new to muzzleloader...good gun for $200-$400?

[jeepnut47]

I just realized the other day, I do not own a gun I can kill a deer with "legally". lol I have started to do some research on muzzleloaders and was wondering what everyone thought. I'm am trying to stay below $400, and if someone knows of an online site to order I would even do that.

Experience/etc...: I have an AR-15, 30-30, 17hmr, ruger 10/22, handguns, etc... Mostly I try to buy a gun that is good quality, but I won't lose sleep over if I get a scratch on it while hunting. It's going to get used and taken care of, but doesn't need to be gold engraved if you know what I mean. I'm not a big hunter, but I like to hunt when I can. Mostly if I want meat for the table I just step out on the porch and shoot it. lol

What I want it for: Deer hunting in Central/Southern Indiana.

Typical Conditions: 70 - 110 Yard shot. Probably one buck and one doe a year. There is pretty heavy woods on my property and the max. field shot I can get is maybe 175 yard shot.

Price range/quality: Would love to have the thompson that I can change barrels on, but can't justify the money. I just want a good shooting gun that is safe and reliable. Considering a wolf or CVA from walmart. The only must thing is I want a thumbhole stock and will mount a 3-9x40 scope. I will probably assemble the gun, get the scope set in and then it won't fire again until hunting season.

Just wondered what people thought. I will search the forums on here as I get time.

Thanks,
Dave

[earnhard3]

cabelas has a Knight LRH for 399.99

however not a thumbhole stock and it can shoot a bit more than what you want to shoot. I just bought one.

[jaybez101099]

What you will find here is alot of help from some very knowledgable people(not me). I feel you can't go wrong with a Thompson Center.....Omega......Black Diamond......Triumph and so on. Also Knight although out of business makes a top end gun.
You can look online at Natchez.....Cabelas......BassPro and compare prices. Gunbroker is sort of ebay for guns. Sportsman Guide a few have bought the Knight Vision and seem to like them.
Good luck with your new hobby and becareful the buying bug doesnt bite you. Blkpwdr is just like tattoos one just isn't enough.
Chuck

[cayugad]

First off, welcome to the forum. Its good to have you here, and entering the sport. With your price range your open to a lot of excellent rifles right now.

Knight went out of business, but their service shop is open I was told. Knight sells some excellent rifles. Their Disc Extreme, Master Hunter, KRB-7, even a Wolverine or BigHorn. With the kind of ranges your talking , any of these rifles could handle that and a lot more.

Thompson Center also has some great rifles. The Triumph and Omega. They might be close to the top of your price range. Look for deals.

CVA sells an Accura. I would not hesitate to purchase one of them. The Apex with a Bergra barrel would also be a good choice.

For the ranges your talking, you could even use a traditional rifle.

Check the different on line sights. Look for deals. Also check GunBroker.com or AuctionArms.com and look for deals. There were some Knight Disc Extremes on there for $179.00 that is a 200 yard rifle without a doubt with good optics.

[spaniel]

For what you suggest, I'd either a) find a good used T/C Omega thumbhole, which would be difficult, or b) a CVA with the thumbhole stock you want.

I do not consider CVA to be top-of-the-line but for the occasional usage you describe, I do not hesitate to recommend it. Their quality has improved significantly on their more recent offerings.

Other than that , the requirement for a thumbhole limits you off the top of my head.

IMHO opinion you're not missing anything by not getting an Encore. Plenty of people like them, but they can require some screwing around with to get them right and for your limited usage I would not bother with it when it'll cost you more to do it.

[marshall9779]

If you are looking for a break open with the possibility of swapping barrels for $400 or so I would recomend a CVA. The Optima Elite is right in that range and that includes a centerfire barrel if you get the combo. I bought mine from D!cks last year black with blued barrel for $399. After I bought it all I did was send in a form and got a center fire barrel to go with it. Just make sure you get the form from D!cks. I think I recently just saw the combo on sale for like $329. I've gotten the best group I've ever shot with any rifle with the muzzleloader barrel. .75" @100yds. I know Basspro has the combo as well and may even have the stainless for a little closer to $400.

[lemoyne]

Dollar for value the Z5 Omega is about as good as it gets. It will shoot with any of them it takes a bit longer and is a bit more involved to clean than the Triumph.
A Triumph is one of the most accurate muzzle loaders and easier to clean by far than most.There are some other good ones around like Knight but the fact they shut down bothers me and the Savage which is the smokeless one. It does pay to shoulder some and get one that fits. You might check a few of the regular hunting pages the professionals have also. Lee

[wolverine72]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=136790653

Take a look at this link. Cayugad refers to it in his post.

A NIB Knight Disc Extreme shipped for $200. 26" barrel, synthetic stock, blued barrel, Truglo open sights, and an additional breech plug that does not require the full plastic jacket.

I bought one myself -- trigger is approx. 3.5# with absolutely no creep, and extremely accurate.

[Grouse45]

Since you need a TH stock, a Knight Extreme will be hard to beat.

[MountainDevil54]

CVA Accura without a doubt! I love mine. Sweetest trigger i have ever pulled.