i'm looking for a new rifle. I'm torn between a omega stainless thumbhole and a pro hunter stainless camo thumbhole.
what's your vote?

Shoulder both of them. Personally the Omega to me was and still is one of the best muzzleloaders on the market. The Pro Hunter is also getting some great reviews. I shouldered an Omega, Triumph, and Encore Pro Hunter last time I was drooling at my friend's gunshop. For me it would be the Omega hands down. Although I like the larger trigger guard feature of the Triumph and the new turn out plug. The Pro Hunter and Encore just don't fit me. Its that strange stock design I think.Just like I handled an Optima. Nope, did not like that stock design.Granted, some one give me one and in a week I would be used to it. Then you read about hinge pins and trigger jobs on the Encores and Pro Hunters. Not that they need them, it just makes them better. I think both are great rifles. Which ever one you like and fits you.

I have the Omega SS, Laminated thumbhole stock, and love it. If your purchasing this for a muzzleloader only then save yourself the money and get the Omega or the new Triumph, but if you will use as a muzzleloader, centerfire rifle and/or shotgun then get the pro hunter

I agree that its best to shoulder them to see which is a good fit for you.I've owned both of these guns, and they are both great. I had the Omega Thumbhole, but personally I like the new Flex Tech stock on the Pro Hunter. It is designed to reduce recoil, and comes stock with a limsaver, which the Omega doesn't have. One thing I did not like about the Thumbhole onguns like the Omega or Pro Hunter, whichboth have hammers, is that when you're stalking your thumb is in the hole, when I like to have it on the hammer ready to pull back.

I love the Pro Hunter, thegun is just phenomonal!!! It comes with some features you just can't get on any other gun, and my experience is that it loads easier than the Omega. I triedBarnes 250 TMZ's in my Omega once, and literally had to beat it down the barrel, but they are easy to load in my Pro Hunter.

Just my thoughts, good luck!

I have the older Encore and love it. I agree about the fit but if you want the multi funtion, get the pro hunter. I love the idea of the barrel swapping....

I have an encore with the thumbhole flextex stock. The advantage of the encore is the ablilty to get other barrels. You can even get a muzzleloading shot gun.

I've never owned an Encore, but I have owned switch barrel guns and found that I just didn't do much barrel switching. I'd rather have two or threeguns, eachset up the way I want, than have one gun with two or threebarrels.

My brother has a encore Walnut stock, he has a 300Win Mag and a .243 barrel, he uses the Encore ML now for everything, he hardly ever shoots the other barrels. Once you get a "favorite" hunting rifle, you tend to stay with it rather than mess around with the stock and forearm. You might want to read these articles:

GUN ARTICLES AND REVIEWS:[*]The Austin & Halleck 420 Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The CVA Optima Pro Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Knight's .52 Caliber Rifles (Article by Toby Bridges)[*]The Knight Disc Elite Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]NEW Knight KP1 Utility Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Knight Revolution: Just another Revolting Development? (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Knight Vision Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Lyman Deerstalker Left Handed Flintlock (Article by Terry Hart)[*]The NEF Sidekick Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Pedersoli .45-70 "Officers" Model Trapdoor Rifle (Press Release by Toby Bridges)[*]The Remington 700 ML / MLS Rifles (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Ruger Old Army Cap-N-Ball Revolvers (Article by Chuck Hawks)[*]The Ruger 77/50RSO Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Savage 10MLBSS-II Accu-Trigger Rifle (Gun Review by Chuck Hawks)[*]The Thompson/Center Contender G2 Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Thompson/Center Encore 209 x 50 SS (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Thompson/Center Encore Pro Hunter 209x50 (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Thompson/Center Omega 50 Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]Thompson's Omega Z-5 Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]NEW: Thompson/Center Triumph Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Traditions Evolution Premier Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Traditions Pursuit Pro Rifle (Article by Randy D. Smith)[*]Uberti/Remington 1858 New Model Army Revolvers (Article by Chuck Hawks)[*]The White 98 "Elite Hunter" Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)[*]The Winchester X-150 Rifle (Article by Randy Wakeman)
over here:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm

Best Wishes on your decision.
Chap Gleason