The Maxim 50 – Suppressed Muzzleloader!

Silencer Co recently announced a unique suppressed 50 caliber muzzleloading rifle in what no doubt someone will dub an “assault musket”.

I’ll have to first admit that I thought of this design years ago for the same reason SilencerCo released it – no federal restrictions.  The BATFE defines a silencer as a “device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm…” By that definition, a silencer is only a silencer if it can attach to firearm, which muzzleloading rifles are not.  In this case the Maxim 50 is more legally on par with airguns.  However if you have ever cleaned a muzzleloader that is what brought me to believe it wouldn’t be practical.  But SilencerCo thought differently and we (at least 47 states at the moment) can have the Maxim 50 delivered right to your door.  That’s right – not tax stamp, no background check, no form 4473, and no FFL needed.

Of course you are probably wondering about loading and cleaning the Traditions Vortek Strikerfire Muzzleloader and the attached “moderator” (they aren’t calling it a suppressor/silencer in this case).

Loading is possible adding two steps and tools with a brass loading tool and an extra long ball starter.  As for cleaning, they recommend hosing the moderator out with water every 50-100 rounds fired.

However don’t just put any 50 caliber projectile  into the Maxim 50.  Wadding and sabot sleeves would obviously be catastrophic in the baffle system.  SilenceCo recommends only using the approved Federal BOR LockZ and

Hornady FPB projectiles with 100gr of Blackhorn 209 powder along with the 209 Shotshell primed system.

Will the Maxim 50 be a success?  Well it definitely is interesting and will cause a few legal headaches due to the uniqueness of coupling an over regulated suppressor design with 400 year old technology.  But in the meantime, I just want to shoot it!

Dustin Ellermann