muzzleloaders

[Washburn]

Lots of choices. Do you want a traditional barrel stuffer shooting powder and ball, or a more modern in-line muzzleloader that uses pellets and sabots?
The newer in-line offerings (like the Thompson Center 50 caliber I shoot) are more like a centerfire deer rifle than what you normally associate with a muzzleloader.
I suggest you do some online searches...D & DH publishes Muzzleloader magazine which is pretty good and is a source for guns. Or go to your local gun dealer and check them out.
I will say this; they are a blast to shoot and all of the necessary accessories and gear are really fun to mess around with. Buy a barrel stuffer and you'll likely be hooked.

Washburn

[8uck5nort]

I went with the CVA Wolf. Cost effective, simple to use and clean (most important to me. It's a break action so you only have to remove the breech plug for maintenance/insert primer. Short barreled and ideally suited for thick cover/woodlots.

[shaman]

I'll throw in my $0.02.  I like mine.  It's a .54 Cal Thompson Center Hawken.  It's currently barrelled with a .54 Green Mountain IBC barrel 1-in-28.  Back in the mid-80's when I got it, people preferred the .54 for deer.  Nowadays, with inlines, most folks go for .50.  I would probably pick .50 for convenience sake now-- there is just so much more available in .50.  The reason for .54 is that at short range (think bow) the .54 can do a significantly better job at dumping energy into the boiler room.  However, most guys are into distance these days-- they talk 200 yards.  Personally I like 50 yards. 10 yards is even better. The only time I've seen a deer taken up and thrown was with a round from  my .54 Hawken at 60 yards.

When I shoot traditional, the rest of the year. I put back on the original .54 barrel for patched .54 ball.

For  deer hunting  shoot .54 Powerbelts . They  are devastating on deer. Next year, I am switching to  pure lead from the Lee 380 grain R.E.A.L mold.

I can shoot patched ball for deer out of the original barrel , but I could never find a decent conical for it-- just not enough twist.

BTW:  If you want in cheap and already have a Mossberg 500 shotgun, think about the ML barrel for the 500.  I bought one for #2 son, and he loves it.  He's shooting a pure lead cast REAL bullet.  It gives 100 yard accuracy for $100.  It's only problem is that the 209 primers stain the bolt.

[dmcianfa]

Shaman,

I have the .54 cal TC Hawken as well.  Very sweet traditional and love the look and functionality as well as the ballistics.  Taken many a deer with the old patch and ball. 

I also own an .50 in-line Wind River Magnum, which is deadly with some powerbelts pounded down the barrel.  I like this gun for long range shoothouses I have on the property.

[FlDeerman]

I hunt with a CVA Mountain Stalker 50 cal.They now call it a Bob Cat.Traditional and I shoot mini-balls that I make for it.

[Archery_NUT]

i was looking for newer inline muzzle loader that is within a reasonable price

[8uck5nort]

The Wolf sounds like a candidate for what your are looking for. I'm sure other manufactureres have an entry level model as well, but I am only relaying what I have experience with.
 
Wally World was selling them for around 150.00 bucks.
 
Here is Cabelas speil on the Wolf. There is also a link for a ML buyers guide and comparison charts.
 
http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0033480215857a.shtml
 
Good luck.
 

[Archery_NUT]

thanks

[hilltop]

I am a Traditions guy myself.

[ranwin33]

My brother has a CVA Optima I have a Winchester Apex which is just a more expensive version of the CVA Kodiak.  Either will do you just fine.  I prefer the break open breach.