Black powder firearms, sometimes called muzzleloading rifles, aren’t firearms at all based on the legal definition of the terms. But they do use black powder (or more accurately, nowadays, a black powder substitute) and the bullet is still loaded through the muzzle (on most anyway).

Hit the Woods With Muzzleloading Rifles & Black Powder

The popularity of black powder rifles comes largely from two aspects of the guns. First, they’re a lot of fun to shoot and take the user back to frontier times when these guns were on the cutting edge of technology. Also, many states have special “primitive” or “black powder” seasons for deer and other big game, giving hunters with black powder rifles more time afield pursuing their favorite quarry.

Let’s quickly dispense with the notion of “primitive,” however. With a few exceptions, most of today’s black powder rifles aren’t loaded with loose powder poured down the barrel, followed by a cotton patch with a ball then stuffed down on top of those components. Back in the day, a piece of flint was used to ignite some loose powder in a small “pan,” which in turn ignited the powder charge in the gun.

Most modern muzzleloaders are still loaded from the muzzle, but instead of loose powder, a pellet of powder is dropped down the barrel, followed by a conical bullet, often inside a plastic sabot to better engage the rifling of the barrel. And instead of flint igniting the powder charge, nowadays most use a 209 shotgun primer for much surer ignition. Pretty much gone are the days when you pull the trigger on your muzzleloader and wonder if it is going to shoot or not.

New Takes on Old Reliable

A few muzzleloaders these days are even partially loaded from the breech, rather than the muzzle. A few years back, Traditions teamed up with Federal and Hodgdon to bring to market Firestick technology. In this technology, the charge of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder is encapsulated within a plastic cartridge that looks somewhat like a shotshell. This Firestick is loaded from the breech of a break-action gun designed to use the cartridge. The bullet is still loaded from the muzzle, so the system is still legal in most jurisdictions that require black powder arms to be loaded from the muzzle.

Loading a typical muzzleloader is quite easy these days. With a clean barrel, simply drop powder pellets down the muzzle for your preferred charge (most shoot 100 grains, but some magnum muzzleloaders are rated for 150). Next, seat the bullet on the powder firmly without crushing the pellet(s). Then put a 209 primer on the nipple. When a deer walks by, simply cock the hammer, get on target and pull the trigger.

Incidentally, in the olden days most muzzleloaders weren’t accurate out much farther than about 50 yards. Now, some models can easily take game at 200 yards or even farther if the shooter does his or her part.

For those new gun owners wanting to dip their toe into the pool of black powder shooting, a number of manufacturers make muzzleloading rifles for hunting and range use. And the best part is, since they aren’t legally classified as “firearms” you can buy one without a background check and even by mail order.

Let’s take a look at a few new muzzleloading rifles offered by some of the top manufacturers this year.

CVA Optima V2 

CVA has a reputation for quality-made muzzleloaders. And for those who don’t want to spend a ton on their first smoke pole, the Optima V2 certainly fits that category. Modeled after the company’s popular ACCURA V2, this model features the same triggerguard-actuated breeching lever, internal parts and trigger. The barrel is constructed of stainless steel and offered in either the standard stainless or treated with CVA’s Nitride rust-proofing process. Cleaning is made easy by CVA’s finger-removable Quick-Release Breech Plug, and the ambidextrous stock and a CrushZone recoil pad make it suitable for just about any hunter.

The Optima V2 is available in two different barrel lengths—26 or 28 inches. MSRP runs from $350 to $520 depending on exact model.

Traditions NitroFire VAPR 

Traditions’ new NitroFire VAPR takes modern muzzleloading to the limit of advanced technology. After changing the muzzleloading industry in 2020 with the introduction of the NitroFire in collaboration for Federal Premium and Hodgdon, Traditions’ next innovation is the NitroFire with the VAPR Twist.

The new barrel’s faster twist helps to better stabilize bullets, increase accuracy and expands the bullet options that can be used effectively. The VAPR uses the polymer charge filled with clean-burning Hodgdon Triple Eight powder that is loaded from the breech, while the bullet still loads from the muzzle. According to the company, this system makes the powder charge impervious to moisture and the elements, allowing muzzleloader hunters the same tight tolerances and quality controls as cartridge ammunition. MSRP ranges from $569 to $729.

Remington 700 UML

Remington rifles have been a favorite of deer hunters for many decades, and the company also makes some fine muzzleloading rifles. Their newest model, the 700 UML (Ultimate Muzzleloader), is a gun nearly any hunter would love to have in the blind or tree stand with them.

With an appearance much like a cartridge rifle, the 700 UML has a 300-yard kill range with the right projectiles, according to the maker. Pre-primed cases load with the ease of centerfire cartridges, and super-hot magnum primers ignite up to 200-grain loads with near smokeless efficiency.

Chambered for .50-caliber projectiles, the UML features a 26-inch stainless steel fluted barrel, jeweled bolt and an H-S Precision stock. MSRP is $1,449.