Lately, there's been a lot of discussion in the hunting world concerning muzzleloaders, or "smokepoles" (so named for the huge cloud of white smoke that the traditional black powder produces). The issue at hand is whether to allow the use of "modern muzzleloaders" during muzzleloader-only big-game seasons.
Personally, I prefer traditionally styled muzzleloading guns. The special seasons were designed with these guns in mind; percussion or flintlock rifles or shotguns, using black powder and iron sights. This type of gun has specific limitations, which is the point of setting aside a special season for their use. The hunter gets one shot at his game, so he'd better make it count. This means getting close to his quarry, learning to shoot well with his open sights, and keeping his powder dry in inclement weather. The hunter's chance for success is reduced compared to modern-gun seasons.
Using the latest innovations in muzzleloader design, one can shoot a gun that looks and operates very much like his modern sporting rifle. It's essentially a modern single-shot rifle. He uses a saboted, jacketed bullet. Using Pyrodex pellets, he doesn't have to measure a charge of powder. And with a shotgun primer for ignition, secured in the breech, he need not worry about getting rained on, especially if he's got the stainless steel model. His gun is topped with a scope, of course - why not when you're using a gun capable of one-inch or better groups at 100 yards? All of these things are good, but do they really belong in the woods during a muzzleloader-only season? I don't think so.
The real appeal to hunting with a muzzleloader is the challenge. Using a "modern muzzleloader", your only remaining challenge is to make your kill with one shot. Even that is reduced - with saboted, no-lube-required bullets and Pyrodex pellets, reloading time can be reduced to scant seconds. And aesthetics aside, allowing the use of these guns violates the spirit in which these seasons were conceived.
I really don't have anything against these new guns. I just happen to think that when you take to the woods during a muzzleloading gun season, you should be toting a gun that operates like the one Great-Great-Grandpappy used way back in the good ol' days, 150 years ago. You'll feel an unexplainable connection with our forefathers, and the sense of accomplishment when you make a kill the old-fashioned way simply can't be matched.
I don't want to cause any rifts between hunters because of the tool(s) they choose - that's something that cannot happen if we're to retain our hunting rights. We must all stick together in the long run... but should "modern" muzzleloaders be brought into the field alongside my sidelock percussion (cap, not shotgun primer!) .45? Hmmm... drop by the forum & let us know what you think.
Edit - Since writing this article, I have changed my thinking on muzzleloaders. In fact, I now have a Smokelesspole!
- Russ Chastain
