Author Topic: Dall sheep and muzzleloaders? (Read 611 times)

plentycoupe · « **on:** February 19, 2006, 04:03:59 AM »

Hey everyone
I guess this post would go better right here.

I drew a tag to hunt dall sheep in one of the most coveted areas in the state of Alaska. The Tok Management Area. Today I started toying with the thought of taking my muzzle loader.
I have a Lyman Trade Rifle. .54 Caliber, 28" barrel, 1:48 inch twist, percusion.
I have shot Hornady great plains 425 grn maxi balls with good success.

Here' my questions. Can you guys with the good info give me some pointers?

1. General info on bullets and powder to try using?
2. I was using FFFG in Oklahom but has been awhile since I have shot. I saw that Hogdon has made a powder, I think it is Triple 7. How is this powder?
3. Should I stick with the heavy round our experiment with a lighter one.
4. How do you keep everything dry when the weather goes south?? I would hate to pull the trigger on a wet powder when it is crunch time!!?
5. How much extra powder and rounds would you carry?
6.Do you leave the rifle loaded everyday or fire it and start fresh each day?

I like to do things the traditional way. I am also comtemplating using my recurve. This will most likely be a once in a lifetime hunt for me so I may as well try to make it even more special!! Can only imagine how great it would be to shoot a full curl ram with my bow or black powder!!!

I will be doing a walk in hunt and weight is a factor. Which of course means the gun alone is going to kick my butt!!!!!
Anyway feel free to throw any info you have my way.

Thankyou
Plentycoupe

NONYA · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2006, 05:11:53 AM »

If its a trophy ram area i wouldnt limit myself with either,you want to kill the best ram you can?I would take a flat shooting rifle that will knockem down at 300+ yards not somthing that will limit you to 100 or 30 yard shots.

lostid · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2006, 09:08:39 PM »

plentycoupe, me thinks you mock,,tsk tsk.

Tha application for tok dall costs alot too!. :-D

Awh heck! since ya got a once in a lifetime hunt,,why not go all-out and get a T/C Hawkin!! Or the Lyman Great Plains :-) Them guns shoot good too

dodd3 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2006, 11:29:20 PM »

go for it plentycoup and the very best of luck hope it goes well.
bernie

Charles/NM · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2006, 10:44:09 AM »

I assume you are going to use the services of a guide. He will let you know if your muzzle loader is OK to hunt with.

Charles/NM · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2006, 10:48:57 AM »

As a young Army lad in Alaska in the mid 1960s I ran across a bunch of Dall sheep pretty far up a creek near Black Rapids (maybe 15 - 20 miles west of Delta Junction) that were so tame you could easily get within 30 yards of them in plain sight. I was on one side of the fairly deep creek canyon and they were up higher on the opposite side. They looked at me for a while then went on eating grass and some laid down for a nap. I looked at them over the iron sights of my .303 Lee Enfield rifle to see if that would scare them. Nope. Not very hard to hunt, at least not that bunch. I don't think they had ever seen humans before. As I was only hiking and not hunting I didn't shoot at them. Some of my hunting friends back in Delta Junct were pretty excited about my find but since they had apparently never been hunted I didn't divulge their location preferring to leave them in their undisturbed state. They may be a bit more skitish nowadays.

Charles/NM · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2006, 10:50:24 AM »

As a young Army lad in Alaska in the mid 1960s I ran across a bunch of Dall sheep pretty far up Bear Creek near Black Rapids (maybe 15 - 20 miles west of Delta Junction) that were so tame you could easily get within 30 yards of them in plain sight. I was on one side of the fairly deep creek canyon and they were up higher on the opposite side. They looked at me for a while then went on eating grass and some laid down for a nap. I looked at them over the iron sights of my .303 Lee Enfield rifle to see if that would scare them. Nope. Not very hard to hunt, at least not that bunch. I don't think they had ever seen humans before. As I was only hiking and not hunting I didn't shoot at them. Some of my hunting friends back in Delta Junct were pretty excited about my find but since they had apparently never been hunted I didn't divulge their location preferring to leave them in their undisturbed state. They may be a bit more skitish nowadays.

lostid · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2006, 04:05:06 PM »

Quote from: Charles/NM

I assume you are going to use the services of a guide. He will let you know if your muzzle loader is OK to hunt with.

Now that's some darn good advise

lostid · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2006, 04:07:39 PM »

Quote from: Charles/NM

As a young Army lad in Alaska in the mid 1960s,,, ,,,They may be a bit more skitish nowadays.

And that is wisdom from experiance,,

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2006, 08:12:38 AM »

plentycoupe,

As far as keeping everything dry, get or make a WOOL case for the rifle, and carry it in that until you are setting up for the shot. Jim Baichtal does almost all his hunting here in Southeast with a muzzle loader and is extremely successful. He gave me that little bit of advice. He claimed that, even if the case is dripping, the rifle itself will stay dry. A plain, two layer case, open at the end which you fold over and tie to close the whole thing, made out of a wool blanket should do fine.

You have a little time before the hunt, so get out as much as you can with the piece in all weather, to see what works best for you. .54 round ball has kiled a lot of game. Whetever you are comfortable with shooting. Shot placement is the thing.

Carry three or four premeasured loads in small pill bottles. For round ball I would use a loading block, maybe a small pouch to carry greased maxiballs?

Sheesh, let us know how you do. I am envious!

-Winter Hawk-

lostid · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2006, 02:03:13 PM »

nun, :oops: wrong thread