Just put my name in the hat for a NM muzzleloader elk hunt. Any suggestions on a decent open sight muzzleloader? Guessing inline is the way to go although I have always wanted a nice Hawken...

What are the NM caliber/projectile rules?

Just open sights.

Any of the major brands have great muzzleloaders these days. I’m partial to Thompson Center and CVA.

Muzzle-loaders.com is a good place to check. How far do you expect to be shooting?

And what's your budget?

If you can find a used TC Omega with a clean bore you'll have one of the best in-lines ever made in my opinion.

For sidelocks, a clean used TC Hawken, TC Renegade or Lyman Great Plains will make you smile. Those are pretty much 100 yard guns with patched round balls, and 150 yard guns with full bore lead conicals.

The Omega with sabots and modern pistol bullets like Hornady XTP's or Speer Deep Curls will get you out to 200 yards or a little more.

I have about a dozen sidelocks and three in-lines and have a personal preference for the sidelocks just because I like them.

Another vote for Thompson. Go stainless and don’t look back.

Go with a traditional 50 or 54 caliber Hawken if you can find one. Checked the rules and you should be good with that. If you do your part no need to worry.

If you've always wanted a Hawken, get a TC hawken. They can be very accurate, and have plenty of whallop. 2 suggestions. 1. Don't get one with a serial number that starts with a K. Those were the kits. 2. Get a peep sight unless you have 20 or 30 year old vision. I struggle with the Buckhorn sights now, but do well with a peep even with my 50 year old eyes.

I’ve got a Traditions NW Vortek LDR that I’d sell you at a steal to get you started. It will shoot musket caps or 209 primers. Has peep sight setup already (Williams Globe and peep rib rear sight that you can mount a scope to for load development), 50cal, 30” barrel.

Basically this one: https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/...st-.50-Cal-Black-Premium-CeraKote-Finish

Otherwise I’d look for a CVA Paramount Pro Colorado.

Thanks guys, this is what I was looking for, suggestions like the peep sight are great, 53 years old so the eyes not a crisp as they once were. Not looking to break the bank but I also don't like cheaply made stuff that I have to replace over and over. I will continue to research a little and go handle a few at a store...I will probably buy a muzzleloader either way. I don't have a tag yet, but I got excited just submitting the application.

This is what you need....(shameless plug)
https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...leloader-tc-rennegade-50-cal#Post8819184

I have looked at it but guessing you need loose powder, patch, and ball for that style. That is why I have not already purchased a Hawken. I was thinking pellets and sabots would be faster to load in a hunting situation.

Yes on the loose powder. The barrel twist is 1:48, it shoots sabots and conicals as well as round balls, a little better actually as I recall.
But yes, pellets are faster to re load for sure.

They make speed loader tubes that have a cavity for the powder, and a cavity for the bullet. You can load patch and ball, but you can also load a conical bullet, or you can load a saboted bullet. I prefer the T/C maxi ball style bullet. But just because you are dealing with loose powder, doesn't mean it has to be slow to re-load.

I have a T/C Renegade in 54, a T/C Hawken flintlock in 50, a T/C New Englander in 12 Ga and a Rem Model 700ML in 54 that has been converted to shoot shotgun primers. I like the T/Cs but the REM is a more forgiving gun with greater range. If you can find a REM Model 700ML you won't regret it.

doesnt work for CO and NM unfortunately,

OP look at knight and also some states have a 50 cal min for elk

Yes, oops, I see that. I guess he didn't look into regulations. No smokeless. Open sights only vs scopes depends on the hunt. There's more. Though I didn't see a mention of CO. Regardless my approach is to buy what arm fits the most states. There again, Bobo is right with the minimum 50 caliber comment.

Get stainless.

Buy this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002227280

Shoot these: https://accessories.tcarms.com/fire...on-bullets-mag-express-sabots/710_M.html

Use loose powder and start around 90 grains and go up and down to find the most accurate load. The pellets do not let you do this. Get a couple of speed loaders as well.

This this exact combo- I get 1 1/2 to 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards but that is with a scope.

I started with CVA 25 years ago for first elk hunt, took a very nice 328" bulll @ 154 yards using a Burris 3x10-50 scope. CVA still uses Bergara barrels with fixed sights. However, I switched over to a Knight break over with a Vortex 4x12-50 and like it best because it is faster and easier to load.

Personally, I do not care for the "no scopes" in New Mexico. Many elderly folks like myself finding it difficult to sight in. even at 100 yards. Being right eye dominant, I cannot shoot accurately at 100 yards because of bad vision in the right eye! So now, more apt to go with a crossbow and archery hunt in NM! A person can still hunt with a scoped muzzy, but will be in rifle season and units, only!

I have a very small chance of being drawn as a NR but thank you for all of the help here! If I get the tag I will post here. Second and 3rd choices are archery which I have and am proficient with. Mainly I want to roam the high mountains and hear bulls bugle with family and good friends before I get too old to try it (52 now and still very active but stuff hurts more than it used to). If I get something for the freezer or wall, it will be complete icing on the cake!

I have a 50 cal Knight in-line with a Williams peep sight. Works great with Powerbelt bullets and Triple 7 or Pyrodex. I sight it in and pull the aperture out and use as a “ghost ring” sight for low light conditions. It’s amazing how accurate you can be with a peep sight. I still like a scope though where it’s legal.

NM isnt has hard core as CO, but Going forward I bet more states tend to be more like CO so that success rates go down so they can sale more tags.

OP biggest thing I’d is 50 cal and tapped for iron sights. then start research best ipen sights money can buy, like Gunwerks etc and then get it dialed in.

On the open sights there are lots of good ones out there. My preference is a glob front with the top of the front sight being centered in the globe. then a rear peep or even tang mounted peep that I can center the globe in easily. The eye centers t circles easily, put the top of the post on your target that provides me with a lot better accuracy than standard irons. My muzzle loaders TC Firehawk and Encore are scoped but that is legal where I hunt with them.