy to clean. It also has something like a tenifer coating that seems to be pretty tough. I’ve ran 777 for the last 15years with good results, as long as I did my part powder dry. Get yourself some speed loaders you can keep in your pack and that should help keep moisture at bay. Tried Blackhorn209 powder last year and so far I’m really liking it. Much cleaner than 777, but for elk maybe a guy is better off with the convenience of pellets.

My obligatory advice for new muzzleloader hunters- Dont let your gun sit in your warm truck cab then take it out in the cold to hunt, that change in temps creates condensation that can result in hangfires/squibs.

Then sub Barnes bullets for the bullet of your choice. Not really that hard to figure out.

I bought some plastic test tube looking things with a screw on top on amazon. I weigh out my charges and put it in one. Stays nice and dry and quick to load

the guys in most of western elk country have to have open ignition systems , powder not pellets and no sabots or plastic parts to their projectile

I know this is unsolicited opinion but Get a real muzzle loader. Everything else is a single shot rifle.

Is this “open” enough...lol

yes a flinter is open enough

as much as I like traditional patched round ball and lead conical

there tends to be 2 camps in muzzle loading

traditional and season extender

i can't blame the season extenders for not wanting to simplify and make muzzle loading easy they want to hunt not climb the learning curve

many of the new "open" ignition systems are clearly following the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law

Nessmuck love your pics of the flinters. Don’t own one, but yours are some beautiful pieces of functioning art!

I've owned

.45's
.50's &
.54's. They will all work fine but , As far as finding and buying gear n' ammo there is a Ton more out there for the 50 caliber.

My .54 Lyman long rifle was my favorite. Should never sold it.

I own an inline 50 with a scope, does that make me double bad? I just can't shoot well with open sights anymore, and this weapon is very accurate.

I have owned them it does not make you a bad person , it just does not make you western elk state compliant.

I hunted with a 2-7x32 optic on an inline 209 ignition 50 cal I did use the great planes conical but could have used a sabot I did this because I hunted an area that was archery and muzzle loader only I was hunting during the extended doe season that for a while ran from right after gun deer end of November till January 4th.

a peep sight makes a big difference compared to normal open sights
with a typical open sight you cover half your target , and you have 3 different focal ranges rear sight , front sight and target

with a peep mounted at the rear of the gun your eye is so close that your really just looking through the hole and never focusing on the rear at all , you focus on the front sight and put it on your slightly blurry target

because your focal distance is the front sight and on a 26 inch barrel that makes it 29 inches out approximately the way your eye focuses your target isn't too hard to see in relationship to the front sight

Actually, they are available through a different manufacturer using Barnes technology. Im not good at posting links, but you can google Thor Bullets. I wouldnt use anything else if i was chasing Elk. They have sizing packs that are available to fit your individual barrel or a new line out that is suppose to be more universal (I got the sizing pack). As far as muzzlsloaders, Im very partial to Thompson ProHunter. You should also consider Blackhorn 209 powder. It burns more consistent than pellets and is way easier to clean the barrel.
There are other good products out there, but I have tried a lot and Im very satisfied what I have mentioned. Good luck, happy hunting.