This portion of our guide focuses on retailers, manufacturers, and products associated with muzzleloading.
Muzzleloading is the sport of firing muzzleloading guns in competitive shooting, hunting, or target shooting.
The sport originated in the United States in the 1930s and experienced a resurgence in the 1960s and 1970s that has not abated.
People who are involved in muzzleloading may use antique firearms. However, most of the muzzleloaders in active use today are contemporary, either of modern design or in the form of functional replicas of antique arms.
People engaged in historical reenactments will use either actual antiques or operational replicas, while those who enter muzzleloading shooting competitions or who hunt with muzzleloaders are more apt to use modern designs.
Companies like Knight Rifles, Savage Arms, and Thompson/Center Arms have been pioneers in developing innovative muzzleloaders. Knight Rifle developed the inline muzzleloader in the mid-1980s, offering advances in accuracy and reliability. Although they have discontinued the product, Savage Arms created the 10ML-II, a muzzleloader that uses smokeless powder. Other manufacturers of modern muzzleloaders include Crosman/Vemco/Airgun (CVA), Investarm, Lyman Products, Traditions Firearms, and Remington.
CVA and Traditions Firearms also manufactures operational replicas, along with Davide Pedersoli, Military Heritage, and Uberti USA.
Muzzleloaders come in various types, including the early flintlock and percussion cap rifles. Smoothbore muskets are often used for reenactments and historical demonstrations.
Modern muzzleloaders often use a more efficient ignition system, with the primer directly behind the powder charge. Known as inline muzzleloaders, these are commonly used for hunting, as many states offer an extended hunting season for those using black powder rifles.
Muzzleloaders also come in pistol and shotgun form. Pistols include flintlock and percussion cap varieties, often used in target shooting and historical reenactments.
As with most firearms, muzzleloaders require specific types of ammunition and supplies.
The traditional propellant used in muzzleloaders is black powder, although modern substitutes like Pyrodex and Triple Seven are cleaner-burning options.
Ammunition designed for muzzleloaders includes sabots and balls, which are loaded directly into the muzzle. These differ significantly from self-contained cartridges or shells used in modern firearms. In particular, sabots have become popular due to their improved accuracy and reduced fouling. Projectiles include round balls, conical bullets, and Minié balls.
Percussion caps are small metal caps containing a priming compound. They are used to ignite the powder charge in percussion cap rifles. Inline rifles use primers.
Ramrods are long, threaded rods used to load and clean the muzzleloader. Worms are corkscrew devices used to remove stuck cleaning patches.
Wads and patches are used to seal the projectile in the barrel and ensure consistent performance.
Other accessories and supplies used by muzzleloading enthusiasts may include cleaning kits (with cleaning rods, brushes, and solvents), powder measures (used to measure the correct amount of powder for each shot), nipple wrenches (used to remove and replace the nipples on percussion cap rifles), ball starters (tools used to start the projectile down the barrel), and loading stands (used to hold the firearm steady during loading). Powder flasks and horns are used to carry and dispense black powder. Other bags or containers may be used to carry black powder accessories, such as pre-measured charges, patches, and wadding.
Much of the equipment, accessories, and supplies used in muzzleloading are available directly from the manufacturers. In contrast, others can be obtained from various retailers, some specializing in muzzleloading products.
Websites representing manufacturers of muzzleloading equipment and supplies may be featured here, along with retailers specializing in these, and those marketing individual muzzleloading products.
Recommended Resources
Founded in 1971, CVA specializes in traditional side-lock muzzleloading rifles and build-it-yourself rifle kits. The company manufactures a variety of modern inline black powder muzzleloaders, centerfire rifles, and black powder accessories, carrying a line of CVA products, including the CVA Paramount Pro V2, CVA Paramount, CVA Accura MR-X, CVA Accura LR-X, CVA Optima, and CVA Wolf V2 muzzleloaders. CVA also offers the Cascade bolt-action rifle and the Scout single-shot rifles and pistols.
https://cvamuzzleloaders.com/
Founded as Connecticut Valley Arms in 1971, CVA initially focused on crafting traditional side-lock muzzleloading rifles. Currently, it features state-of-the-art in-line muzzleloaders, including rifles, shotguns, bolt-action rifles, break-action rifles, muzzleloaders, black powder guns, and rifle scopes. Its catalog can be viewed, and purchases can be made online. The discount offers, military discounts, first-time buyer discounts, and discounts on payments made with cryptocurrency are posted.
https://cvariflesusa.com/
Located in Union City, Tennessee, Dixie Gun Works is a respected retailer specializing in muzzleloading firearms, black powder supplies, and antique gun parts. Founded in 1954, the company is a significant supplier of black powder shooting equipment, including antique and historical guns, including muskets, rifles, and pistols. It also sells operational replicas of historical firearms, gun parts and kits, various types of black powder, wads, patches, and other supplies.
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/
The Gun Works Muzzleloading Emporium, founded by Joe Williams in 1981, is still in his family's hands. The retail store is located in Springfield, Oregon. The website features the address, directions, and a map, as well as phone and fax numbers, an email address, and hours of operation. The Gun Works is an authorized distributor for Thompson Center, Lyman, Traditions, CVA, Hornady, Ox-Yoke Originals, Blue & Grey, Colerain Barrels, Goex, Bridgers Best, RWS, CCI, Circle Fly, and others.
https://thegunworks.com/
Knight Rifles is an American manufacturer of modern muzzleloading rifles and shotguns that pioneered the in-line muzzleloader in the mid-1980s. It was founded in 1985 by Tony Knight, who originally crafted the guns one at a time in his garage, although a factory was built in 1987 in Lancaster, Missouri. As demand increased, a larger factory was built in Centerville, Ohio. Under new ownership, sales decreased, and the product line closed in 2009, to be re-started by Plastic Industries in 2011.
https://www.muzzleloaders.com/
Based in Oregon, this is an online retailer of muzzleloading firearms, ammunition, and accessories. Its product catalog features popular brands, such as CVA, Investarm, Lyman, Pedersoli, Pietta, Remington, Thompson/Center, and Traditions. The company sponsors and donates to Younglife, a Christian organization that assists struggling middle—and high-school-aged children. Reviews, promotions, clearance items, product manuals, and instructional videos are featured.
https://muzzle-loaders.com/
Based in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, the retailer specializes in muzzleloading firearms, accessories, and historical reproductions, including muzzleloading rifles (traditional flintlocks and modern inline models), historical reproductions of historical firearms, generally used in reenactments and historical demonstrations, custom-built rifles, accessories, and supplies, such as powder horns, possible bags, cleaning kits, other shooting supplies, and outdoor gear.
https://www.octobercountry.com/
Sitting Fox Custom Muzzleloaders
Incorporated in 1996 by Ray Franks, the company moved to Estero, Florida, in 2022, specializing in producing custom muzzleloader kits. Available finished guns are featured on the website, with prices. Assembled guns can be found on another page, with descriptions and specifications. Ready-to-ship kits are also featured, as are one-of-a-kind finds. Build information and instructions are provided, along with the company's address, phone number, and email address. Ordering information is posted.
https://sittingfoxcustommuzzleloaders.com/
Track of the Wolf is an Elk River, Minnesota, retailer specializing in muzzleloading firearms, black powder supplies, and historical reproductions. The company stocks a variety of muzzleloading rifles, pistols, and muskets, both antique and reproductions, as well as components for building and repairing muzzleloaders, including barrels, stocks, locks, black powder, lead balls, patches, wads, and other essential supplies. Special offers are highlighted, and a printed catalog may be ordered.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/
