I am wanting to buy my first muzzleloader. What do you guys think is the best for the money. I would like to keep it under 300.00. My grandfather has an optima pro and I like it alot but wanted to get your opinions.

Check the walmarts around you,I pick up an Omega for $160 it just don't get any better than that.

Why don't you offer to cut your grandfathers lawn for the summer and see if he will give you his??? LOL...I wouldn't try to go too cheap...as a matter of fact the Optima Pro would be about as cheap as I'd go....It makes me nervous to realize that every time you load a muzzleloader you are basically making a bomb....holding it in your hands...next to your face and exploding it....

OK...Now that I have your attention...Wall Mart sells the Omegas for $269...
Being a younger lad...you could buy this, use it the first year without a scope and add a scope the second year...I bought a Knight Disc on sale in 1996...thats 10 years ago...and paid just $20 less than the Omega sells for today....Sure...its a black stock and black barrel...but if you keep it cleaned and oiled...it will last along time...My Knights barrel still looks like new (on the inside) and it will group with the best of them...

Also...there have been some great deals lately on the Internet on Knights...
some people like an Omega better (I could debate that), but...Knights are still a great rifle, shoot good...just takes a little longer to clean them...
Cayugard usually knows who has the best deals...he stole a Knight Disc awhile back.....Good Luck....

PS...I was just yanking your chain on cutting your grandads lawn....but who knows....It might work...might even talk him into letting you hunt his stand opening day....Thats what grandads are for...

saltflat

Don't know that it is the best but it certainly is in your price range and the warranty is outstanding + it really is a good rifle by all the positive comments...

At this late date do not think you will find one of these in a wal-mart anymore. They should be gone by now as wal-mart for final clearance reduced them to $109.00

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000318898

Other thoughts will follow...

It would appear that you want an inline rifle. With $300.00 as your budget, hold on to it and start watching the different on line sites. I suspect they are going to clear inventory real soon and you can pick up a Thompson Center Omega or a Knight Disc or something like that at a very reasonable price.

Some other rifles you keep in mind are the NEF Sidekick. Its not the prettiest rifle in the rack but is well built and a good shooter from all the people (except one as I remember) that buys them. You can pick one of them up for around $160.00 and with a low end scope you still have a 150 yard rifle.

I expect you will see the Wolverine 209's, Bighorns, and even some Omega's and Black Diamonds come on sale soon. Maybe even a Disc or two since Knight I understand has discontinued the model.

I must add the MDM Quikshooter, you can get them for under $200 and now you have money for a scope to put on it.

saltflat

I neglected to say you should also check the game rules in your state and see what they allow. Here in the Pacific Northwest we can not use 209 primers, or scopes, in Idaho I can use sabots, but in Washington and Oregon you can not - In Washington they must be an all lead projeectiles... Lots of different rules arounf the states - check yours.

With fast production models, any nice sale involving Knight, White, Austin-Halleck, Savage, Knight or T/C inline rifles. In sidelocks, the best brands are Austin-Halleck, T/C, Pedersoliand Lyman.

There are still a few isolated ML rifles sales going on. But most hunting stores pack them away & bring them back out with all the new models from the Shot Show this weekend - then run sales beginningin August.

Walmart also had CVA Buckhorn on sale for $70-odd dollars. That is about as inexpensive as it'll ever get. The bit of cash will get you a rifle that will kill deer dead at 100 yards as well as any other muzzleloader out there - plus, it'll upset the self-styled cognoscenti we'll tell you that CVA's are junk, and that they won't cut it. It is accurate, with a good trigger, good balance, and looks decent, too.

I dont have a Z5 Omega, mine is the full fledged older brother. If the Z5 shoots anything like mine you will be more than happy with it, and as I understand it they do. As my name implies I love my Omega.