Question for the muzzleloaders crowd

[Kimber45]

I always loved taking a deer with my TC Renegade, or my TC Hawken.. many were taken with a patch/roundball. Given I just never got into the bow hunting, ML was my preferred "primitive hunt" so to speak. I recently acquired a mint IAB .54 caliber 1863 Sharps, breech load. Really would like to take a deer with it this year, but given the IAB are one of the few you can "supposedly"/normally shoot loose powder in (according to what I've read anyway), and the fact that I've get to master these hand rolled paper/powder/bullet loads, I'm thinking this may be more of a stretch than I want to take on. Anyone else ever used one for deer?

 

[Rancocas]

I always loved taking a deer with my TC Renegade, or my TC Hawken.. many were taken with a patch/roundball. Given I just never got into the bow hunting, ML was my preferred "primitive hunt" so to speak. I recently acquired a mint IAB .54 caliber 1863 Sharps, breech load. Really would like to take a deer with it this year, but given the IAB are one of the few you can "supposedly"/normally shoot loose powder in (according to what I've read anyway), and the fact that I've get to master these hand rolled paper/powder/bullet loads, I'm thinking this may be more of a stretch than I want to take on. Anyone else ever used one for deer?

It should work just fine for deer. A friend of mine has a Smith carbine that he sometimes loads with loose powder. It works fine. Don't know about the Sharps.

Just remember, it is a breech loader - not a muzzleloader, and cannot be used during muzzleloader only seasons.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

I agree with Rancocas....use it and have fun but only in the gun season. By definition it's not legal during the ML segment in Tennessee. Below is a link you may find useful.

Page Not Found, Navy Arms

The page you requested no longer exists.

navyarms.com

 

[Kimber45]

Glad I posted here as I certainly did not realize it was not considered a muzzle loader.

 

[Kimber45]

Thanks guys!

 

[backyardtndeer]

Thinking you are in Madison or Crockett, If you are in high risk cwd or a cwd county, then you could use it during muzzleloader season just as you could a rifle.

 

[Smo]

Congrats! I hope you succeed.

Do a google search on making cartridges, lots of info on the web about the .54 Sharps