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Post by smokelessk on Sept 2, 2018 21:06:50 GMT -5
I'm curious to know what members personal reasons are for indulging in SML rifles? High performance, better hunting tool, putting meat in the freezer, lower maintenance, having people look at your rifle and say "that's a what? A Muzzleloader?" Everyone has some reason for "the itch". Let's hear what you have to say. I'm curious to know. Others might be as well.
Also, how long have you been "scratching the itch" of SML shooting?
Being a member of the board for over a year and a half now I duly enjoy keeping up on the latest info on the board. Good stuff here!
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Post by joelmoney on Sept 2, 2018 21:20:19 GMT -5
High preference hunting rig.
Not been shooting them long only 100 rounds. Been looking at them for 15 years. Finally took the plunge.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2018 6:19:13 GMT -5
You cant buy them in a store....its cutting edge technology, so many powders combos that can be explored...we have dedicated/knowledgeble help here....They can and are more powerful than centerfires ...You dont have to clean so much... And as HillBill has mentioned...we're "Special"....Meaning we ain't right,lol and I take pride in that......
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Post by dennis on Sept 3, 2018 7:23:07 GMT -5
Bought my ML2 used in 2009 for the purpose of a lesser maintenance hunting ML. It has since been re-barreled (Brux), and had my Apex converted also. I am using DI plugs in both and have really grown to like this ignition system. I did not get into it for hot rod shooting, but they do give the option for more speed.
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Post by hillbill on Sept 3, 2018 7:48:29 GMT -5
All of the above reasons I hated BP so much that I quit and bow hunted during Muzzer season until I saw the need for a Savage for the Illinois gun season, it has been a long journey since, lots of hours and money but for some reason I keep building stuff. I guess I just like to tinker. kind of like exploring I suppose, like Lazer said, it's cutting edge stuff. Yes we are special, crazy, warped, insane is what a lot of people think when you even mention smokeless in a muzzleloader but they don't know what we know, most never will and I'm good with that, it's not for the masses, not by a far stretch.
We are the few, the proud, the ram rod Maniacs
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Sept 3, 2018 9:05:18 GMT -5
I'm curious to know what members personal reasons are for indulging in SML rifles? High performance, better hunting tool, putting meat in the freezer, lower maintenance, having people look at your rifle and say "that's a what? A Muzzleloader?" Everyone has some reason for "the itch". Let's hear what you have to say. I'm curious to know. Others might be as well. Also, how long have you been "scratching the itch" of SML shooting? Being a member of the board for over a year and a half now I duly enjoy keeping up on the latest info on the board. Good stuff here! actually all the reasons you mentioned above..... but the leading factor is. HILLBILL MADE ME DO IT!!
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Sept 3, 2018 9:07:49 GMT -5
LOL @ "Ram Rod Maniacs" aint that the truth
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Post by elkman1310 on Sept 3, 2018 9:26:28 GMT -5
Well for me it was just a natural progression I always enjoyed long range shooting and hunting. And played around with regular black powder muzzleloaders for years. I kept playing around with different makes and models and then bought a used Savage and spent over a year trying to make it shoot decent but it was only at best a 300 yard gun that just didn't get the job done because in Kansas an Virginia I couldn't reach two really big bucks that came out at over 400 yards so the 50 barrel came off and a 45 caliber barrel went on and the rest is history.
Once you get the high performance smokeless muzzleloader bug your pretty well hooked for life. There is a lot of great info shared on this board that is valuable and saves time and money. Build one and join the club!
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Post by Kyle on Sept 3, 2018 10:26:07 GMT -5
A well tuned high-performance smokeless muzzleloader where legal has many advantages over nonsmokeless types.
1) non corrosive powder 2) highly accurate 3) extended range 4) more energy 5) reliable Ignition
Just to name a few.
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Post by 10gaauto on Sept 3, 2018 10:37:11 GMT -5
All the above. Initially just wanted a ML that didn't have to be washed, scrubbed, dried, and greased and oiled up every day you pulled the trigger. The performance increase turned to be a big plus. Started in 07 and after the 1st jump with the learning curve became an "addict". Ever since have been on the lookout for "donors" for builds and used/abused SML for sale. Currently have 7 on hand and have upgraded or built and turned over about 7 more. Mostly I shoot modest loads and shoot to be a better hunter. Still have my 1st MLII but it has a Brux 45 now, have my 1st "build" which was a blue/black MLII with bulged barrel = got a original SS 50 takeoff barrel and put that on myself, shoots like a dream. And now I still look for donors, haven't done a Ruger 77/50 conversion but I'll find one to convert someday. The Rem ML and Omega are the current reasonable priced easy build platforms. Plus building a gun and then tuning it up with an accurate load keeps me busy and out of trouble. best to all, 10
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Post by dannoboone on Sept 3, 2018 10:51:40 GMT -5
In the beginning of my journey, it was because of being sick and tired of the smoke bellowing out which obscured the deer. It was like, "which way did it go, did it drop, was it a good hit?" After complaining about it on a few boards, someone turned me on to Doug's. After reading about people's results, I ordered a stainless laminated 10MLII from a link which was then at the top of Doug's Savage ML board for $500.
Reasons for "the itch" came later when I came to wanting more accuracy and range, so I followed Rick Bibby's lead and went to a .458 barrel. It has since been replaced with a .451 barrel and a Rem700ml conversion has been added. If those in power in Iowa ever come to their senses, the .458 barrel on the Rem will be replaced with a 40.
It is sooooo nice to have CF accuracy and range in a front stuffer!!
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floyd
Full Member
Posts: 216
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Post by floyd on Sept 3, 2018 11:33:27 GMT -5
All of the previously mentioned items. Particularly all the smoke, cleaning regimen and then starting to hunt with shotguns in Illinois. Shotguns to me mean high recoil,limited range and mediocre accuracy at best.
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Post by nippernut on Sept 3, 2018 11:34:28 GMT -5
all the above
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Post by 150class on Sept 3, 2018 12:12:53 GMT -5
1) Best legal hunting tool in my home state. Accurate long range gun. 2) Non corrosive. Much easier to maintain. 3) Reliable ignition systems. 4) No smoke. 5) Fun to build and personalize, customize.
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Post by Richard on Sept 3, 2018 12:24:51 GMT -5
The smoke and cleaning were the main factors originally. Then the accuracy. Like Elkman, being long and short range bench rest shooter and hunter, the thought of "one shot, one kill" peaked my interest. Kind of like hunting with my single shot XP-100's and Contenders. You learn to make the one shot count. Now I don't hunt but have my own machine shop, build my own equipment and love to tinker and experiment.
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Post by kbrezlin on Sept 3, 2018 19:35:26 GMT -5
Performance and low maintenance for hunting
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Post by Cheytac on Sept 3, 2018 19:58:32 GMT -5
When you pour out the corn in a straight line you can get 3 to line up and kill all 3 with one shot.
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Post by leftyml on Sept 3, 2018 20:12:04 GMT -5
Here in my area of va. we can not leagally hunt deer with c.f. rifles. Shotguns only. Then b.p. muzzleloaders were legal. Used b.p. muzzleloaders from hawkins to inlines for 20 years or so. Then went to a encore, but still had to deal with b.p. Tried .25 acp cases with sr primers and 35 grs 5744, then heard of slufoot conversions. Much better. Now have the same encore with a H.I.S. setup. ALL this because I was not happy with the accuracy of b.p. and sabots. I now have a bolt sml and the encore,will never shotgun a deer again. Also, this sml stuff is FUN!
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Post by Kyle on Sept 3, 2018 20:16:45 GMT -5
When you pour out the corn in a straight line you can get 3 to line up and kill all 3 with one shot. New Cyclops video coming soon.
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Post by joelmoney on Sept 3, 2018 20:49:12 GMT -5
When you pour out the corn in a straight line you can get 3 to line up and kill all 3 with one shot. No fair MN dose not let us bait. I’m guessing I might have to travel. Thought of that with Pronghorn Antelope at a water hole. How many would fall with 1 shot.
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