“muzzleloading rifle”

More than any other firearm, a blackpowder rifle is subject to water seeping into nooks and crannies then failing to fire. But there are several tricks seasoned hunters employ to make sure their smokepoles fire in the rain.

The Woodman Arms Patriot muzzleloader is light, short and easy to carry. It shoots extremely well and, with the closed breech, can be waterproofed to ensure it goes off every time. It’s accurate enough to manage the open country, light enough to climb mountains and small enough to handle well in a deer blind.

A new muzzleloading fire-control system from Traditions Firearms and Federal Premium creates its own sort of afterglow amid deer season on an icy Oklahoma landscape.

The National Rifle Association’s Publications Division is pleased to announce Mark. A. Keefe, IV, has been appointed Editorial Director, succeeding John Zent, who held the post from 2004 until April of this year, retiring after nearly four decades as an NRA staff editor. Brian Sheetz will replace Mark Keefe as editor in chief of American Rifleman.

The new NitroFire and FireStick system keeps ignition consistent by protecting the powder, even during storage; the loading process is easy, and the primer can be left in the FireStick or removed without compromising the charge; and the system doesn’t restrict the choice of bullets and 209 muzzleloader primers, meaning hunters can stick with proven favorites.

Here’s a look at the revolutionary new firearms, optics and gear that will change the way you hunt.

The all-new FireStick gives not only the consistency any muzzleloading rifle aficionado will appreciate, but this may the most weatherproof system of charging that has ever been developed.

PH Pete Swanepoel set out to Zambia on a mission to hunt with a one-of-a-kind Livingstone-Henry rifle prior to donating it to the Livingstone Museum, but a series of unfortunate events made neither possible.

Dick Williams takes a closer look at the latest addition to the Thompson/Center family, the Strike.