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Post by rickscottsdale on May 11, 2010 15:22:34 GMT -5
I was drawn for this coveted tag and was going to use my archery setup until I found out how far out the ML will shoot. A lot of Thompson Center dealers here but I am leaning towards the Savage. What would the best setup be? I have never owned or shot a ML.
Thank you for your help.
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Post by dave d. on May 11, 2010 18:53:20 GMT -5
:)rick first off welcome to the board.question for you first is smokeless powder legal to shoot in az?
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Post by bluedog on May 11, 2010 20:01:51 GMT -5
Great job on the tag....I have been trying for 13 years to get an early ML tag in AZ....all I got is 13 bonus points! I have the Savage ML and shoot smokeless....I really like the rifle and shooting smokeless but....be advised, the AZ Game & Fish told me that 'smokeless' powder ML is not allowed in AZ.....so, considering the weight of the Savage and the typical humping required in Elk hunting, I would get a lighter weight ML that can use Blackhorn209 for hunting in AZ. Congrats again on the tag!
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2010 20:56:39 GMT -5
Check out the CVA Accura or the new Optima, These rifles are accurate as hell.
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Post by DHinMN on May 11, 2010 23:31:09 GMT -5
The laws vary a lot from state to state so you need to find out what is legal for a muzzle loader in the area that you will be hunting. Are inlines legal? Can you use smokeless powder or is it black powder or substitutes only. What is the minimum caliber and can you use sabots. Is there a restriction on bullet length or weight. All this can influnce your decision. If you can't use smokeless powder or sabots the Savage may not give you any advantage. Also they are a bit heavy. I'd suggest you go up to the Savage forum and read the Tips and Hints section and some of the old posts and that may help with your decision. If smokeless and sabots are legal then Savage would be the way to go. If not, you may want to consider something else. Just my opinion.
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Post by mlkeith on May 12, 2010 0:34:34 GMT -5
Arizona has few restrictions on Muzzleloader hunting. The biggest one is that Smokeless powder is not legal. Other than that and the requirement that you can only have one barrel there are few restrictions. Scopes are legal, any primer is OK, Inlines are not specified as different for the requirement, Must load from the Muzzle, there is no specification for caliber or bullet size or structure (.45cal is legal, and any sabot/bullet is OK).
I hunt Arizona when I can get drawn as I live here. Personally if I were starting from scratch like you apparently are, I would pick the CVA Accura in .50cal and develop a good load for BH and the heaviest solid conical that will shoot well for you. I would be looking strongly at the Thor bullets. Bulls get big here and you will need a big heavy solid conical bullet to be sure of good penetration and ability to break through heavy bone. Plan on shots of 150yards or less and try to get that close. I have been within two feet of Bull elk that did not know I was there (it is possible). I forgot to mention that most Thompson Center rifles with the QLA will not shoot conical bullets well. Some will but most will not. T/C would not be my choice (and I have an Omega). The new CVA rifles are in my opinion better for this heavy bullet program. Of course the other option is a White if you can find one. I have three of them and they throw the big conicals better than any other rifle. Unfortunately White is now out of business and the rifles are difficult to come by.
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