Hey Guys/Gals,

I have been a bow only hunter all my life and I have recently been intrigued by the new muzzleloaders available.

The info I need is basic, and I have narrowed my choices down to the Knight Vision, Knight Revolution II, or the T/C Omega. Whichever it is, I am going with the stainless barrel. It is just my opinion that stainless barrels are easier to keep clean and rust-free.

I know there is probably the same debate on which guns are better just as there is about bowsin the bow world, but what I am looking for is while comparing is:

1. Ease of use
2. Ease of cleaning
3. Best gun for the beginner

I like the trigger assebly of the Knights and they look very easy to
dis-assemble and clean, but I have also heard the the T/C Omega is a better built, more reliable gun.

I don't want to start a debate, I just need some advice on what you would get if you were a newbie to muzzleloaders and wanted to learn the right way going into it.

Any advice/opinions would be great.

Thanks guys!

NSTRUT

You would not go wrong with a Thompson Center or a Knight. Both are great rifles, well made, great customer service, excellent quality materials used in their construction, and as for ease of cleaning I think too much is made over the piviot actions or drop actions. Get the rifle that fits you best and catches your eye. All of them will shoot excellent. The company guarantees it.

Not sure why the selection is so narrow. In Ohio you can shoot smokeless, or at least that is what my book says. If you want easy cleaning there is the answer. You could buy a Savage or the way I would do it is buy an NEF and order the smokeless barrel from smokelessmuzzleloading. Both of these are available in stainless and they are both american made. The Savage is a little picky from what I have heard but a choice to consider. I have an NEF Huntsman and also a stainless Omega. My Omega is a great gun but rather selective on what it will shoot well. It will not shoot 777 powder and most sabot bullet combinations will not load without switching to thinner sabots. The NEF is not so picky. In my opinion the NEF is easier to clean (not that there is a big difference but the Omega has to be taken out of the stock which makes return to zero a little questionable from time to time). The NEF when disassembled goes back to zero every time as the barrel to stock contact remains solid. Most stock type rifles have to be bedded and possibly pillar bedded to return to zero when the action is removed and reinstalled. My Omega is one that exibits this situation.

Based on shooter popularity & sales, I would bet the Encore & Omega outsell the Vision & Revolution 10-1. There are a couple dozen regular Omega/Encore posters here -- just a couple of Vision/Revolution users. Sine the Knight family got out of the business, that company has steadily down downhill.

Wow, guys. Thanks for the info. Some good stuff there. Looks like I still have some homework to do. I have a buddy that raves about the Savage that shoots smokeless. In the end, it looks like I'm going to have to go shoulder some guns and make my decision based on that. I also might hold off and check out the new 2007 line that I keep hearing about from T/C. I'll keep you posted and I'm sure I'll have a million and onmore questions once I finally make the purchase. Thanks again!

Traditional bow? or Compound? Traditional rifle or modern? Both. I still hunt primarily with the cursed Traditional .50 cal. hawkens sidelock. No one will probrobly ever tell you to think about this avenue, but...Deer and wild boar hunting my sidelock will administer no step kills, deep brush, and confident 3 inch group at 100 yards and less. Sheep hunting and canyon goat hunts I would prefer something in the line of the CVA Kodiac mag. .45 cal. Whatever route you go, just go shootin. Shoot every chance you get. Placement is paramount. But FUN rules. I tried to explain to my son learn to hunt everyway possible if you want to fill the freezer. But muzzleloading is my prefrence. , I also win a lot of campfire gamblin beers when people say 'I'll bet that old gun can't shoot worth a #*@&" ....I'll take that bet. hawaiian hunter.