Muzzle Loader Question.

[nontypicalhunter]

I recently picked up a CVA Stag Horn .50 cal. I have muzzle loader hunted before, used to have a .50 Gonic. My question is, the gun came with no owners manual and I have read that the Stag Horn came with both the 209 primer and a #11 cap nipples. Does anyone know how to tell which one is which by looking at them. I am not sure which the gun I bought has. I bought it used and the guy I purchased it from, to put it nicely, is not the brightest bulb on the tree. So I was curious if any of you had some information you could pass along?

[Sew Sille]

Take it to a gun shop. Im not shure what the #11 cap looks like. The 209 primer is like the shotgun takes. Now thery have muzzzle loder primers that burn a little cleaner.

[ray634]

If the breech plug has a ''pipe'' sticking out of it, it is a #11 cap.
If the breech plug has a indent hole the size of a shotgun primer it is 209.

[JohnWester]

If the breech plug has a ''pipe'' sticking out of it, it is a #11 cap.
If the breech plug has a indent hole the size of a shotgun primer it is 209.

what he said. also, like indicated, if 209 primer, money well spent getting the 209 primers for black powder, as opposed to shotgun primers. better and cleaner burn.

[nontypicalhunter]

Thanks guys! It takes the #11, has the little "pipe" also checked with a gun shop.

[lentz]

heres a tip they may look like cap gun caps but trust me there alot louder

i decided to see what would happen if i held it over fire ( was in the house) and it was lound (DO NOT REPEATE THIS EXPERIMENT)

[deadeye]

I've got one of each type.  When I hunt alone, I get to use the one with the 209 primer.  When I hunt with my son, I have to use the no. 11 cap one.  I've tried a lot of things but for some reason, about 1 in 4 shots don't go off using the cap.  The 209 fires 100% of the time.  My son just calls it game managment.  I call it funny, frustraiting and just plain anoying.  If/when it costs me a big buck, I'm going to wrap it around a tree.   

[lentz]

try cleaning the nipple aka the "pipe" i have both aswell because we used to shoot them alot and both worked fine and make sure you pound the round in good

[nontypicalhunter]

What are you guys running for grains of powder. I have the pellets (50 gr), going to start sighting them in this week here. I say them because I picked up another, this one is a Rossi, came with a 20 ga and .22 barrel along with the .50 cal muzzle loader (which takes the 209 primers). This gun is a little shorter, I'm thinking youth modle, and my 14 year old daughter wants to muzzle loader hunt so I think I'll let her use this one. I don't want to pack to much powder and have her get scared but I want too be sure there is enough to cleanly kill and animal. Any thoughts?

[JohnWester]

i run 150 gr powder, with a 250 gr sabot. works for my bdl scope, so i can go out to 250 yards.
you would easily get by with 100 gr powder, or maybe even 75 (if you get the 75 gr pellet triple 7)
keep in mind the lower you go, obviously less velocity, and your range will drop.  if you are going 100gr powder, you should have no problem reaching out to 100 yards. 75 grain, not sure, you would have to sight it in at that and try it. Honestly though, there won't be much difference with the kick, I'd go 100 on powder, and 250 on the sabot... you will be fine at 100 yards or less
but what ever you choose, sight it in and stick with it.
and I sight in with what I shoot. For the best accuracy, keep using the same powder and sabot all the time. I have found if you change types of sabot, even though they are the same grain, you will get different characteristics.

[deadeye]

I use two pellets or 100 grains.   With open sights I doubt I could hit a deer much beyound 75 yards anyway. 

[ray634]

With no scope option in MN it is unlikley that you will be able to get a accurate shot over 75 to 100 yards. That being the case the 100 gr. with the 250 bullet will have plenty of power and about the same kick as the 20 ga shotgun on that frame.
If you are going to hunt where a scope is legal then you may want to go to the 150 gr. charge which would put you in the 150 to 200 [ with appropriate hold over ] yard range.
Hope you all have good luck this season.

[nontypicalhunter]

Thanks guys. She is really excited to try this year, hope it all works out for her and we will keep you posted on how it all ends up!

[JohnWester]

ya, i guess I should mention, I use my muzzy all season, even during rifle/shotgun.  So i have put on detachable rings and scope, so during muzzy season, I just take it off.  I do this because I hunt up north, and down south here in the metro... nice to use the same gun all season.