Looking to expand my whitetail opportunities here in CT and am looking to pick up an inexpensive muzzleloader for this years season. Not looking to spend much more than $350-400 if possible. Don't really have a preference beween calibers. I've never owned a muzzleloader, but I'd suspect I want an inline or break open.

CT only has a 14 day season, and I'll be lucky if I can squeeze in 1 or 2 days hunting it, but that's better than no days hunting in my book!

Appreciate any and all advice.

Well you have quite a few options in your price range, my suggestion is to go to a few stores and actually hold them to see which one you like the best. Then you can pick a couple and research them on line.

Thank you, Mark. I've had my hands on a few TC's and Knight's at Cabelas as well as fondled a friends Rem 700ML and noted that I much prefered the feel of the inline actions as opposed to the break open actions. I've never fired a muzzleloader, so I'm interested to see what the recoil impulse is like in comparison to a rifle.

I actually just happened upon a White Super 91 from a member on this forum for a very reasonable price. After reading some reviews, I see these are really loved ML's and pretty noteworthy performers. Should have it in a few weeks and will report back my thoughts.

Brandon, check out whitemuzzleloading.com and click on 'best loads'. Check out No Excuses bullets at muzzleloading-bullets.com . For 50 cal. I use 105 grains of Pyrodex P and 460 gr. bullet.You may decide on a different combo, but this gives awesome performance.

Why don't you just save a whole bunch of money and buy a Knight Wolverine for around $125 (without scope). All Knight rifles do is shoot (and shoot well).

I won one at Safari Club one year and didn't think much of it until I took it to the range. That simple little rifle shot rings around my much more expensive guns: Fantastic trigger, easy operation and light to carry. My sons have killed several deer with it using 100 grains of powder and a 300 grain sabot.

I don't care what you get, but from what I hear, you don't want a break action ML, unless you are willing to spring for an Encore.

Here's an article by Chuck Hawks listing his favorite choices in MLs:


http://www.chuckhawks.com/reco...ed_muzzleloaders.htm

BTW Old English Outfitters (oeoutfitters.com) has the Knight Wolverine 209 on sale right now for $149.95

I shoot a traditional MLer myself. But if going to any kind of inline, rather than shooting the sabots, use Buffalo Bullets. They're dead soft lead with a good outside lube, and you can use the caliber your shooting. They go down easy, and cost about a 1/4 of the sabots. I ONLY use BP, not any substitutes, as get the BP for 1/2 the cost of even Pyrodex. But you use what you feel comfortable with. Remember too,if pryodex, and perhaps some of the other non-blacks, that while BP, if the soot is left in the barrel, will attract moisture and rust the barrel, pyrodex, will leave an acid in the barrel, so also needs cleaned well, after using.