Knight Bighorn- too much to do!

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Hard to make a good title for this one, but bear with me and I will explain. I have hunted for decades with muzzleloaders and have kill dozens of deer with flintlock rifles of all kinds, sidelock percussion Hawken style rifles, and several beak action inlines with hammers. Just recently I aquired a like new Knight Bighorn.
After several trips to the range testing various loads I was impressed with accuracy for sure. But, in comparison to all other types of actions I find it clumsy to operate. With a sidelock or break action hammer gun, when it comes time to take that critical shot at that nice deer, all one has to do is cock hammer and press trigger! Done. With the Bighorn ( or similar action), one must pull the plunger, then unscrew the plunger safety and then of course one more step, remember to release side safety.
Don't assume I am anxious to take running shots or quick jumps shots etc. I just find it to be a bit clumsy when compared to other actions.
I am not trying to be critical of the Bighorn. I know it is an excellent quality muzzleloader and many hunters use them and love em. But I am curious if others share this view at all. For those that use the Bighorn for hunting, what routine do you use?
Yeah, I am old now and maybe it is just not the gun for me. I am $400 into the Bighorn with new Williams sites, and case so I am trying to like it, but am afraid it will collect expensive dust. LOL
 
I just started muzzle loader hunting a couple years ago and have a bighorn. Compared to other rifles that are available it is a pain in the rear to deal with the action. I don't use optics, but it is still very difficult to prime compared to others. Then add in the red 209 jacket and the problem is worse. Having to have a tool to put the primer in and then on the gun makes no sense to me. My replacement guns in the future will be much easier to prime regardless of what primer system I use.
 
Load the gun, pull the plunger back to cock, screw in back safely, apply side safety, prime. When in stand, or sneaking around,unscrew back safety, leave plunger cocked, you still have the side safety ( on safe ) till the a shot presents it self.
You wouldn't uncock your bolt action center fire rifle, or pump action turkey shotgun, just to cock the action when game shows. ( You wouldn't bag much ) . You use the safety,and good judgement. Same deal
 
Load the gun, pull the plunger back to cock, screw in back safely, apply side safety, prime. When in stand, or sneaking around,unscrew back safety, leave plunger cocked, you still have the side safety ( on safe ) till the a shot presents it self.
You wouldn't uncock your bolt action center fire rifle, or pump action turkey shotgun, just to cock the action when game shows. ( You wouldn't bag much ) . You use the safety,and good judgement. Same deal

Thanks for this viewpoint. It is exactly what I was hoping to hear. In other words having the plunger cocked, and both safetys on is ok. That approach is logical, safe and sure makes sense for field use.
Makinsmoke nailed it with his answer!
 
I am in the same boat as you with the MK-85 (Same Setup function as your Bighorn) While it is a very well built, and reliable Rifle, i find them EXTREMELY Clumsy/Awkward compared to my TC Hawken’s and Renegades with Fast Twist bullet Barrels, I have chosen to stick with my Sidelocks, These Sidelocks Setup the way i have them are EVERY bit as accurate, if not more so than the MK-85, My Sidelocks are also MUCH easier to Care for/Clean When i am done shooting. There is a Reason my MK-85 is in the Classified Section :) After shooting, and playing with this MK-85 for a couple of months now It is Highly doubtful that i will use this Rifle much, if any. If i were serious about an inline Rifle i would look Seriously at a more Modern Gun such as the Knight Mountaineer for my style of Target/Bench Shooting, if i planned to carry this Rifle afield for hunting i would look more toward the Ultra Lite
 
I started hunting with a Knight Wolverine. Same plunger action, different stock. I would load and cap it, then apply both safeties. Those would stay on while I was commuting or anywhere else that I didn't expect to have a shot. Once I was in an area where a shot was a possibility I would unscrew the secondary safety. Only when I was preparing to take a shot would I disengage the primary safety. The only difference between that gun and the Bighorn was that mine was set up to fire #11 caps. I found capping the gun with these vs an FPJ to be much more practical, so maybe the western conversion is something worth looking into?
As for cleaning, they're a bit time consuming though not terrible. I finally got to where I just removed the one screw to separate the barreled action and stock, pulled the breech plug and doused the whole thing in cleaner. I got to be fairly efficient at it by the time I was done.
 
Have a Wolverine and I do exactly the same when on stand , secondary Safetey unscrewed, I did forget it one time and I must say that big doe and I were both surprised when that gun went click, she was about 20 yards away. Her lucky day for sure. I do the same with my bolt guns , secondary safety off when posted
 
Plunger back, plunger safety off...side safety ON until I'm ready to shoot. Only time I ever use the plunger safety is when I'm climbing a stand, or traveling on an ATV or such. Super simple.
 
Exactly. But that's with any Knight. Whether it was the Wolverine or the Mountaineer, the secondary safety was only screwed down during travel, climbing, or if I left it in a locked truck at night. (Don't worry, I live far away from everybody. It's secure.)
 
Same as above. That Secondary safety is a good feature when climbing over fences, climbing in a stand and I really like it when I store it in the car or on porch if i come on to the house. Most non ml shooters don't know that is there so makes real sure it is safe, but I do uncap/prime it when not in attendance of it.
 
Idaho, If you really hate cleaning the MK-85, don't even look at an MK-95.;)
 
Load the gun, pull the plunger back to cock, screw in back safely, apply side safety, prime. When in stand, or sneaking around,unscrew back safety, leave plunger cocked, you still have the side safety ( on safe ) till the a shot presents it self.
You wouldn't uncock your bolt action center fire rifle, or pump action turkey shotgun, just to cock the action when game shows. ( You wouldn't bag much ) . You use the safety,and good judgement. Same deal

Same here - the side safety is the primary safety for me on the sit, the screw safety is off.

For me, there are very few areas where I have access in VA that spot and stalk is an option. I usually keep both safeties on when on the ground, as there numerous nearby houses and livestock.
 
I have no trouble with the safety's as I treat my bighorn like a normal centerfire rifle. What I do hate is the fact of when you install a sling they are barrel heavy, wanting to tip backwards if you try to use a sling.
 
I am in the same boat as you with the MK-85 (Same Setup function as your Bighorn) While it is a very well built, and reliable Rifle, i find them EXTREMELY Clumsy/Awkward compared to my TC Hawken’s and Renegades with Fast Twist bullet Barrels, I have chosen to stick with my Sidelocks, These Sidelocks Setup the way i have them are EVERY bit as accurate, if not more so than the MK-85, My Sidelocks are also MUCH easier to Care for/Clean When i am done shooting. There is a Reason my MK-85 is in the Classified Section :) After shooting, and playing with this MK-85 for a couple of months now It is Highly doubtful that i will use this Rifle much, if any. If i were serious about an inline Rifle i would look Seriously at a more Modern Gun such as the Knight Mountaineer for my style of Target/Bench Shooting, if i planned to carry this Rifle afield for hunting i would look more toward the Ultra Lite

I have often wondered .With the right shooter if a scoped sidehammer would be as accurate as a inline . Obviously lock time will be slower but with the right guy I doubt there would be much difference if any ?
 
What I do hate is the fact of when you install a sling they are barrel heavy, wanting to tip backwards if you try to use a sling.

Yep, they are barrel heavy with the std stock for sure, its too short up front imo. With a thumbhole stock it is much better. The MK-85 which is the bighorn predecessor is much more balanced...with any stock.
 
Ive seen scoped side locks shoot some really tight groups especially with sabots, so I would say yes right shooter and load..



I have often wondered .With the right shooter if a scoped sidehammer would be as accurate as a inline . Obviously lock time will be slower but with the right guy I doubt there would be much difference if any ?
 
After seeing some of Lewis's posted groups with peep sights I don't see why they wouldn't be.
 
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