Howdy all, first off I'm a dyed in the wool traditionalist muzzleloader, for ME there is nothing else. But I can't help someone with inline questions if I don't have a clue what they are like. When I got into ML'n there was no such critter as an in-line. Not following new stuff I never saw how popular they have become.

Now I live in California so I can't just pick up an encore frame and test the T/C inline tube and have no desire to own a dedicated in-line (knight, omega, ect).

What differences in powder have you noticed?
How does real Black powder handle the 209 primer?
Are inlines hard on mini balls or do you need to use sabots?
How bad is the plastic fowling?

I'm sure I will come up with more questions as I dig into this mess, but for now I'll stick with what I got there.

Thanks for any info.

What differences in powder have you noticed?- Question is too general, sorry. Mainly differences noted would be corrosiveness, potency, consistency, felt recoil, and ease of cleaning.

How does real Black powder handle the 209 primer?- Not well at all, it explodes!! Lots of shooters are using black in inlines and many get superb results. Swiss FFFg seems to perform exceptionally well for those that can obtain it at reasonable pricing.

Are inlines hard on mini balls or do you need to use sabots? Not hard on minie balls at all but some inlines simply will not shoot them well. Some shoot them VERY well, such as the WhiteRifle models. In spite of Knight's discouraging words, many Knights will also perform well with conicals, as will many TC models. There is no standard answer though because inlines are just as unique unto themselves as are traditionals.

How bad is the plastic fowling? Swabbing after each shot is a almost an absolute requirement when shooting sabots. The fouling is bad enough to require the use of a cleaner that will cut it, but not a particularly tedious job on average. Again, varies with the rifle.

Like many traditionalists, it would seem you think the differences are quite remarkable - for the most part the difference is that between a line and an arc, thus there are far more similarities than differences.

Speedier twist rates do induce some behavioral differences but that is not unique to inlines either. Cleaning an inline is at least as time consuming as cleaning a traditional. The removable breechplugs do make bore cleaning and inspection easier but the little recesses and action parts make the overall job of a thorough cleaning surely MORE lengthy on average.

Major differences otherwise would be in the general ease of adding optical sights greatly favoring the inline and it is easier to obtain a weather-proof inline (generally not an automatic thing for either trads or inlines).

Many new inline owners are surprised to find the "take two pellets, a Powerbelt, and go huntin'" mentality just doesn't work out. Some start to learn a little at that point and some will learn a great deal. As with traditionals, it aint rocket science but there is always something new to learn.

You shouldn't deny yourself the pleasure of an inline or two just to play with if nothing else.

Powder Hodgton Trip 7 3/F is best ! rifling twist is 1in28" or 32" sabot's shoot really well with those twists as do solid conicals , Plastic fouling ? never had any !want the Super inline get a Savage MK 11 shoots smokeless powder accurate out to +300 yards .

Hi DC,
I can only answer a couple of those questions. The rest of my traitorous hunting buddies all use in-lines now. I am, as you probably surmised from previous correspondence on various forums, the last kicking and screaming holdout. They all shoot .50's in T/C's, (no Encores), all Black Diamonds, all bought together from a local dealer at a quantity discount. They all shoot three Pyrodex pellets under either Hornady Lock-N-Load Sabots or Hdy sabots with XTP's. They are happy with 4-5" 100yd groups. Not bought as target rifles, they are never fired more than five or six times, and there is no noticable plastic fouling in the barrels. I have played with them several times using loose Pyrodex RS with left-over Maxi Balls and Maxi Hunters and managed to get the groups down to half what they get, but the lighter recoiling sabot loads are big hits and they don't want to deal with the mess and hassle in the field. I really can't say much to that as I switched to sabots for hunting in my .54 for the same reason. I have no rb mold for .50's or would have tried them. I am trying to convince them to at least buy some empty T/C sabots and shoot my cast .44's, and might make some progress by this summer - the most telling argument being that the package of 100 sabots costs as much as five rounds at WallyWorld and I'll cast for nothing. (I have weaned them off of factory ammo for their centerfires and they practice and hunt now exclusively with my handloads, so I'm betting that basic Yankee frugality will win them over if I'm patient). They seem to be both well made and adequately accurate for deer hunting, and nothing sucks like a caplock in the rain, so they definitely have me there. On the range, however, the only way they can compete is by using my rifle, and considering it is older that at least one of them, that's enough for a chuckle or two and worth all the shit they give me about still using "Grandpa's rifle".

I've noticed (in my digging) that the encore tube is getting a 1:48 twist tube now from FRO. If I go inline that would be the one to push me. But the thought of it still sends shivers down my spine I'm still trying to find a place I can shoot near by. The only range I have seen so far is in Sunnyvale, and they don't allow blackpowder Anyway, thanks for the responces so far. I'm making new questions based on what I have learned from the various sites I corisponde with. Some sites I just didn't post on as I know what the responce will be

Thanks again

DwarvenChef, here's a site you might want to peruse: http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/


In particular, take a look at the items found in the two links entitled

"CUSTOM, USED, MODERN, CONTEMPORARY"

and

"CUSTOM TRADITIONAL"

Ol Doc can come up with some nice compromises (sometimes a bit weird ).