I deer hunt in Illinois and as most know, you can't hunt with a rifle. So, I was considering a muzzleloader for this years gun season so that I can reach out a get a deer up to 200 yards.Almost everyone I have talked to has recommended a Thompson Omega. I wasn' sure if there were other guns out there I should look into or if there was a certain Omega model I should get. Plus, I was wondering what so of you think about muzzleloaders in general(i.e.-accurancy, cleaning, difficulties, etc.) Thanks in advance!

blah TC omega is over priced and over rated. You can buy a traditions, cva or winchester inline that will shoot just as good. Ive heard that the omegas have a problem with their unique cocking handle where after a while it wont grab and u have to back the breech plug out for it to hold in place so you can fire it. I use the winchester x150 and it shoots great out to 200 yards. But however, theres no f-in way you will hit a white tail at 200 yards unless you have a scope. With out a scope, 150 yards is the max. I shot at deer from 148 yards and i could see it good but i dont recommend it unless you have a lot of practice. But look into the traditions, cva and winchester muzzleloaders. Do not get anything that has under a 26" barrel. I dont like the short 24" barrels, They dont seem to shoot as stright and are killer on your shoulder with magnum loads.

ya what he said. i would lean toward a traditions my self.

Well I have a System One and and an Omega [both are TC made] both are excellant shooters the Omega with the 50/40 200gr Shock Wave will tear a ragged hole at 100yd with 5 shots and is the best long range muzzleloader that I have ever had and I have 14 at the moment. Some with Spanish barrels shoot good groups but due to the type steel used to make them I personally wouldnever put more than 100gr black or equivlant of black. Since I also have a need for long range I like 150gr of APP and a 50/40-200gr Shock Wave and above and beyond the load they are made to fit TC barrels so getting that kind of accuracy out of anything else with them is kind of chancy. Lee

Hey Lee,

What is the type of steel used to make Spanish barrels? I would like tofind specs on the steel. None of the ML manufactures will respond to my request for the steel grades their barrels are made from. I would also like to know the steel grades of the T/C, Knights, and Whites if you know them also. GMBand other "barrel only" manufactures (oh and Savage) arethe only companies I know which arespecifically stating the grades of steel their barrels are constructed from.

'preciate it.

Happy Hunting, Phil

Well first off if I had a choice of shotgun or muzzleloader for my deer hunting I would definately go with the muzzleloader because it is that first shot that counts.

Now as to what to buy for a muzzleloading rifle that is totally up to the shooter. I for one find the overall quality of American guns to be better but the BPI rifles are good arms for the money and should not be trash talked. I don't like the feel of most of them because I am a large person and they seem made for an average shooter.

BPI the makers of Traditions and CVA make some really nice traditional sidelock arms if you are interested in them but I would spend the few extra bucks on a bit higher quality if you are going to own one hunting rifle.

I like all my muzzleloaders and it is hard to say which is best but I will say it is one of my T/C rifles.

For 200+ yard shooting, it's hard to beat a T/C product when shooting blackpowder or substitutes. Some of the most accurate T/C loads are with magnum shooting three pellets. There was a confirmedharvest of approximently 348 yards by Sandi Mellon using three pellets & T/C Shockwaves in her Omega for a TV broadcast.

What you get from most-allOmegas is more consistency out-of-the-box- better overall accuracy because it's shooter-friendly to most-any sabot/bullet 180-380 grains- plus parts quality that surpasses BPI/CVA/Traditions products& it's American-made. But the best part about buying T/C is their warranty. You can be the 4th owner with no purchase receipt -- it could be the year 2024 -- wear the barrel completely out & T/C will replace it free. Try that with CVA, Winchester or Traditions guns.

I've had three used T/Cs repaired or parts replaced free of charge in the last two years. These are very old guns whose parts like triggers, locks & hammers simply wore-out.

NOBODY has a better gun warranty than T/C. Should you tell them that poor accuracy exits while using their T/C accessories/bullets, they will generally/usually address the problemand/or offer you some return-to-accuracy options.

Yes... some CVAs & even one of my Traditions Rifles shoots as well as my Omega to about 140 yards..... but not beyond that. I am not knocking CVAs & Traditions. All I'm saying is that spending a few dollars more increases your odds at consistent accuracy -- magnum accuracy -- better warranty -- better resale value & overall better quality.,,, which usuallytranslates into asafer ML.

Want a bolt or plunger-action? Then get a Savage ML-10 with it's smokeless powder options or if you can find one.... get a White M-97/98 or a T/C Black Diamond or Knight Disc Elite.

Before buying my last Omega, I saw and heard of no info from TC that I would have to use T/C accessories/bullets to acheive acceptable accuracy. I also did not realize this would affect warrenty or level of customer service. None of this info is in their warrenty. Where can I find TC's admission of this?

Steve

If I were looking for a 200+ yard rifle, I would be looking at the Thompson Center line of rifles from the Black Diamond XR, Omega, Encore, & Pro Hunter. All of them I think would do all o fit that. Of course all of this will take practice and the right bullet combination.

If you do not find the actions you like in the T/C group, then look at some of the Knight rifles. If you can find a Knight Disc Elite, or actually any of the Knight Disc rifles, they all are great long range shooters. I've not read enough about accuracy issues with the newer Knight Revolutions and Visions. I am sure they would do the job. My Knight Disc is a great shooter.

I personally think my White Ultra Mag loaded properly could shoot 200 yards, but have not had the opportunity to try it out. It shoots about anything I shove down it real well and with amazing accuracy. Still, the White while being built like a tank, still has company issues. Although I hear all of that might be changing.

As for the BPI product line. My Staghorn is a great shooter out to 125 yards which is the furthest I have tested it. I never have an opportunity to shoot those kind of distances other then going over to the farm and shooting across the hay field. This year the farm has been too dry.

There is nothing wrong with those Spanish barrels, or anyone else's barrel, for that matter, as long as you stick to the vendor's specified maximum load of powder and lead. I have two Traditions inlines, and both are rated for 150 grains of Pyrodex pellets or an equivalent load of loose powder.

I am convincedthat no corporation in their right mind is going to recommend a maximum load that is potentially dangerous in the rifles they sell! They just can't afford it in this sue-happy culture of ours! Hell, they get sued even when they are NOt at fault! Even if someone told you the exact formulation of the steel in a rifle barrel, you really don't know anything useful, anyway.

It is NOT the material from which a barrel is made that is the weak link in production-line muzzleloaders. It is the breeching system, which is in effect open to the air at the point where the ignition flame is introduced! via a cap or a shotgun primer. Examine one-they are made of very thin brass or copper, and have to hold in whatever pressure is developed in the chamber. It is this feature which imposes a safe maximum pressure limit on the system.

BTW, you can kill deer (or whatever) at 200 yards using a mere 100 grains of powder also, if you are willing to learn the trajectory of your gun (which you are obligedto do as a conscientious sportsman anyway, even if using 150 grain loads!!). Even with 150 grains of powder, a ML is still a low-velocity, steep trajectory weapon compared to a modern high-intensity caliber! No safe powder charge is going to change this very much!