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Big Question is what are you going to do with it and what is your budget.
Target shooting is pretty open.
Hunting, you need to match the calibre to the game.
Reenacting - gets tricky, time period your doing, type of gun ... all come into the picture.
General rule of thumb is the better quality the gun is - the more reliable. Caplocks are more forgiving than flintlocks. Get a cheap flintlock and you will spend a lot of time wishing you hadn't. Quality flintlocks are a hoot!!! Just plain fun. But also cost more. If you go with a flintlock get good English flints. The staff at Dixie Gun Works are great at answering questions. They also have a great web site.
I have a Knight. I think it's a CK85, but I'm not sure on the model number. It shoots like a champ and the recoil isn't as bad as some of the other .50s when loaded with 100 grains of Pyrodex and a 275 grain sabot.
The most reliable, easiest to clean, and simplest to operate are the break open style. CVA makes a very affordable model called the Wolf. About $150. One important thing to remember with muzzle loading is your rifle is only 1/2 the cost of the sport. Be prepared to spend another $100 plus for the other stuff you "need".
If you want to shoot round balls you will need to buy a more "traditional" gun with rifling designed for ball, muzzle loader accuracy is not mix and match.
..I tell you a good first rifle,,the one i have had shot three times
it,s a Thompson Center Renegade 50,cal with instruction book
for loading and shooting and i have extra stuff to go with the rifle
im not pluging a sale,but its like new made in the mid 1980,s
and its just sitting in there..LOL 4 sale????? just go to
gunbroker.com type in Thompson Center Renegade...
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..I UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BARE-ARMS..
I am a TC man and have had great luck and terrific accuracy with 100% reliability from Thompson Center Arms products. I would look at the newer TC Triumph which has great feedback from range test reports.
If looking at a side lock and if you are a traditional sort og guy, I would look at the Lyman deerstalker or some of their other models. Dan
I am a TC man and have had great luck and terrific accuracy with 100% reliability from Thompson Center Arms products. I would look at the newer TC Triumph which has great feedback from range test reports.
If looking at a side lock and if you are a traditional sort of guy, I would look at the Lyman deerstalker or some of their other models. Dan
First decide if you want traditional side lock or inline. I use a CVA HAWKEN, #ii caps. I have used it since 1977, no problems and dropped a lot of deer, hogs and Javelinas, with NO complaints. I use 2 ffg powder, as I am a traditionalist. Good hunting, and "Keep Your Powder Dry" warthog
First Black Powder Rifle
just go to 
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