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I have killed both deer and elk with .50 cal round balls out of a Thompson renigade. This year I moved to a CVA Accura MRX. With the Williams peep sight and western front sight it accurate to at least 150 yards. We can’t use scopes, pellets for powder or center fire primers in Oregon. I was elk hunting a week ago but didn’t make it happen. Thinking of going back next month for another go.
Our state has a WEIRD law which is what WD is referencing, I think. We may be the only state that has such. Our deer season opens with a "primitive weapons" season which, of course, is meant to mean muzzleloaders and such BUT there is a loophole that allows you to use a centerfire rifle IF it's a : single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer
KS just has an early muzzle loader season. Its early enough I dont like hunting then. Taking care of meat when 80 is doable but I like to wait for colder weather. Even scoped modern inline shotgun primer guns you can load with smokeless powder are legal if they can only be loaded from the muzzle.
Sounds like in MS a ruger number one in 35 whelen would be nice.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Many states have muzzleloader seasons but very few have an actual "primitive weapons" season where you are limited to traditional ML or archery gear. Pa is the only state I am aware of having a specific "primitive weapons" season, but there may be others. Ky has a specific area in the Daniel Boone Nat Forrest that is primitive weapons only.
Typically a state will specify a minimum caliber for ML, often .40 or .45. I use flintlock rifles in .50 and .62 calibers. .54 is a very popular caliber for a traditional flintlock or percussion rifle. It has a flatter trajectory than a .62 and hits harder than a .50.
Modern MLs are another thing altogether. Scopes, modern bullets in a sabot in some cases, powder in preformed pellets, "in-line" bolt actions or break actions with a primer or percussion cap ignition, etc. Nothing "primitive" about them at all. Some states prohibit sabots and require the bullet be of bore diameter.
If you are considering a traditional ML rifle, one factor to be aware of is that barrels of different bores will be made from blanks that give adequate strength, but each caliber does not have it's own blank size. So, for example, a .45 and a .50 will usually be made from the same blank making the .45 heavier without the extra punch.
Oregon has been slowly changing the laws, used to be no fiber optic sights, now they are allowed. We do have a traditional archery area, the trout creek mountains has a special hunt for traditional bows only, recurves are allowed.
I changed from a side lock to inline muzzleloader mainly because of how easy they cleanup. I enjoyed shooting my Renagade with patched roundballs. We can’t use any projectile with plastic so no sabots, XLD bullets or the like. With the in-line I’m shooting 297 gr. Thor solid copper hollow points. 105 gr. Weighed triple seven 2-f powder and a musket cap. It’s shooting two inches high at 100 yds, holds a pretty tight group.
When I knew I would be making the move to Mississippi, I put together a rifle for the Primitive season. Thompson Center Encore frame. Match Grade Machine (MGM) barrel in 9.3x62mm.
Wisconsin has a specific muzzleloader season. It is nine days and begins the day after the regular gun deer season ends. In WI, the minimum calibers required in muzzleloaders is 40 cal for rifles and 45 cal for smoothbores. Years ago an effort was made to move the muzzleloader season earlier, before the regular gun deer seasin, but the bowhunting lobby whined about it and the season remains where it is. I've hunted with my 54 cal percussion GPR since 1985 and have hunted out of a remote cabin in the far northwoods, rural Grand View for about 30 years. I'm hoping to acquire a Jim Kibler flintlock sometime in the near future, however I must admit his new high quality Hawken kit is the best offering out there.
Many states have muzzleloader seasons but very few have an actual "primitive weapons" season where you are limited to traditional ML or archery gear. Pa is the only state I am aware of having a specific "primitive weapons" season, but there may be others.
Pennsylvania has both a muzzleloader season and a flintlock season. The muzzleloader season permits modern inlines and telescopic sights. The flintlock season permits only guns produced prior to 1800 or reproductions of them. Nothing that would not have existed prior to 1800 is allowed.
.44 cal and up for rifles, .50 cal and up for pistols.
I use a Perdersoli-built Pennsylvania Long Rifle in .50 cal in both seasons.
I use a .54 TC flintlock for the PA primitive season. Best time to hunt, opens day after Christmas for 3 weeks. 90 grains of 2f pushing a round patched ball.
.54 Lyman Great Plains Rifle in a round ball shooter, percussion, right hand gun but went to shooting left eyed…turns out I am an even better shot that way these days,just takes a hair more time.
Last edited by trapper les; 3 hours ago.
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
We have a late 8 day “heritage” season. Basically cap and flint muzzleloaders. You can carry anything during general so if I dont have a bow in my hand I hunt with the flint. .54 PRB