Ep. 488: Everything You Need to Know About Muzzleloaders w/ Brad Watts // CVA

Ep. 488: Everything You Need to Know About Muzzleloaders w/ Brad Watts // CVA

From East Meets West Hunt by Beau Martonik

April 28, 2026 · 1h 19m · Episode 488

About this episode

Beau Martonik discusses muzzleloaders with expert Brad Watts, covering essential knowledge for hunters.

Beau Martonik sits down with Brad Watts, a 15-year muzzleloading hunter and precision rifle competitor who works at CVA, recorded live at the NWTF show. They break down everything a hunter needs to know about muzzleloaders — how to choose the right one for your hunting situation, the difference between pellets, loose powder, and Blackhorn 209, how to properly clean and maintain your gun, and what actually causes misfires in the field. Brad also explains how competing in long-range precision rifle has made him a more confident hunter at every distance, and why that same mentality applies to how you should be practicing with your bow. If you've been intimidated by muzzleloaders or feel like you're missing something, this one clears it up. Topics: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:04:24 – Growing Up Hunting in PA 00:07:03 – Muzzleloader Seasons and Opportunities by State 00:09:30 – Getting Into Muzzleloading 00:13:53 – How Brad Got Into Muzzleloaders Through the Industry 00:15:03 – Keeping It Simple vs. Going Down the Rabbit Hole 00:17:51 – Precision Rifle and How It Makes You a Better Hunter 00:23:24 – The Importance of Practice 00:30:57 – Understanding Calibers, Bullets, and Powder Charges…

People in this episode

Host: Beau Martonik

Guest: Brad Watts

Topics covered

  • muzzleloaders
  • hunting
  • precision rifle
  • cleaning and maintenance
  • misfires
  • practice

Keywords

  • muzzleloaders
  • hunting tips
  • CVA
  • precision rifle
  • cleaning
  • misfires
  • Blackhorn 209

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CVA

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