Which muzzleloader?

[g man46]

I am going to get my father a muzzleloader for christmas and was wondering which one you thought I should get? He and I will be hunting for whitetails for the next couple of years, but when I am done with school, we will be doing a lot more, larger game hunts with it. I would guess that a .50 caliber would be the way to go, but which one? (If you don't think I should get a .50 let me know as well)

I also vaguely remember something when I was elk hunting in CO that some muzzleloaders weren't legal to use. Does anyone know what style that is?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[CRAKSHOT]

There's several good ones,if you are looking for a good low price gun,a CVA Optima,would be a good choice,they're around 180.00.As far as the Colorado deal,I'm not sure,I think inlines are legal there,but I dont think they allow scopes,but dont quote me on that.

[Gissert]

I like my Thompson Center Omega.

As far as colorado goes, in-lines are legal, but no pelletized powder, and no sabots are allowed. Scopes are out also.

[g man46]

Thanks for the replies. I knew it was something out there that you couldn't do, but couldn't remember. I think we're going with the omega in a .50. Now I don't know if I should get him a scope or not! Probably will though.

[lawdog]

Get the scope with the new style quick detach rings. They pop off and on and retain their zero relatively well (very well if you go with good ones like Leupold or Talley). With this set up you can use a scope where legal and take it off easily when its not!

[Hines R]

1. In Colorado you have to shoot a 50 caliber for Elk and I'm pretty sure for everything else. A 50 caliber gives you the best options or choices in all of the bullets anyways.

2. You can't use a telescopic sight. It has to be iron sights during a muzzleloader season just like it is here in Minnesota.

3. You have to use loose powder and NOT pelletized powder in Colorado. In Minnesota powder pellets are legal but most experts feel that loose powder is better for multiple reasons.

4. You cannot use a saboted bullet in Colorado. I will recommend that if you hunt Colorado you sight in with Powerbelt bullets and if your going after elk I went with the 295 grain Powerbelt. They have a plastic sleeve on the bottom that makes the bullet as accurate as a sabot type bullet when sighted and loaded correctly. In Minnesota Sabots are legal.

5. Inlines are legal in Colorado the same as they are in Minnesota. I don't know of any types of inlines that wouldn't be legal in Colorado but I'm sure you can't use a smokeless type powder since some of the muzzleloaders are becoming capable of shooting smokeless powders.

A lot of guys are shooting TC Omega's and that is what I have. I just saw a new Knight that's out though that looked pretty nice. It has a hammerless design and has the break open type action. I paid $389 for a TC Omega with a stainless barrel, and the standard black stock this summer.

Their have been a lot of other posts on here lately about smokepoles so I'd recommend reading through them all.

Ryan