When the smoke clears from the 1995 big-game hunting season, more hunters than ever will have a new respect for muzzleloading rifles.

In case you've been snoozing more than browsing gun shops lately, the old Kentucky frontloader has some competition in the form of ultra-modern blackpowder weapons. In-line ignition systems, stainless barrels, synthetic stocks, sabot ammunition, and sharp optics have combined to make muzzleloading rifles hunting weapons to be taken seriously.

For years I toyed with muzzleloading rifles, but it wasn't until these guns started looking and shooting like centerfire rifles that I fell in love with the smell of Pyrodex.

Apparently I'm not alone in my admiration of these hunting tools. Hunters in all the major deer hunting states are following suit.

Muzzleloader hunting is also getting a shot in the arm where the use of centerfire rifles is limited or prohibited. In areas where centerfire rifles are prohibited for safety purposes hunters may choose a shotgun shooting rifled slugs or a muzzleloading rifle during the firearm hunting season.

TRADITIONALLY THE RIFLED SHOTGUN SLUG has dominated the big-game hunting scene in populated areas. Despite the introduction of rifled slug barrels and sabot shotgun ammunition, many serious hunters are opting for the new generation of in-line muzzleloaders.

While muzzleloading rifles can't offer the firepower of an auto-loading or pump-action shotgun, they can offer better accuracy at maximum ranges. That's right, in-line muzzleloading rifles deliver better accuracy than most shotguns firing soft lead slugs or saboted slugs. Muzzleloaders are also capable of making clean kills out to 150 yards and beyond; a feat most shotgun enthusiasts can't match.

The Modern Muzzleloading MK-85 is a prime example. Pick any one of their many models off the shelf, dress it with a rifle scope, load it with Pyrodex propellant and a sabot encased handgun bullet, and you've got a combination that consistently shoots 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. Out to 150 yards these guns are more than capable of cleanly dispatching whitetails, black bears, pronghorn, mulies, elk, and caribou.

Given the choice of better accuracy/range vs. firepower, 9 out of 10 knowledgeable hunters will choose the former. A single well-placed shot is better than a sky full of lead.

If you don't already own an in-line muzzleloader, choosing one is becoming a rather difficult decision. A host of manufacturers including CVA, Thompson Center, Modern Muzzleloading, Dixie, Gonic Arms, Ultra Light Arms, and White Systems currently produce ultra-modern muzzleloading rifles that range in price from around $300 to $1,000 or more.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE MODELS are new editions to the list of available smokepoles. The Thompson Center Scout Carbine looks, feels, and shoulders like a lever-action rifle. This fast-pointing muzzleloader features an in-line ignition system, ambidextrous design, and interchangeable .50- or .54-caliber barrels. A limited edition run of 1,000 stainless steel barrel models called the Grey Scout are also available.

Cleaning the T/C Scout is easy. An ordinary screwdriver and 3/16 inch hex wrench are all that are needed to disassemble the gun. The barrel slides out of the frame, exposing the hammer, trigger, and barrel for cleaning.

The same gun is also available in a walnut or black Rynite stock version. The synthetic stocked T/C Scout is a natural for hard hunting and nasty weather.

Also from Thompson/Center, the new .50- or .54-caliber SST Thunder Hawk deserves a second look. An in-line cap lock designed to look and feel like a bolt-action rifle, the SST Thunder Hawk features stainless steel barrel and Rynite stock. The 21-inch carbine barrel features a 1 in 38 inch twist that stabilizes T/C's Break-O-Way Sabots nicely.

Other important features include a rubber recoil pad, adjustable trigger, walnut stock complete with swivel studs, and a unique striker handle that indicates both "fire" and "safe" positions. Special scope rings designed especially for the Thunder Hawk (available separately) allow the addition of a scope with no drilling or tapping required.

IF OWNING THE NEWEST OF THE NEW appeals to you, check out the Knight Magnum Elite. This state-of-the-art rifle incorporates an advanced percussion in-line ignition system that uses a magnum centerfire rifle primer and a special percussion capsule for the hottest ignition available in a muzzleloading rifle. The system uses a bolt-style hammer that chambers the capsule into a recess at the rear of the breech plug. The result? Positive and hot ignition without worry that rain or snow will put the fizzle on your hunt.

Although round balls or maxi-ball bullets may be fired in these guns, most will perform at their best with sabot encased handgun bullets. I prefer a .44-caliber handgun bullet encased in a .54-caliber sabot for most of my big-game hunting. I recommend the Sierra 240-grain Jacketed Hollow Center Sports Master, Nosler 240- or 300-grain Hollow Point, Hornady 240- or 300-grain Hollow Point XTP, Barnes Expander MZ 250- or 300-grain, or Speer 240-grain MAG Jacketed Hollow Point bullets.

Plastic sabots and bullets can be purchased separately and assembled or pre-packaged from manufactures like Hornady who sell their .50- and .54-caliber sabots in boxes of 20. Sabot ammunition doesn't require any additional lubricants or patches, making them fast and convenient to load.

Never place a round ball in a plastic sabot! Sabots are designed to fit a specific caliber jacketed or swagged lead bullets and may lead to dangerous pressure levels if used with lead ball ammunition.

SOME HUNTERS HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY to experiment with lighter handgun bullets than I've just recommended, figuring they can achieve faster bullet speeds and a flatter trajectory. Despite the fact that these bullets punch impressive holes in paper, my experience with 180-, 200- and 210-grain bullets hasn't been good in the field. Lightweight bullets simply don't offer enough knockdown power at the modest velocities possible from muzzleloading arms. Larger bullets perform best on most big-game animals at all ranges.

Hodgdon Pyrodex RS is my hands down choice for propellant. Not only does Pyrodex burn cleaner, make for easier clean up, and provide better accuracy, I typically get up to 30 percent more shots per pound than black powder. A load of 90 to 100 grains (measured by volume) Pyrodex is recommended for most muzzleloading rifles. With bullets ranging in size from 240 to 310 grains hunters can expect a muzzle velocity of 1,550 to 1,650 feet per second.

Hunters who wish to shoot maximum loads from their front-loader should invest in a bottle of Hodgdon Select Pyrodex. Designed to provide better accuracy when using heavy powder charges and projectiles, this new product is worth a try.

An in-line muzzleloading rifle calls out for a quality rifle scope. Some rifles like the Thompson Center Scout Carbine require a special base adapter before a scope can be mounted. The T/C Thunder Hawk is available with special scope rings that mount directly onto the pre-drilled and tapped barrel. Thompson Center also offers several models of recoil proof compact scopes designed especially for their muzzleloading rifles and Contender handguns.

The Leupold Vari-X III, Burris Signature, Bausch & Lomb Elite 4000, and Nikon series scopes feature top-quality optics that are ideally suited to the muzzleloading enthusiast. Most shooters will find a 4X fixed-power scope or compact 1.5X-5X, 2X-8X or 3X-9X variable model suits their needs best.

THOSE SHOOTERS ON A BUDGET will be well served with the Leupold's Vari-X II, Burris Fullfield, Bausch & Lomb Elite 3000, and Simmon 44 MAG series scopes. The price tags on these fine optics are a little easier to swallow and they offer most of the features available on more expensive models.

Loaded with a handgun bullet/sabot and scope sighted, in-line muzzleloading rifles are so deadly I feel a little guilty every time I use one. A far cry from the days of flintlocks and round balls, you'll probably want to leave the buckskin and coonskin cap at home.