Muzzle loader for elk

[Lefty]

Here in Idaho for a few bucks we can exchange our unused archery tag for a muzzle loader tag.
I dont want to spend too much but do have two old (maybe 40 years) muzzle loaders I would like to sell and get some thing newer,
What should I look for in a muzzle loader for elk?

[Waygoner]

I bought a new inline Traditions Vortek a few months ago. It replaced the CVA Optima I could never get to shoot well. I shot a cow with the Vorteck, Blackhorn powder and Thor bullet. Cow dropped in her tracks. I've got a Hawken style .54 too as a backup.

[CurlyTail]

I have a CVA Accura V2 that is a tack driver and mid-range priced. The Belgara barrel is really something.

You will need to determine Idaho restrictions/regulations to optimize your set-up. You will need to decide if you want to maximize accuracy/range or if you think it would be fun to go old school/frontier technology . I am not very knowlegable about the traditional/frontier set up as I have gone more modern with my own set up.

I hunt Colorado where they force you to go a bit primitive by restricting the use of scopes and sabots

You should not have to spend a bunch of money to get a good shooting muzzleloader. I would think 500 or less for sure. Used should be OK also - they are not much more than a barrel with and ignition system/trigger.

To optimize accuracy I would recommend a scope if allowed, Sabots if allowed, (Thor 250 ballistic tip all copper conicals are my choice when sabots not allowed), and Blackhorn 209 powder.

I favor a muzzleloader with a .209 shotgun primer for the ignition system, and the Blackhorn 209 powder will only ignite reliably with such a hot primer. These do very well in wet weather.

My muzzleloader when set up without a scope is good to 75 yards (limited by my vision and open sights), with a scope and a rest it is accurate to 175 yards.

Oh ya - almost forgot - I really like a muzzleloader with a breach plug that is removable without tools. The breach plug is what really needs the attention when it come to cleaning and anything that makes that easy is good.

I like to shoot a muzzleloader because of the timing of the Colorado season which is peak of rut. Without calling and the elk rutting, a muzzleloader during rifle season would be a serious challenge.

I was surprised how much more fun at the range it is to shoot a muzzleloader than a rifle. I enjoy the process of pouring powder down the barrel and ramming home a bullet.

[Huntrgathr]

First of all, muzzleloading is a lot of fun ! That's the part I didn't anticipate. A friend gave me a gun, bullets, everything I needed and I went out that first season and took an elk at 105yds during the antlerless hunt. It felt awesome ! Most of the Idaho elk tags give you that second chance muzzy option so it's a great back-up plan if you dont stick one with an arrow. It's a lot more rewarding for me personally to take one with a smokepole than with a rifle ( nothing against rifles because I thouroughly enjoyed that for awhile). There's just something kinda cool about shoving a handful of stuff down a tube and seeing how accurately you can actually shoot it. To me it feels closer to archery than it does to rifle hunting. But, I shoot a side-lock that doesn't go off under certain conditions so it keeps it interesting.

In Idaho, we're held to fairly traditional standards by F+G so no scopes, sabots , copper bullets or shotgun primers. There are nuances to the weapon restrictions you'll want to look at closely before buying a smokepole. I shoot an Italian made, "entry level" .54 cal muzzy and it works but definitely feels more like a primitive weapon. My buddies shoot more modern .50cal inlines that are much more reliable, lighter , etc. Can't go wrong with Knights or Whites from what I understand. A good friend that I shoot with has a Vortek NW magnum that shoots well but occasionally hang-fires and they get mixed reviews online.

One of the main things to consider is that a lot of the muzzleloaders and online talk about them are geared towards Eastern ( or southern ) whitetail hunters. A Western elk set up is usually a little different. A lot of those guys are shooting with scopes, which changes a lot as far as choosing your weapon. With iron sights, 100 yds is a fairly long shot. At 150, my sights cover the animal . So you don't need the guns that print 2" groups at 200...