Modern precision rifle shooting requires quality gear and great discipline. Not only should you use precision ammo (or load your own) but you should practice extensively with your rifle, adopt a proper grip, adjust the LOP and comb height meticulously, and coach your breathing.
With muzzleloaders, things are a bit different. First off, most muzzleloaders are inherently less accurate than their centerfire counterparts, even when shooting very precise powder charges and spitzer bullets produced to tight tolerances.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t customize and accurize a muzzleloader to make it a tack driver.
With that said, let’s take a look at when – and why – it might make sense to replace your muzzleloader stock.
It Depends on What You Shoot and How you Hunt
First off, it really depends on what your end game is. If you shoot a muzzleloading shotgun, forget it. There’s no point in replacing the stock.
If you shoot a rifle at game at close ranges, and shoot mostly freehand, within 30-50 yards, don’t shell out the money for a new stock. It’s also just not worth it.
If you’re a die-hard, buckskin wearing, sidelock-slinging traditionalist, don’t replace your stock. You’ll probably hate it so much that any potential benefits will be lost on you anyway.
Now, if you shoot a modern in-line muzzleloader like a CVA Paramount, a high-quality muzzleloader stock like a Grayboe Eagle just might make sense, even given the cost, especially if you are a western hunter that routinely attempts shots on game at ranges in excess of 100 yards.
Here’s how you can benefit from the upgrade.
What a Muzzleloader Stock Upgrade Offers
If you find that you fall in the camp of those that can benefit from upgrading their muzzleloader stock, here are some things you can expect:
● Greater adjustability and a better fit: Modern muzzleloader stocks like the Grayboe Eagle are designed with adjustable cheek pieces and length-of-pull adjustments that will enable you to customize the stock to your dimensions.
●Far superior durability: Modern muzzleloader stocks are much more durable than wood. Some, like Grayboe stocks, are made with solid, homogeneous fiberglass epoxy matrices that are extremely strong and durable.
●Greater consistency: Traditional muzzleloader stocks will swell in response to high atmospheric humidity levels. When the humidity drops, they can shrink, warp, and even crack. Temperature can also cause dimension shifts. Both of these things will cause a wandering zero at best, and downright poor accuracy at worst.
●Flexibility: Many modern muzzleloader stocks are configurable with your choice of camo pattern, enabling you to match your rifle to your other gear, as well as to the environment, so it won’t look like you’re walking around with a blaze orange flag.
●Better overall accuracy: The fact that modern synthetic muzzleloader stocks can be adjusted to your dimensions and don’t respond to changes in atmospheric conditions means they will enable you to produce more accurate shots at more distant targets.
Muzzleloader Stocks, CVA Muzzleloader Accessories, and More
The bottom line is this: if you shoot spitzer bullets (not shot, not patched round balls), you hunt big game and routinely take shots beyond 100 yards, then yes, a muzzleloader stock can be worth it for you.
To learn more about what’s available, take a look at Anarchy Outdoors and what they offer. They carry a wide range of CVA muzzleloader accessories and other muzzleloading gear in addition to their stocks, plus a bunch of other hunting accessories and gun upgrade parts.
For more information about Penguin Precision Rifle Grip and Rifle Bolt Handles Please visit: Anarchy Outdoors.
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