Everyone knows hunting big game with a black powder rifle isn’t the easiest thing in the world. If that were the case, everyone would do it.
After all, having license to chase around the woods for nine spectacular days in the middle of September, when the biggest bulls have amorous intent, is about as good as it gets.
Except there’s the minor matter of learning to master a weapon that, even with all the refinements that bob and weave around the letter of laws defining the meaning of primitive, still involves a considerable body of work.
A muzzleloader doesn’t shoot nearly as far or with the accuracy of a standard rifle. Then there’s the matter of all that paraphernalia and, not least, the incessant cleaning required to maintain a barrel free from corrosion. The tyranny of black powder hunting is you need to shoot a lot to ensure success, not to mention ethics, in the field. Lots of shooting means more time spent ramming cleaning patches down the barrel. You get the idea.
Help is on the way, with time to spare before the Sept. 10-18 season rolls around.
That’s the word from Chad Shearer, the Great Falls, Mont., expert who co-hosts the “Black Powder Guns and Hunting” program on the Outdoor Life Network and conducts seminars at the January International Sportsmen’s Expo in Denver.
Shearer’s pursuits require him to stay a step ahead of the curve with new products and techniques, which explains his excitement over a battery of cleaning aids from Connecticut Valley Arms, notably a thing called Barrel Blaster foam.
“You put it down the barrel, let it sit for 20 minutes, then run just three patches. The barrel comes out spotless,” enthused Shearer, who also touts a parts soaker solution and anti-rust patch from the same manufacturer.
“It cuts cleaning time by more than half,” Shearer said. He explains it all in a new video, “Black Powder 101,” which he produced with noted authority O’Neill Williams. For availability, check online at www.CVA.com.
Now that you’re ready to shoot, he recommends three other products to boost performance, beginning with a clean bore primer from Remington for greater consistency. Shearer also touts the Triple 7 powder from Hodgdon for a cleaner, hotter burn, along with PowerBelt bullets, for which he claims easier loading and improved accuracy.
Apart from products, Shearer offers lots of practical hunting advice for black powder enthusiasts still honing their programs:
Know your gun. Get lots of practice. Try different loads and powder formulas. The more you tinker, the greater your accuracy.
Carry a range finder. Muzzleloader bullets lose velocity and drop considerably at extended ranges. Judging distance becomes important.
Place a non-obstructive cover over the end of the barrel, particularly in rain or snow. A finger cut from a surgical glove stays on better than tape.
Carry speed loaders. Reload as soon as you shoot.
Don’t bring your gun from outside cold into a warm place, even the cab of a vehicle. This causes condensation to form.
Carry a pair of shooting sticks for an accuracy assist.
Don’t call too much for elk. Animals hear an increasing amount of calling and become wary of excess.
Never shoot a gun someone else has loaded outside your supervision. Be sure of your powder.
Carry extra primers. Place them in a couple of different locations that are easy to access.
Know your windage. Practice shooting in crosswinds to accurately gauge drift during windy conditions in the field.
Listen to Charlie Meyers at 9 a.m. each Saturday on “The Fan Outdoors” on KKFN 950 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
