But times change, and for many of today’s hunters, muzzle loading is more than a wistful yearning to relive the days of the mountain men. It is about being in the woods during elk rutting season, about listening to the bugling of the bulls or calling in a curious cow. It is about deer hunting in the warm glow of September when the aspens are turning and the snow has yet to fly, and about afternoon naps in sunny meadows.

For others, however, it is more about getting a jump on hunters in the regular rifle seasons. It is from this camp that sprang the movement for in-line muzzle-loading rifles. And from this movement arose the question of how to maintain the spirit of the primitive hunt without prejudice toward progress.

With limited range and only one shot to spend, muzzle-loading hunters must work close to their quarry. With traditional muzzleloaders, long-distance shots are out of the question. Most hunters consider fifty yards as the maximum distance, and many will not take shots longer than forty yards. In-line rifles increase the range out to about one-hundred yards and provide cleaner kills at closer distances. And therein lies the argument for logic.