PremiumBeef Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 I am trying to decide between 3 different muzzleloaders, please give me any experiences or objective comments you may have about these guns. The three I am looking at are the Savage 10 ML SS II, the TC Triumph, and the TC Encore. Is the Savage smokeless ML all it is cracked up to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 I shoot an Encore and love it. As I've said in other posts I took a doe last season at a little over 170 yrds. As for the Savage and smokeless, I think it was a bigger deal before Blackhorn powder hit the market. Now I just can't see buying a gun just because you can use smokeless out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrontierGander Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Muzzleloading is all about honing your stalking stills. If you want to blast deer at 250-300 yards, save that for a centerfire. Theres just to much that can go wrong with a muzzleloader at that distance. I've never had to shoot over 150 yards in the almost 10 years ive been muzzleloading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 (edited) Muzzleloading is all about honing your stalking stills. If you want to blast deer at 250-300 yards, save that for a centerfire. Theres just to much that can go wrong with a muzzleloader at that distance. I've never had to shoot over 150 yards in the almost 10 years ive been muzzleloading. I dissagree with that.Some of us can't use rifles [shotgun or ml only] If you have practiced at 250 yards with a ml and if you have the right equipment, a 250 yard shot is fine with plenty of knock down power.Ml hunting is not all about honing your stalking skills.It is a way to extend your hunting season.Late season in January here in Ohio.If you want to hone your stalking skills use a hand gun. Edited July 13, 2009 by jesse8953 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 I dissagree with that.Some of us can't use rifles [shotgun or ml only] If you have practiced at 250 yards with a ml and if you have the right equipment, a 250 yard shot is fine with plenty of knock down power.Ml hunting is not all about honing your stalking skills.It is a way to extend your hunting season.Late season in January here in Ohio.If you want to hone your stalking skills use a hand gun. or go with a bow. ML's really a fun way to hunt, I like it just as much as bow hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PremiumBeef Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 The main reason I am looking for a long range ML is because I drew a limited tag for a wildlife management area in Oklahoma which is really wide open. This area contains some really high quality deer, but you will probably have to plan a really good stalk to get to 150-200 yards in this terrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 TC encore 45 cal. No doubts shooting 250 yards. 150 grains powder. practice, practice and practice and you can shoot anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathews4life Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Encore is the way to go!! Plenty of shooting and knowing your equipment is the main thing! Anyone can pick up a muzzle loader and shoot 250 yds, but its the ones that shoot and know their gun that make the shot count Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Muzzleloading is all about honing your stalking stills. If you want to blast deer at 250-300 yards, save that for a centerfire. Theres just to much that can go wrong with a muzzleloader at that distance. I've never had to shoot over 150 yards in the almost 10 years ive been muzzleloading. Jim Shockey seems to say the same thing about ml'ers having to get in close kind of like bowhunting. Personally I have to disagree. Fields I hunt are pretty limited, shots are not likely to be beyond 200 yards, and I typically treestand hunt as I am sure many others out there who hunt with ml'ers also do. Primitive ml'ers were used for kills far reaching well before there were ever any quality scopes or sabots; something to think about. With the ability to use scopes that help aid in bullet drop compensation and with the newer bullets and magnum powder loads out there that have ml'ers capable of firing over further distances with less drop and retaining plenty of energy, I would have to say that any capable shooter could easily take deer sized game with a ml'er at 250 yards. jmo fwiw. To answer the original question, I think any of those should be capable of longer range shooting. Have heard really good things about the savage, would be nice to have one, but don't think you could go wrong with either of the TC's either. Our next ml'er will likely be another TC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 I have this TC Triumph placing 1/4" groups at 200yds. with 100 grns. of Triple Seven, and 250 grn. T/C Super Glide Shockwave Sabots. That Nikon BDC sure makes the long range shooting a whole lot easier ... I don't think I've ever shot a deer over 125 yrds. here in Vermont tho .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 I have this TC Triumph placing 1/4" groups at 200yds. with 100 grns. of Triple Seven, and 250 grn. T/C Super Glide Shockwave Sabots. That Nikon BDC sure makes the long range shooting a whole lot easier ... I don't think I've ever shot a deer over 125 yrds. here in Vermont tho .. Dang that's some good shootin' bro. beautiful smoker too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 The one in my hands when I am on the ground with shooting sticks is a way better long range-muzzleloader than the same gun up in a tree with me. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 I've always wanted to get some of those shooting sticks Hoosierbuck and try 'em out. Seems like they'd be real comfortable shooting "offhand" on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 I have a knock-off of the Stoney-Point ones with shock-cording through the poles, and a third leg to make it a tripod. (the third leg is genuine Stoney-Point). It is amazing how much better I am off that thing. 100 yards is a sure thing, period. As I get older and fancy hanging in a tree less and less, I like the ground more and more, and that thing is a part of the reason. Once crops are down, I feel real good about it in flat areas. You can make shooting sticks for nothing, though, that will work just as well. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 MLer's and bows are kind of the same. Most of the time, you will only get one shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrontierGander Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Setting up shooting sticks is a pain in the butt out here. Normally we just have enough time to look at the head to see if it has legal size antlers. They now have shooting sticks in a sling. That'd be a real pain in the butt LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHunter Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 I love my encore pro hunter, sick sick sick sick sick gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 last year i took a doe at 210 yards with my tc endevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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