Lightweight muzzleloader

[schoolmaster]

I would like a short barreled lightweight 50 cal. muzzleloader. Something on the order of a 16-18 inch barrel. Also what would be the best option for a lightweight stock and fore end. Would slimming down and shortening the fore end and stock be the best option or should I use an aftermarket synthetic set up? I will be scoping this rifle and need advice on rings, bases, scopes. This will be primarily used for deer hunting in rugged terrain. 95% of shots will be under a hundred yards. Could a Huntsman or Sidekick be brought in dressed at 5 pounds or so? All opinions /advice welcomed.

[Keith Lewis]

A Huntsman could be made pretty light with the synthetic stock and a shortened barrel. I would want a good gunsmith to do the barrel as they normally have a rather special crown which has a slight relief of the rifleing part way down the barrel to help start bullets (not a real QLA like T/C but slight removal of the rifleing at the muzzle). I will weigh my Huntsman which has the 26 inch barrel and a scope with synthetic stock to see what it starts at. I think the Sidekick might be a little lighter as the receiver is a slight bit shorter than the Huntsman. If you get it that light it is going to be a kicking sob with any heavy loads. Possibly for deer it would be OK as you can use lighter bullets than what I use for elk.  Doc White had a shortened rifle on his site some time ago but he might have sold it. The synthetic stock is the best approach as it is set up for a scope with the correct comb on the stock for a scope. You might have a little problem shortening the ramrod as the telescopic one they sell with the rifle is not one that could be shortened very easily. You could check with the aftermarket Hubbards Supply to see if he could make you one with your dimensions. He makes a real good rod. I have one on my Huntsman and it is 300% better than the stock one.

[schoolmaster]

I am not interested in shooting at the highest velocity. As I said the bulk of my shots will be close. I will use a take down rod and not a rod attached to the barrel so that problem is solved The sidekick with the shorter action may be the way to go. Whitetailed deer are soft targets and not particularly hard to kill when hit properly. I am thinking of using a 185 to 200 grain saboted bullet and shooting 3f 777 or something on that order. I got a catalog/flyer from the company and they show ultralight rifles in the 5 1/2 pound range. I think that this project is doable. I just need a load in the 800 to 1000 fps of energy at 100 yards or so that is minute of whitetail. I am real interested in the weight of the stocks. don't want to cut dwon the barrel and then add back excess weight with a heavy stock. Oh any barrel shortening will be done by my gunsmith.

[Keith Lewis]

Just make sure your gunsmith understands the difference in crown from a cartridge rifle to a muzzleloader. He should pay particular attention to how the original crown is done.

[RugerNo3]

The main thing to take into consideration when shortening up a muzzle loader barrel you'll lose velocity. This velocity loss figures into the stability equation for the slugs you'll be using. There are carbine muzzleloaders built with short barrels, BUT they use a faster twist to compensate for the lost velocity/stability factor. At best your idea will work, but maybe you'll have a wasted barrel if it is too short for necessary velocity. Round balls may then be the answer. I'd do a little homework with Green Mountain or another reputable manufacturer to see their reccommendatios on barrel length. Good luck.
TC's carbine used a 1-21 twist for a 50cal carbine vs 1-48 for a 26in rifle barrel.

[jbtazgrabber]

i cut my huntsman to 18and a half inches    it works wellfor a jump gun.....open sights only...i seen very little differance in accur.....still shot the 240 xtp with 90 gr. loose pryo.....still kills deer real fast......i cut the handle on the factory ramrod off so it works ok.........hope this helpss....jb

[Keith Lewis]

The Traditions Pursuit LT has an aluminum receiver and would likely be even lighter than the Sidekick. I had one and was less than impressed with the trigger although I understand that they have improved it. The Traditions rifle does not use the plastic carriers that the Sidekick uses which might be a good thing if you do not care for the carriers.