This article is an opinion and not representative of an official statement from the NMLRA
SHOT Show 2020 has hardly started, and already Traditions, Federal and Hodgdon are controlling the muzzleloading news cycle for SHOT Show 2020.
If you haven’t seen the news, watch the video from Traditions Firearms below:
Please note: This rifle is not a breech loader, the projectile is loaded from the muzzle and the charge is loaded from the breech. There is a lot of misinformation being spread about this.
We’re getting a lot of mixed reviews so far, many traditionalist muzzleloader shooters and hunters aren’t interested, but I don’t think this rifle is meant for them. After all, once you have a nice side lock, do you really shoot much else?
Image courtesy of Outdoorhub.com
This rifle is for everyone out there who hunts with an inline and doesn’t want the fuss of loose powder, exposing more marksmen to the world of muzzleloaders.
There will always be innovation and progress in the world of firearms, I think it’s important to recognize the change and understand it’s not trying to snuff out traditional muzzleloading. In my opinion, these rifles have an important place in the industry as a means to educate marksmen on the world of muzzleloading.
So far there are no reports on the sustainability of the plastic cartridge from Federal, a concerning issue to many muzzleloaders conscious about sustainability and the environment. In our talk with Goex on the Muzzle Blasts Podcast, they spoke of how focused on the environment they are, so I’m hoping these plastic shells are reusable or recyclable at least.
Another concern I’m hearing on the forums is that there are worries about how this works with muzzleloading hunting seasons across the United States. Is the bullet being loaded from the muzzle enough to satisfy the definition of “Muzzleloader”? I think that’s yet to be said, but I don’t think Traditions, Hodgdon and Federal would bring a product to market without doing their research.