Budget Muzzleloader
 

Looking to purchase a nice, accurate and dependable muzzleloader in the next week. I have been reading a lot and trying to make a decision, everybody has a different opinion which I understand.

My budget is low do to the times we live in now-a-days, looking to spend below $250.00 on the rifle.

I have been looking at the CVA Wolf, T/C impact and I found a new in box T/C Black Diamond which I guess I can convert to 209 primer? But it says I will need the correct striker? Can anyone explain that to me?

Any and all input will be seriously listened to and very much appreciated!

Dont know anything about the Impact or the Black Diamond, but I have the Wolf, and it is an awesome shooter.

I hear very good things about the Wolf, I hear good and bad on the impact. The only thing I really hear bad on the BD is it's a very dirty shooter.

Thanks

cva wolf without a doubt

I have a Wolf, and I adore it!
It's very easy to load, shoots equally as well as (IMHO) a centerfire rifle, and cleans up real easily. The break action makes life simple reloading, too.
There's a starter package that has everything but powder and primers sold by CVA, making life as a noob muzzleloader less challenging and spendy than buying everything individually.
Getcha one!

The striker in the black diamond is the hammer. When you pull the trigger a spring propels the striker forward and that hits the cap, or the primer. While the Black Diamond is old technology, they are real good shooting rifles. BUT you will never find a more dirty rifle. The breech is an open design. And when your done on the range, the breech is filthy, the striker, the bottom of your scope, and all the other parts. But the rifles will really shoot well.

I personally would look at the Accura at Midway USA. $259.99 for a thumbhole stock, stainless steel barrel, rifle... I don't even go to that site anymore. I tempt too easy.

I am researching all mentioned rifles and really appreciate all your guys support. I have looked around for a Knight Wolverine II and cant find one, they are supposed to be an excellent rifle also for the money.

Thanks guys!

The Wolverine is a real meat and potatoes rifles. Nothing fancy, but they carry nice, shoulder nice, and shoot great. I have two of the LK series and one of the 93 models. All of them have the 22 inch barrel, but load them with 85 grains of powder and about any sabot combination and they will shoot well. But again, they are an open breech design. So be forewarned, they are going to be a little more messy then the others. And the older ones use a #11 cap. The one you want is a 209 ignition. I saw them for sale at some site.. if I remember the name of it, I will check and see if they are still for sale.

Thank you sir.

I dont mind buying used if the rifle is in good shape, trying to keep cost down so my other half dont blow a gasket.

I wish I could shoot all the mentioned rifles to see which one I like the best but I am researching all your guys experience with all these rifles and going from there.

Accura posts,
http://frontiermuzzleloadin.powergui...h209-t1263.htm
http://frontiermuzzleloadin.powergui...cura-t1241.htm

Accura is a very accurate rifle, the triggers are smooth and light. For around $260 you can get a good solid rifle.

Stay away from any CVA model.

I would only recommend T/C,Knight,Savage. For the price range you are looking for, a used Knight Elite/Extreme sounds perfect.

Jacob_07

Shopping for a ML on a budget is almost always going to lead to to a CVA. They are probably the cheapest production ML on the market and if you are only going to be an occasional user they will work just fine for you. If you are looking for a life time durable gun then move up towards the top end of their line.

If you are willing to go here... then i would suggest either a Knight DISC Extreme or Elite and or a TC Omega - either one or both in Stainless. either or any of these guns will offer you a mechanically strong, accurate, durable rifle.

Suggestion - log on to:

http://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/

and check the classified over there, Knights come up over there everyonce in awhile.... PROBLEM - Knight DISC's are getting harder to come by and the price is climbing because of that.

Also check the auction sites... Gunbroker.com, auctionarms.com, even gunsamerica.com you can find these guns avaialbe ther also...

PM to follow

I am checking out that ML website and the Knight rifles also. Thank you very much! Thanks to all your guys input!

yeah go with a knight, grouse here has his hand in their pocket book :cool2:

Oh and buy a lehigh vent liner/breech plug and some bullets

This is the best deal I know of on a new Muzzleloader right now.
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...9228&oh=216543
There are some excellent values on used guns but you must be careful that the previous owner knew how to clean a gun.
Art

That is very, very tempting! I am eye balling it heavy! Thank you!

Since when did this become a gun cumpany warning or bashing site? I am a steadfast Thompson Center fan but for a comparible gun for a lot less money you CAN NOT beat a CVA! So with that being said I also recommend the CVA WOLF. I own one and it is a great rifle. Good trigger, nice recoil pad, light, and very accurate. For a man on a budget, like myself, I believe you will not be disapointed but completely satisfied as I am with mine. This by the way is not an advertisement but simply my sincere recommendation for an inexpensive, great shooting rifle.

I have NOT ruled out the Wolf, matter of fact it is on top of my list. Thank you all very much for your input!

The knight wolverine is also on top of the list.

The TC Black Diamond is a a very well made and accurate gun. The big problem with the Black Diamond is the TC "flame thrower" nipple with its three holes. Those three holes allow an awful lot of blowback. i converted my Black Diamond to a standard TC musket cap nipple that has only one flash hole. The gun is much cleaner now.

The CVA BuckHorn is a very good and inexpensive gun. i've installed a lot of scopes on BuckHorn guns and sighted them in for local hunters. That gun is just as accurate as any muzzleloader out there.

Honestly, I am not bashing anything. I truthfully do not have any firsthand knowledge about any of the new CVA guns. I do have firsthand knowledge about the Wolverine. It is not a considered a BH209 shooting gun so you want to keep that in mind. It is an excellent shooter with black powder or the other substitutes. With the 22" barrel It is a nice gun for walking through the woods or in a stand. The accuracy with these guns is excellent.
So the only downside I can think of is if you felt you had to shoot the smokeless powder BH209. For me it is too expensive of a powder so I don't shoot it.
Art
Edit: I agree with Falcon that the Black Diamond is also a dandy rifle.

BH209 is cheaper than T7 in my area. Pretty amazing i thought lol

But remember it is sold in a 10 oz can. Not apples for apples is it?
edit: LOL

sure it is. I normally used pyrodex bcuz T7 was so erratic.

80gr blackhorn is equal to close, if not over 100gr pyrodex.

So you are buying BH209 for less than $14 a jug which is the cost of pyrodex?

$23 for BH209 from midway. Or bulk from western.

Pyrodex is $26 and T7 is $28 locally. Its worth paying the small haz mat fee.

American pioneer is around $30 and $34 for Jim shockeys gold.

I am narrowing it down to 3:

CVA Wolf
CVA Buckhorn
Knight Wolverine 209

These are the 3 that I am seriously looking into purchasing.

flounder33

nevermind it is not worth it...

If he was my boy I'd send him out to the woods and tell him to bring me back a nice switch. :wink::wink::wink:

LOL.....The more i pay attention to you, the more you should be a ML writer.

The best deal for him right now is to find one of those $250.00 Triumph's.

As far as CVA, they have an agenda. Buy cheap, buy volume, market HIGH, and make a profit. They are doing a great job of it as well.

Wolf dude, i had 3 of them, gave one away for fun and then gave my bro in law one and my nephew one.

If i wasnt such a fool for falling in love with stainless steel, the wolf would fill all of my needs. Well that and my .54 sidelock, still love shooting with patched round balls.

by the way, Ask this 10 year old how he likes his accura :D

Real nice!

there is nothing wrong with a CVA Wolf.I own and shoot one.If I had the $150 right now ,I would be pushing the buy it now button on that Wolverine.

Is the Wolverine a plunger style striker? It looks that way. I have a Plunger style gun and much prefer the ease of cleaning and operation of the break open style guns like the Wolf. The break open style protect from the weather somewhat where as the plunger style leave the breech wide open to the rain and snow.

I own a Triump several Knights and an Accura with a new Wolf and Optima on the way. When it comes time to load up for hunting season the Accura comes out of the rack first. The Triumph is a nice rifle that I picked up at Cabelas for $240 but at full retail quite a bit over priced. Go with any of the new CVA's you won't be sorry.
Pluckit, Yes the Wolverine is plunger style entry level Knight.

Jacob_07

If you're just looking for a ML to extend your season, it doesn't really matter too much as long as they are reliable and fairly accurate-which all those mentioned are.

This piece that has been missing (at least I didn't see it in the responses) is have you handled the suggested guns? Each gun fits differently. Some guns despite my approval of them, just do not fit me physically. Before you lay down the money and have to explain to you wife that you have to take it back and get another one, go shoulder a few of them. I'm almost willing to bet what you think you'll come out of the store with won't be what you actually buy...

This statement pretty much hits the nail on the head, I am looking to extend my season, but I do want a reliable rifle that will last me if I do my part of course.

I have really narrowed it down to the Wolf and finding an old Knight wolverine. I have found a couple of the old Knights new in box.

Once I purchase the rifle I will put a quality scope with a set of nice and sturdy rings and base.

I will let you guys know what happens; I really appreciate everybody's help!

Thank you all!

extend your season, shoot blackhorn209, easy to clean, good trigger and over all fit, low price, Life time warranty..... CVA Wolf.

$188 for the black wolf at www.rrarms.com
$35 for Dura sight dead on one piece mount system
$54 Bushnell scope from walmart

90gr Blackhorn209, cci 209m primers, 295gr powerbelts.

Thats my nephews rifle/set up right there!

The buckhorn seems to be a great value also, one guy on here says it shoots as good as anything out there? I have read a lot of reviews that say it shoots really well on just about every website I been on.

Thanks