Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Muzzle-Loaders Podcast

In this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders.com Podcast, Hunter is joined by Tony Smotherman of CVA to discuss the launch of the new CVA Endura Series. The Endura is CVA’s most advanced muzzleloader ever, featuring a Bergara precision barrel, Variflame ignition with a magnetic bolt face, and compatibility with Blackhorn 209 and select smokeless powders. With Pro and LRH models available, the Endura sets a new standard for long-range muzzleloading performance.

In this episode, Hunter sits down with Gregg Ritz, President & CEO of Thompson/Center (T/C), to dive into the past, present, and future of the iconic brand. Together, they explore the rich history of T/C, current muzzleloader industry trends like the Federal Firestick, and the exciting new projects T/C is working on as they return to the outdoor industry.Gregg also shares insights on the importance of preserving the legacy and heritage of muzzleloading. A tradition that continues to inspire hunters and shooters across generations.Whether you’re a longtime T/C fan or new to the world of muzzleloading, this conversation offers a unique perspective on the sport’s past and future.

In this episode, Caleb and Hunter talk all things black powder and primers for muzzleloaders. Whether you’re new to muzzleloading or looking to fine-tune your setup, they break down what to consider when choosing powder and primers for consistent performance in the field or at the range. Tune in for a practical conversation packed with helpful insights and tips for every black powder shooter.

In this episode, Caleb and Hunter break down the top muzzleloader bullets from trusted brands like Thor, Hornady, Powerbelt, Barnes, Federal and more. This episode covers bullet reliability, performance, and what works best for your hunting style.Learn the pros and cons of saboted bullets, full bore conicals, round balls, and what to consider before buying.

In this video, Caleb and Hunter take a closer look at some of the top scope and sight options from Vortex, Leupold, Burris, Williams, and Muzzle-Loaders.comIf you're considering an upgrade this season, this overview will give you a solid starting point.

In this episode, Caleb and Hunter dive into the top muzzleloaders for big game hunting—breaking down the best rifles from trusted brands like CVA, Traditions, Thompson/Center, Investarm, and Pedersoli.Whether you're heading out for elk, deer, or bear, this guide will help you choose the right muzzleloader for your hunt. We compare each rifle’s reliability, ease of use, and performance in the field to give you a clear understanding of what works best for different hunting styles.You'll learn the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and model, the best uses for modern inline versus traditional sidelock muzzleloaders, and key tips to consider before making your next purchase.

Welcome to the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast!

In today’s episode, Caleb and Hunter kick things off with a short PSA on recent tariff changes and how they are affecting the muzzleloading industry. From there, they dive into the question of using roundball projectiles in modern inline muzzleloaders. Finally, they share their thoughts on the newly released CVA Optima, breaking down what’s new and improved.

Welcome to the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast! In today's episode, Caleb and Hunter discuss black powder hunting regulations in the western United States.

We touch on: Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, California, Washington, Montana, and even ring you awareness of some Arizona grumblings.

TIMESTAMPS

00:44 {1} Intro

01:41 {2} Colorado

03:16 {3} Colorado Regulations Simply/ Pending Changes

03:54 {4} Colorado Breakdown: Sights

08:05 {5} Colorado Breakdown: Caliber Restrictions

09:39 {6} Colorado Breakdown: Bullets

11:30 {7} Colorado Breakdown: Powder

13:54 {8} Idaho Breakdown: Bullets

15:33 {9} Idaho Breakdown: Ignition type, Powder, Sights

15:53 {10} Modern Inlines and the Northwest/Western Ignition

16:30 {11} Is Colorado a Northwest State?

18:07 {12} Oregon Breakdown: Bullets

19:12 {13} Oregon Breakdown: Ignitions/ Sights

20:12 {14} California Overview

21:22 {15} Washington Breakdown: Ignition, Primers, and Bullets

23:01 {16} Washington Breakdown: Optics

24:32 {17} Washington Breakdown: Powder

25:58 {18} Muzzleloading Culture is Swinging Traditional

27:38 {19} Montana's Heritage Season Discussion/ Matchlock Legend

31:33 {20} Montana Heritage Season Regulations33:20 {21} Checking Your State's Regulations/ Seasonal Tips

35:24 {22} Arizona Rumblings

37:29 {23} New Directions for Muzzle-Loaders.Com

Welcome to the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast! In this episode, Hunter, our friendly Director of Operations and Caleb, one of our favorite know-it-mosts discuss what's new in the Muzzle-Loader world. Then, we answer a number of your questions from here on YouTube! If you've asked a question on our channel recently, tune in to see if your question is featured in this episode!TIMESTAMPS00:00 {1} Intro01:13 {2} Thompson Center03:29 {3} Brixia05:33 {4} Muzzle-Loaders News: Life is Ministry06:15 {5} Muzzle-Loaders News: Affiliate Program07:15 {6} Q1: How do we legalize 209 ignition in OR?09:34 {7} Q2: Do we make smokeless Firesticks?11:57 {8} Q3: Load recommendations for various twist rates?16:46 {9} Q4: Why don't we use wads or grease our pistol loads?21:18 {10} Q5: Best rifle kit for a newbie?23:29 {11} Q6: How are we getting the Nitrofire to group?28:39 {12} Q7: As a new shooter, how does one know the bullet is properly set?32:04 {13} Q8: I bought a new breech plug, now my rifle doesn't work?35:11 {14} Final thoughts

Welcome to the Muzzle-Loaders podcast! This year at ShotShow 2025 we had the honor of meeting Barry Brakebill himself, a CVA-sponsored shooter and multi-time national muzzleloader champion. Barry was kind enough to sit down with us to share wisdom gleaned from decades of careful analysis. Whether you're interested in precision load development or curious to see what a titan in the muzzleloading world has to say, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Here at ShotShow 2025, Muzzle-Loaders.com had the honor of sitting down with Alison Hall from Traditions for an exclusive podcast! If you're interested in the cutting edge of muzzleloader innovation, you won't want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS 00:30 {1} Hunting 02:22 {2} NitroFire Development 03:34 {3} The NitroBolt 04:40 {4} NitroBolt Accuracy 05:15 {5} NitroBolt Price 06:03 {6} FFL regulated? 07:05 {7} Pro Series 07:47 {8} NitroBolt S.D. 08:12 {9} NitroBolt Bolt Design 09:09 {10} State Legality 10:52 {11} Bullet Recommendations 12:11 {12} Traditional Rifle Product Updates

Nobody knows how many people roll out of bed in the morning and decide to break a muzzleloading world record, but here at Muzzle-Loaders.com we only know of one man who succeeded. As the host of Steve's Outdoor Adventures, a long-running hunting show featured on the Sportsman Channel, Steve West has spent his adult life as a professional hunter, and he's got the stories to prove it. Join us to hear about his greatest successes, his most miserable hunts, advice for new muzzleloader hunters, and more. All in all, this is a podcast you won't want to miss!

Our interview with Ethan Yazel!

Apr 4, 2024

CONTACT US: Website: https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/ Odysee: https://odysee.com/@Muzzleloaders:5 Facebook:   / muzzleloaderscom   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzzleloade... Email: sales@muzzle-loaders.com Phone: 855-236-5000 At first, muzzleloading can be an overwhelming new sport, but we are here to help you get everything figured out. Whether you're hunting deer in the thick woods, sitting in a stand over a cornfield in the midwest, or chasing elk in the mountains. Our goal is to help you on your muzzleloading adventures! Of course, for any questions about muzzleloading, you are welcome to call us at 1-855-236-5000, or email us at sales@muzzle-loaders.com.

There are some things that you just have to learn the hard way... or do you? In today's episode, Darren and Nate share some of the tips and tricks that they have picked up over decades of combined muzzleloader experience. Stay tuned! These tips may just save your season!

From little whitetail to giant bulls, our team experienced it all during the 2023 hunting season! Just as in years past, the 2023 season brought with it several exciting adventures. Our team engaged in all sorts of hunting from archery to rifle, and most importantly, muzzleloader. Join us as Nate, Chance, and Darren swap stories from their 2023 hunting seasons.

For some, the prospect of starting out in muzzleloading can seem intimidating. There is a higher barrier of entry in muzzleloading than in many other shooting sports. Unlike centerfires, getting started in muzzleloading isn't as simple as buying a gun and picking up a box of shells. In today's episode, Darren and Hunter provide info from firsthand experience and an in-depth guide for how to get started in muzzleloading. If you would like to check out the 5 part article series that we created on this same topic then click the link below. LINKS: • Beginner's Guide Articles: https://muzzle-loaders.com/blogs/muzzleloader-testing-info/getting-started-muzzleloading-the-muzzleloader-beginners-guide-part-1 • Muzzleloader Hunting in the Northwest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAz8cE9Bq-E • How to Clean an Inline Muzzleloader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3WQz0awo4k • Troubleshooting Muzzleloaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyH_ojU4Zcc&t=62s • How to Load a Muzzleloader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gOTtk737Pg

Every year on Labor Day weekend, our local muzzleloading club puts on a fantastic rendezvous. This year, Darren and Chance were able to be in attendance and compete in the aggregate. In this episode, Darren and Chance will recap their time at the rendezvous and share information regarding the muzzleloaders that they used.

Muzzleloader season is only a few short months away and our team is very excited to get back into the woods. In this podcast, Darren, Nate Hunter, and Chance sit down and chat about their upcoming seasons and share insights into their preseason prep. We hope that you enjoy listening to this informative and entertaining podcast.

Muzzleloader season is inching ever closer! Do you know which bullet you will be using this fall? Today, Darren and Nate discuss the best muzzleloader bullets in the world. If you are looking to try a new bullet this season then this episode will give you a solid understanding of the best options. We hope that you enjoy this episode!

What do muzzle brakes, the NFL draft, and the apocalypse all have in common? The Muzzle-Loaders Extravaganza Podcast, of course! In today's episode, Darren and Hunter are taking a break from the usual podcast structure, and instead discuss various muzzleloader topics in a brand new light. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode.

Nothing gets the blood pumping like shooting a cap and ball revolver! In many ways, Pietta has set the standard when it comes to black powder cap and ball revolvers. Pietta products are world class in durability, accuracy, and overall quality. Today, we sit down with Alessandro Pietta and discuss the rich history of Pietta and all things black powder. Alessandro has been working with cap and ball revolvers for his entire life and is a wealth of information. Stay tuned for the muzzleloader action!

The new Hornady Bore Driver ELD-X muzzleloader bullet is prepared to take the world by storm! In this episode, Darren and Preston discuss muzzleloader hunting, ballistics, and the new Hornady Bore Driver ELD-X! This conversion is packed with fascinating technical muzzleloader information! Stay tuned for the action!

No SHOT Show is complete without paying a visit to our good friends at Traditions!  

On today's episode, Darren Binder and Alison Hall discuss all things Traditions. Alison is the Marketing Director for Traditions and she is a wealth of information on hunting, muzzleloading, and the outdoors. We really enjoyed catching up with Alison and talking about all of the new things that Traditions is releasing this year. Stay tuned for more muzzleloader action!

Darren and Nate from Muzzle-Loaders.com discuss their favorite hunting muzzleloaders in this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders podcast.

It can be difficult to choose a hunting muzzleloader. There are a lot of choices and many things to consider when purchasing a muzzleloader. Today, Nate and Darren talk about their top choices when it comes to hunting muzzleloaders.

Are you ready to hear all about the history of cap and ball revolvers? 

Today, Darren is chatting with Collin Elam, a black powder enthusiast with a special affinity for cap and ball revolvers. This is a topic that we have wanted to cover on our show for a long time and we are excited to have Collin's expertise on this episode. Collin is a wealth of information on everything from the history of muzzleloader pistols to the functionality of cap and ball revolvers.

2022 was a tough year for the Muzzle-Loaders.com crew when it comes to hunting! 

Today, Darren and Nate discuss their experiences during the 2022 Oregon whitetail muzzleloader hunt. There were a lot of highs and a lot of lows during this hunt, but most importantly, they guys were able to spend a lot of time in the woods! We hope that you enjoy hearing about our muzzleloader hunting experience!

If you have listened to our show for any length of time, you know that we are passionate hunters and as such we enjoy talking about different kinds of hunting throughout the nation. Today, we are joined by Matt Bullins who is another passionate hunter and we discuss things like muzzleloader hunting whitetail and careers in the outdoors. Matt is a co-host of the the Red Rising hunting show and has many years of experience in outdoor film making. He also has a tremendous amount of experience hunting with Traditions muzzleloaders and we were able to chat about some of his field experiences with Traditions. Stay tuned for the action!

Hunting, fishing, and living the outdoor lifestyle is the only life that Walker and Wyatt Schearer have ever known! 

Walker and Wyatt are the children of Chad and Marsha Schearer, the hosts of Shoot Straight TV. These guys have been hunting on TV since they were small children and have traveled all over the world. We were fortunate enough to catch up with Walker and Wyatt on our recent trip to Montana and learn a little bit more about their life and experiences.

Killing a bull elk is challenging as it is but imagine getting it done with a flintlock! 

In today's episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast, we are chatting with the long time traditional muzzleloader hunter, Richard Schenk. Richard has been hunting with traditional muzzleloaders for decades and is a wealth of knowledge. In this episode, Darren and Richard discuss everything from elk hunting to turkey hunting. Stay tuned for the action!

It has been over three years since the CVA Paramount took the world by storm at SHOT Show 2019. 

Today, we are discussing all of the different Paramounts and their various roles in the muzzleloader world today. We are also talking about the legacy of the Paramount and evaluating its performance over the last few years to see if it has truly lived up to the hype. Joining Darren in this conversation is Chad Schearer of Shoot Straight TV. Chad has decades of experience in muzzleloader hunting and we always value his insight on our show.

Are you curious about the CVA brand? Then this is the podcast for you! Join us as we sit down with Dudley McGarity, the former CEO of BPI!

Dudley McGarity has been involved in the muzzleloader industry for decades and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things black powder. Today, we are talking about the CVA brand from past to present. The CVA brand has a very interesting history and we really enjoyed this conversation. If you have any questions then please let us know in the comments below!

It was a pleasure to chat with Jason Gatliff (Owner of the Muzzleloader Magazine) about all things muzzleloading!

In this episode, we were able to chat with Jason about everything from life on the frontier to the beginnings of the Muzzleloader Magazine. Jason is a very genuine lover of muzzleloading and historical preservation and it was incredible to be able to have this conversation with him. I hope that you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

Hunting & cooking are two sides to the same coin for Mike Reeber who has spent the majority of his life pursuing his passion for both!

In today's episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast, we are catching up with Mike Reeber. Mike was born and raised in the Northeast and has been an avid hunter his whole life. We really enjoyed hearing about Mike's hunting experiences over the years.

Mike is also a professional chef and he specializes in preparing wild game. In this episode, Mike will share some key knowledge to help you prepare the best tasting wild game possible.

Today, we are going to discuss which muzzleloader caliber is truly the best!

With the recent rise in popularity of .40 and .45 caliber muzzleloader bullets, we figured that it's time to give you our thoughts how these calibers stack up against the already established .50 caliber. There are many factors to consider and joining me in this discussion is Chad Schearer of Shoot Straight TV. Chad has decades of experience in muzzleloading and we are excited to share his thoughts on the matter!

Ralph & Vicki have many years of experience in archery, rifle, and muzzleloader hunting. We are excited to share some of their knowledge with you today! 

On this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast, we are chatting with Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo of The Choice. We had a blast talking about hunting and living the outdoor lifestyle with them.  @Ralph and Vicki  have also worked very closely with Traditions Muzzleloaders over the years and we were able to get some of their valuable insight into guns the like NitroFire and Vortek StrikerFire! I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

Who better to talk skirmishing with than the 7 time N-SSA National Champion, Eddie Davenport! 

The N-SSA stands for North South Skirmish Association. Their focus in on muzzleloader competitions and historical preservation through the Civil War era. Some of the best muzzleloader marksman come from all over the country to participate in N-SSA sanctioned skirmishes and test their skills with a muzzleloader and Eddie Davenport is one of the best. I really enjoyed sitting down with Eddie and talking about his role at the N-SSA as well as his over twenty years of experience in muzzleloading. 

We were also able to talk about Eddie's current work with Walk the Talk America, a non-profit who's goal it is to stand in the gap between mental health and the firearm industry. We found this conversation particularly interesting and we hope that you enjoy it.

N-SSA Website: http://www.n-ssa.org/

Walk the Talk America: https://walkthetalkamerica.org/

Country music, muzzleloaders, and history are the passions of Hawken Horse, Andrew Scott Wills!

Today, we will discuss everything from Andrew's time in the country music scene to the history of life on the frontier. Andrew is a very interesting person and holds a treasure-trove of muzzleloader and historical knowledge. We hope that you enjoy this unique and exciting conversation. 

It was a genuine pleasure to sit down and have a conversation with Jackie Bushman of Buckmasters TV!

Jackie has been involved in the outdoor entertainment industry since the mid-1980s and was one of the pioneers of hunting television shows. We enjoyed hearing about all of Jackie's experience in the outdoor industry and we think that you will too. 

We also were able to talk about all things muzzleloading with Jackie. Jackie has been sponsored by Traditions for several years now and has a tremendous amount of insight into their products. He was one of the first people to harvest an animal with the Traditions NitroFire making him an expert in that area. If you have any questions regarding this show then please let us know in the comments below.

Today we are going over our recent load development experience with the CVA Accura LR-X!

Muzzleloader load development provides many unique and exciting challenges. When conducting load development with a muzzleloader, there are many variables that make it more challenging than load development with a centerfire rifle such as consistency of the pack, barrel cleanliness, and moisture levels. All of these things must be accounted for when conducting muzzleloader load development. In today's episode, we are going to cover our recent load development experience with the CVA Accura LR-X. This muzzleloader was a lot of fun to shoot and very accurate. We hope that you enjoy this conversation and be sure to leave your questions in the comments below!

Today, Darren and Gary are discussing all things Blunderbuss including history, kit assembly, and turkey hunting! 

The Blunderbuss is a very unique muzzleloader so it is only fitting that the History is equally unique. When most people think of the Blunderbuss they think of pirate ships or Elmer Fudd but the Blunderbuss is much more than that. In addition to being the ideal choice for clearing ship decks, the Blunderbuss also played a crucial role in settling the frontier! Tune in to this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast to learn even more about the Blunderbuss!

Today, we will be tackling some common muzzleloader myths and misconceptions!

Muzzleloading is a highly technical sport and a breeding ground for false information. It is our desire to decrease the barrier of entry into muzzleloading and help pave the way for new people to join our sport. In this episode, we endeavor to set the record straight with regard to some of these common muzzleloader myths.

Backcountry, bushcraft, and black powder are the name of the Game for Paul Laster of The Orion Foundation Instagram page!

We had an absolute blast chatting with Paul on this week's episode of the Muzzle-Loaders podcast. Paul's history with muzzleloading is extremely compelling and his knowledge of muzzleloader history is incredible! Today, Darren and Paul discuss all things bushcraft and black powder in an episode for the ages! 

We are very excited to have Ethan from I Love Muzzleloading back on the show to talk more about muzzleloader kits!

Muzzleloader kits are a very unique part of the muzzleloader community. You can make it as challenging or as simple as you would like that level of customization is what makes it so appealing. In this podcast, Darren and Ethan discuss the more in-depth aspects of kit building for those of you who are looking to jump into the deep end of the muzzleloader world. It is always a pleasure to have Ethan on the show and I hope that you benefit from his many years of experience in muzzleloader kit building!

In today's podcast, Mike Freiberg and Darren Binder take a deep dive into the world of muzzleloader scopes, spotting scopes, and binoculars.

If you are someone who likes to nerd out when it comes to outdoor equipment then this is the podcast for you. Mike Freiberg has over a decade of experience as an outdoor rep for companies like Nikon and US Optics and has garnered a thorough understanding of optics and their functionality. It is our goal to provide you with some tips to help improve your muzzleloading experience through optics education as well as answer some of the questions that you may have had about optic functionality.

Shooting a bull elk at 15 feet is one of the more exciting experiences that a human can enjoy. All things muzzleloader hunting are the topic of conversation between Logan and Darren in this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast.

We were recently invited out to Burris Optics headquarters in Greeley Colorado by Logan Holtz, the Marketing Director for Burris. We had a lot of fun hanging out and shooting muzzleloaders with the Burris crew. We were also able to record a podcast with Logan and talk about his extensive muzzleloader hunting experience. Logan has been hunting with a muzzleloader for many years and has a lot of insight that will help any muzzleloader hunter have more success. If you are looking to take your muzzleloader hunting to the next level, you will not want to miss out on this podcast!

Have you ever wondered how a premium brand like Pedersoli proof tests their muzzleloaders?

We had an opportunity to interview Justin Dodd, part-owner of Italian Firearms Group, at SHOT Show 2022. Italian Firearms Group is the foremost importer of Pedersoli muzzleloaders and they represent Pedersoli to the United States consumer. Join us as Darren and Justin discuss all things Pedersoli!

The Muzzle-Loaders Podcast is back and we are recapping our SHOT Show 2022 experience!

In this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast, Nate and Darren recap their experiences from SHOT Show 2022 and discuss some of their favorite muzzleloaders and muzzleloader products. If you love muzzleloaders and attending SHOT Show is on your bucket list then you will want to listen to this episode!

Let's go back in time and check out some of our favorite moments in Muzzle-Loaders Podcast history!

In this episode, Darren, Nate, and Caleb watch clips from some of our favorite moments in Muzzle-Loaders Podcast history. From the funny, behind-the-scenes moments to the exciting, on-air conversations, we can't wait to take you back in time to some of the best Muzzle-Loaders Podcast clips! Thank you all so much for your support of the show and we look forward to bringing you more awesome conversations next year!

'Tis the season for muzzleloader kits! On this episode of the Muzzle-Loaders Podcast, we sit down with Ethan Yazel of I Love Muzzleloading to discuss all things muzzleloader kits! Ethan has years of experience in traditional muzzleloading and building kits and we are very excited to tap into some of his kit building experience! If you are thinking about buying your first kit then you won't want to miss this episode!

There have been a lot of developments to muzzleloader technology over the years and today we are going to talk about the pros and cons of each of them.

From Traditional sidelock muzzleloaders to modern bolt action super magnums, there are pros and cons to each and every muzzleloader ignition system. We are here to help you sort out which muzzleloader will best fit your needs. If you are new to muzzleloading, the decision of what muzzleloader to use is going to come down to what you intend to do with your muzzleloader. If you plan to shoot long distances, then a bolt action super magnum is probably the way to go. If you would like to relive a part of history and challenge yourself on your next hunt, then a traditional sidelock muzzleloader is more for you. Whatever your interests are, there is a piece of the muzzleloader world that you will enjoy!