KingFisher85
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110% Cracker
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Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 637
Loc: Clark
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What would be a good smokepole for someone to start off with? 
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Keep it simple
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Marty
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redneck yachter
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Reged: 07/17/00
Posts: 19067
Loc: Olympic Peninsula
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What state are you hunting and for what species? Would you like to go with a new style inline or the old flintlock stuff?
I have a TC thunderhawk 54cal stainless inline and think its really cool. It is very simple light design but I bought the stainless for the wet hunting conditions.
WA state has some very rigid rules that you need to make sure your new gun will qualify.
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Marty
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KingFisher85
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110% Cracker
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Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 637
Loc: Clark
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Be hunting SW Washington for deer and elk.
I have been thinking on getting an inline but the thought of getting one and then having them banned from hunting, but I don't have any idea. I don't want a flintlock cause once you get that piece of flint wet, well your done. Just the good old cap is all I would want. Old fashion new fashion doesn't matter to me just something that shoots good at 100 yards.
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Keep it simple
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Marty
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redneck yachter
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Reged: 07/17/00
Posts: 19067
Loc: Olympic Peninsula
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I would go with a inline then for ease of use. All kinds of features available in them. Knight makes some nice ones and so does Thompson. According to the ballistics guys a 45 is a better gun since you don't get the drop and have a longer range of accuracy. My .54 will really lay a thump at 100 yds though. For hunting in WA make sure the nipple is exposed to the weather or it becomes illegal. There are some tricks to get them close to water proof.
Smoke poles a just a hoot to shoot... did I hit? need to wait for the smoke to clear 
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Marty
Got Your Steelheader.net stickers?
Pay it forward
Steelhead dues paid one cast at a time repeated a 1000 times a day...one more cast looking for a fix
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copperhead
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egg
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Reged: 03/14/03
Posts: 3
Loc: the dalles, oregon
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I've been shooting/hunting with a Thompson Center Hawken '54 cal. for years. As long as you keep the hammer over the nipple, you'll keep your powder dry. A cap and ball type like this is more forgiving than a flintlock and it is more traditional than an inline (and subject to less hunting regulations). Whatever you end up getting, I think you'll enjoy the added challenge of knowing that in most cases you'll only get one shot to bag your trophy.
Good luck and good hunting!
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Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Reged: 01/03/02
Posts: 3767
Loc: McCleary, WA
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I own a T/C Thunderhawk, also stainless. Good rifle. CVA also makes some good rifles at very reasonable prices. My CVA Hawken is actually more accurate than my T/C. The biigest issue for me was finding the right projectile. Luckily they both Like the Hornady Great Plains bullets.
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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KingFisher85
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110% Cracker
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Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 637
Loc: Clark
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Well, thought I would let you know that I got my hands on a NIB Remington 700 50 cal with a real tree camo stock and a stainless steel barrel. The guy won the gun so he sold it to me for the cost of his tickets and that was $325!
He already has the same gun and he says it shoots real nice. I have yet to shoot it yet but can't wait.
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Keep it simple
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 07/17/03
Posts: 2139
Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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Good buy .... Like all rifles, remember they are individuals. You may have to play with bullets/powder charges to get best accuracy. I like the old traditional styles, but nothing wrong with a good inline. Besides, they are generally lighter weight, and that's a big plus. Good luck with your new rifle.
BobK  
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Snoopyprostaff
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chum
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Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 68
Loc: Buckley, Wa.
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I've been hunting with a Lyman Trade rifle .54 cal and really like it. I've had the best luck shooting the Hornady great plains bullets, they have a hollow back that when shot expand to grab the rifling and come out of the barrel straight and true. I took an elk with my .54 cal using the 425 grain version and found the bullet in the skin after it severed the spine and it retained all its weight and mushroomed to twice its diameter, it was awesome.
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SJ
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fingerling
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Reged: 11/15/03
Posts: 11
Loc: Mississippi
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I am partial to my REM 700ML
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sj@sportsmansjunctionoutdooradventures.com
www.sportsmansjunctionoutdooradventures.com
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 07/17/03
Posts: 2139
Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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Well, some guys like the new, modern guns, and some of us are traditionalists. I just happen to enjoy "doing it like great-granddad did", and love the sidelocks, both flint and percussion. (Try a "rock lock" to improve your care of the old guns!)
Different strokes for different folks, I guess! 
BobK 
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KingFisher85
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110% Cracker
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Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 637
Loc: Clark
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and then theres me....the one who love the season 
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Keep it simple
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Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Reged: 01/03/02
Posts: 3767
Loc: McCleary, WA
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My only issue with my CVA Hawken is that my friends mock me about bringing out "the pimp gun". Shiny and lots of brass.
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 07/17/03
Posts: 2139
Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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Get some brass black. Will really tarnish the brass, and make it a good hunting gun. Depending on the care you use in doing it, it can look like blued steel.
Birchwood-casey makes it.
BobK
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Snoopyprostaff
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chum
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Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 68
Loc: Buckley, Wa.
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 Dogfish you crack me up! I built a CVA Hawken from a kit and know exactly what your talking about.
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Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Reged: 01/03/02
Posts: 3767
Loc: McCleary, WA
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The brass has a bit of patina to it now, so it isn't as bad as it was a few years ago when I detailed the gun. You could use the buttplate for a mirror.
Does that make me a butt face?
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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nozone
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Jack
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Reged: 02/16/05
Posts: 20
Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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I built from a kit a TC Hawkens 25th aniversery 54 caliber. Like the old timers would say, It will shoot the eye out of a fly at 100 yards. Heck you wont be able to see the fly any more. Realy though, it shoots consistently a three inch group at 100 yards. Great gun. Just upgraded to a 209 primer for it. Tired of week shots in the rain.
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Sleep, wake, fish, eat, fish
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Musicman
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 7327
Loc: Roy
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Mines same as Dogfish and Marty....I agree, it'll lay a hurtin out to a hundred...maybe a little more....
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JD
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