A friend of mine showed me an H&R ML with the 26" barrel stainless steel with the mossy oak synthetic stock that he just got. Anyone using one to hunt with and how well do you like it? I've got a ML elk hunt comming up this fall, and was considering buying a new rifle.

CO doesn't allow much in the way or regulations that benifit using a more modren ML rifle. I've been using an old CVA blued synthetic sidelock rifle and it seems no matter how much I clean it I still have ingnition problems. I was thinking of going to musket caps to improve ingnition. I only paid $100 for this rifle brand new about 10 years ago and it has accounted for a few deer but I'm thinking it is time to upgrade.

I really liked the Williams Fire Sights on the H&R but I know that they aren't the only rifle using them. My current ML doesn't do well in low light hunting since no optics are allowed in my State. Sabots are not allowed so with the faster rate of twist what would be a good ML bullet to use. I haven't heard too much praise for the Power Belt bullets yet. All of the deer I've taken have been with a patched round ball sor far, so I'm not up to date on conicals. I'd like to keep the rifle around the $2-300 price range, so what are some of my options? Caliber needs to be .50 or larger for elk in CO.

I would seriously consider a Lyman great plains rifle. Get one with a good twist for conicals. I ended up with a .58cal Trade Rifle and the main reason I didnt get a scoped inline is the only place I care to muzzleloader hunt is Colorado.

The caplocks are just as accurate as the inlines, in my experience, as well.

I like the Lyman rifle but it is outside what I want to spend. Plus I have friends who hunt in shotgun/ml only areas that have been bugging me to go hunt with them. I'm want a stainless synthetic so if I go back to SE AK in 09 like planned to hunt black bear again I might try my hand at using a ML on them. The 209 ingnition is another reason I'm looking at a more modern ML.

I've heard good reports on the accuracy of the H&R from owners, but the telescoping ramrod leaves alot to be desired in my book.

My advice would be to go with a Stainless/Syn TC or Knight and don't look back. They've both been in the game long enough and have built quite a reputation for quality inlines.

Good Luck

Reloader

The NEF/H&R rifle is a good choice. You will want to spend the extra $35 for the HubbardOutdoors ramrod which I did and it is great (two inches longer when extended and much stronger). The rifle will shoot conicals with the best of them. Another choice is a Knight KRB rolling block. The stainless one will be about $302 delivered to the door from R&R Arms. I have both of these rifles and they are good choices. I would caution you about any T/C rifles with the QLA muzzle as many do not shoot conicals well with that muzzle. The NEF will require a little more conversion to be great (like the ramrod and possibly going to the .25ACP breechplug to get rid of the plastic carriers) whereas the KRB is pretty much ready to hunt as received and does not use the plastic carriers that Knight made with their rifles until lately. Only drawback to the KRB is that it is a little heavy compared with the NEF but feels well balanced.

i have a good friend that has been shooting a NEF ML for 3 yrs now ,he has killed a bunch of deer with it with no problems. he's shooting 100grns of pyrodex and the 295grn powerbelt . it will just about cut holes at 100yds.i don't like the rod either.

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Originally posted by taylorce1:
I like the Lyman rifle but it is outside what I want to spend. Plus I have friends who hunt in shotgun/ml only areas that have been bugging me to go hunt with them. I'm want a stainless synthetic so if I go back to SE AK in 09 like planned to hunt black bear again I might try my hand at using a ML on them. The 209 ingnition is another reason I'm looking at a more modern ML.

I paid about $225 at Wal-Mart for my 54 caliber Lyman Great Plains rifle kit a couple of years ago. It shoots round balls great at 100 yards less than 6 inches some times down to 3 inches off a bench rest with open sites if I do my part. I have been able to stack 5 shots into one hole at 25 yards with 100 grains of Pyro RS off a bench rest. It fires all the time the only part I dont like is the trigger a bit to heavy for me. Good luck on your choice.