i have two optima's that a friend wants, he has a couple of timber ridge rifles from cabela's he says he will trade plus some money. the timber ridge rifles are still in the box not fired, how good are they? i have never owned a traditions muzzleloader. he's offering his two rifles for my two rifles plus give me $150 dollars, ya'll think thats ok. thanks for any help.

I haven't owned either one, so this is just my speculation. With the cash thrown in as you describe, the swap seems to be about right value wise (assuming your Optimas are base models and in good shape). I suspect the Optima will hold its value just a tad better than the Timber Ridge. I guess it pretty much depends on which you prefer, break open or striker. Accuracy potential is probably about equal. I assume your Optimas have been shot and your friend pretty much knows exactly what he would be getting accuracy wise. The NIB TR may be a tack driver - or may not be.

Why not just do a deal on one and see how you like it.

yeah keep the optimas. timber ridge rifle is an old design with the plunger system if i can remember correctly.

yea the optima's are more exspensive, but mine were made in 2004 and are really heavy. i handled a new one in my local gun shop the other day and they are much lighter. i already ask the shop owner on trade but the deal he gave me wasn't good considering one of my optima's have never been shot. he said he'd give me $175 for both on trade in thats it, he said the older heavier guns don't sell good. i went to my friend to see what else we could do, the timber ridge are just basic guns but lighter and i only shoot muzzleloaders during hunting season. they are new and built good but i've never owned a traditions but since they come from cabela's i would think they would be good guns. he said the best he could do is $200 his final offer between the two guns for two guns. i told him i would let him know tomorrow night one way or another, i'm gonna check around to see some other places and what they will do. i just need a lighter gun that will get the job done. thanks

sell them on here or the other forum. Heck, sell one and then offer the other for trade! Im sure theres someone of the forums that would want to buy one and then you could use that $$ towards powder and bullets and then use the other one to as a trade for the a light weight rifle.

Got any pics? I may have one rifle *sidelock* that i could possibly offer in trade.

i went ahead and traded, i checked around and most i got offered from shops were $100 each. and had some other friends that offered $150 each, and i figured that was probably top dollar on the net. too seeing how they run $199 most places. so instead of selling and buying another and be down a gun( i like two cause in case of problems with one i'll have one to fall back on) i traded so i would have two and money for supply's. i know their not as good as a optima but i just need one during hunting season and hopefully these will do. i'll shoot them tomorrow and let ya'll know how they do. thanks for all the help.

well i went and shot the timber ridge today, with 80 grains 777 and a 295grain powerbelt. i shot two different targets after my sight in, i do like that i can keep my back sights on even with scope attached. i shot a 5 shot group on each target, i got an average 1and1/2 inch group to no more than 1 and 3/4 inch. that surprised me that a low cost gun could shoot this good. all in all i'm happy with the trade, i got a lighter gun that will shoot good enough to get me a deer, now to get the deer to cooperate , thanks to everyone for advice.