Considering selling slug barrel to pay for muzzleloader?

[Doc7]

Hello all. I am new to Virginia and relatively new to hunting (have never hunted deer or other big game)

I have a Mossberg 500 that came with a rifled barrel as well as the smooth bore. I am saving for a Browning rifle.

I am considering selling the rifled barrel for my shotgun (might get 100 dollars) so I can also buy a muzzleloading rifle. It looks like I can use that in Dinwiddie even though other rifles aren't allowed. I don't think Chesterfield county allows a black powder rifle though.

At this time I rent a townhouse near Petersburg and have no land / no hunt club so I don't have a set of regulations that I am convinced I want to conform to (obviously if I was hunting Chesterfield county I would keep the rifled barrel for shotgun)

What do y'all think, I think the muzzleloader will give me a lot of versatility with two extra weeks to hunt and can still be used effectively in regular rifle season as well. Also means I need to buy one less scope if I only have the ML and the browning.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[dmharvey]

Here is an option to consider...

Mossberg 500 12 Gauge 24" 50 Caliber Rifle Bore Muzzleloader Conversion with Rifle Sights Steel Blue
http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/861787 ... steel-blue

[jdonovan]

I think because you don't have a spot to hunt yet, you shouldn't make any adjustments in gear until you know where you would be able to hunt and the regulations that would govern that area.

I've shot muzzle loaders for 20 years, and Muzzleloaders are a bit finicky. Way more of a challenge to find an accurate load, and harder for the average person to shoot well. The extra 2 weeks of the season is a minor advantage.

If you want a real advantage, get into archery. That gives you about 6 weeks more than rifle, and some very nice weather fall days. These days cross bows are viable out to 40 yds or so, and if you are in the generally thick woods of VA, 40 yards is reasonable range.

Also where you are at the suburban/urban interface, there are many more spots you can get access if you are a bow hunter than a rifle hunter.

[gemihur]

a great recommendation
Archery seasons are long
Muzzleloaders are great, too
A used inline is very affordable

[skeeterss00]

another vote here for Archery.........I bought my first bow this yr and have been practicing in my backyard..........Its not as hard as I thought it would be, a lot lighter than shotgun I normally carry. I will prob start using it starting next yr.