Aug 25, 2002 By Rod Schoener 7 min read

Local outdoor sporting goods stores are undergoing a rush of sorts. One item has been really hot, and most just started stock it, although it has been available for years.

That item is the in-line muzzleloader.

Prior to this year, Pennsylvania offered no special season for in-line or percussion type muzzleloaders, so the only sportsmen who possessed them hunted during muzzleloader seasons in neighboring states or used them during the regular rifle deer seasons.

This year, for the first time, the Pennsylvania Game Commission approved the use of in-line and percussion muzzleloaders during a statewide, antlerless-only blackpowder hunt scheduled for Oct. 19-26.

In-line muzzleloader technology began in 1985 when Knight Rifles introduced its original MK-85.

Since then, Knight has vastly improved on its rifle and its line, and many other companies have jumped on board such as CVA, Traditions, Thompson Center and some of the old standby rifle manufacturers such as Remington and Winchester just to name a few.

Friday, I drove around to talk with some local firearm dealers.

My first stop was Marra’s Mountaineer Sport Shop in Uniontown, where I spoke with owner Buddy Marra.

When asked if there was any change in in-line muzzleloader sales since their use was approved for the special hunt, Marra said, “It started this week, actually, and I was kind of surprised. They are going after good quality stuff. They must think its is going to be around. They are not buying the $150 in-lines. They are buying the $350-400 in-lines.

“I’ve had a lot of guys get rid of the flintlocks saying they had enough of that since they are allowed to use the in-lines. On the other hand, I had new hunters coming in saying they were going to buy a flintlock, so they could use it in both seasons.

“More guys still favor the flintlock week. A lot of guys are actually disappointed that they put the in-line season in. They prefer the old traditional season.”

I ask Bud if any in-line purchasers did so because they feel that somewhere down the road high power rifles may be banned for use in some areas of the county as they are in some townships in Washington County.

“No one said that,” Marra said, but I guess there is always that possibility.

Marra said sales seemed to pick up this week for sure. “We sold at least one Knight and a couple Thompson Center Omegas.”

Marra said he increased his inventory of in-lines and has more on order in anticipation of an even bigger push before the season arrives.

Marra then took a second to note that many of his customers are still against antler restriction. “I’m for it myself,” he said. “A lot of people always go back to how many deer they feel will be lying in the woods. That’s the main thing. A lot of people would have just liked to see them start with no spikes and no Y’s. I think that’s all they need and there wouldn’t be as big an argument right now.

“My biggest beef with all of it is allowing hunters to shoot more than one deer a day. I feel that you should be allowed one deer a day, even if they allow two weeks of doe season. Instead of shooting at five deer running across a field where they hit two or three but only drop one and don’t even bother to track them, because they figure a few more will come by in five minutes.

“If they could only take one deer they might wait a little longer, and there wouldn’t be that slaughter.

“Personally, I still like the old flintlock season with a roundball and patch.”

Al Merschat at Caney Valley Sport and Marine in Markleysburg said, “We have some guys buying in-line muzzleloaders.

“Since I’m only a mile from West Virginia and Maryland, I’ve sold more in-line rifles than side locks since we’ve opened.

“It has sparked a little bit of interest from Pennsylvania hunters. The guys who have never done that and have a doe license are getting interested and trying it, so it has sparked some additional in-line sales.”

As far as his in-line sales for the special October antlerless season, Merschat says most guys have been buying used and lower- to middle-end rifles.

“Of course, many of the guys who have been into it for years are trading in some nice used pieces, Thompson Center, Whites and Knights. They are trading them in on higher-end guns, giving the other guys a chance to buy some real good guns that are used at a reasonable price.

“We had some packages starting at $199, including rings, scope, base and rifle.”

In getting away from muzzleloading, Merschat said he has seen couple of large channel cats caught recently near the gas docks at the Yough Dam. One was a 26-inch nine-pounder and the other was a 31-inch 12-pounder.

Smallmouth bass have also been hitting on little creek crabs in the rocky areas.

At Reese Wholesale in Smithfield, Wayne Reese said they are ordering more in-line rifles every day since they were approved.

“It is amazing,” Reese said. We sell most brands. The Thompson Center Omega is a hot selling item. In fact they are even hard to get. The way sales have gone up, you would think muzzleloader season is starting tomorrow.”

He then pointed out that most people are scoping the in-lines. At that point Reese noted, “At first, we were behind in getting the right mounts for them.”

Reese then stressed, “About one-third of our sales are in-lines right now. We are selling a few flints, and the hunters are actually trying to find a way to scope the flints for the early season.”

Wayne went on to say, “I think it has created some new interest. A few years ago, everybody you saw had their kid out hunting rabbits or squirrels. That is almost a dying thing. I don’t sell one-tenth the shells for the rabbit season as I used to. No one rabbit hunts. Nobody squirrel hunts.

“Maybe this will create some new interest in hunting.” Reese said. It has stirred up a lot of activity as most of the phone calls coming in recently are requesting information about in-line rifles.

“About nine out of 10 people who buy an in-line are putting scopes on them. We are putting them together in custom packages with a scope and sling of the buyers’ choice.”

If you purchase an in-line rifle, don’t think you are going to get away with cleaning it less often.

While the cleaner burning propellants such a Pyrodex can be used, blackpowder still ignites faster and produces greater muzzle velocities.

Marra said that most hunters are going with a sabot-type bullet. They use very few roundballs anymore. The sabots are more accurate and produce a cleaner kill.

In another year of controversy, perhaps the Game Commission has come up with a great way to stir some new interest in hunting.

No matter what muzzleloader season you plan to hunt in, you must have a muzzleloader license, and the deadline to purchase a muzzleloader stamp in Aug. 31.

If you plan to take part in the early hunt, be aware that you must possess a valid antlerless deer license for the county in which you are hunting.

Good hunting!

Outdoor editor Rod Schoener can be reached on line at rschoener@heraldstandard.com.