Wanting to start hunting this year. What's a good black powder gun to start with. Preferably cheap. I'll say my budget is 600ish.

Wife told me she used to have a Savage black powder gun that she hunted with. She liked it, but if I'm correct they're no longer manufactured, or am I retarded?

That price range a CVA Optima and still have money to spend on an optic. From my research a few years ago they are one of the best. Not sure if they still are.  I know Thompson makes one like the CVA. And both work here in Texas for BP Season. And both will give you an accurate shot at to at least 300 yards depending on the BP charge you put in it. The pellets from what I have read work great.

A couple of years ago i got a Traditions Buckstalker on a whim because they were on sale ($185 if IIRC).
It was dead nuts on at 100 yards right out of the box.  With 70 grains of pyrodex and a .451, 240 gr XTP bullet in a sabot it will kill just about anything.

You can probably load it up higher for more distance but around here that's about all we need.

i have the cva wolf i purchased years ago for 119.00 its pretty much the same as Optima without the comb. The best quickest bullet to load  i used with it was the powerbelts. i didnt use pellets but real 2fg powder with 90grs i took two dear with it when i lived in NYS. a doe that was about 100 lbs spooked her out of high grass field and buck 6 ptr that was about 135lbs both ran a total of 5 yards and dropped massive about of blood. Where i shot them..

For cheap useable weapon they are fine.. I would like to get a TC down the road.

I came to this forum just to ask this same question as its my first season in Ohio. Man I miss HP rifle in Oklahoma.

Love my CVA Optima