Thompson/Center Omega .50-Caliber Z5 Rifle
 

Looking to replace, my cva wolf with a Thompson/Center Omega .50-Caliber Z5 Rifle.

I want to know how do they compare.

Good and bad about the tco.

I can only think of good things about the Omega. It's inexpensive, simple, reliable, accurate....I just love mine and so does everyone I know who has an Omega.

I've shot and hunted with my T/C .50 cal Hawken for 40 years using black powder and a patched ball.
The Omega was my first in-line muzzleloader. I got in 2008 and so far it's proven to be a great rifle after I floated the barrel.
I changed the 209 breech plug to the .25cal acp breech plug.

I'm shooting Hornady SST 250gr Low Drag sabots with 90gr of 777.
My groups average inside an inch and a half.

I don't know anything about the CVA Wolf, since I never owned one,
but I've never been a fan of breaking action rifles. I feel the barrel & action performing as one piece produce better accuracy.

stcspiderman

OK... let me start off by saying right up front I am way biased... The Omega, even the Z5, is one of the best ML out there. In the past they have have had minimal problems, excluding a run of non-concentric alignment of the QLA with the bore.

Mechanically they are very simple rifle. There are a couple of things you can do to make them fundementally better very easily. Some stock work and a switch to a 25 ACP breech plug, even the conversion of the existing plug with a Lehigh Vent liner. But none of that is an immediate need.

Couple of thoughts for you, if you go with this change, which I would in a heart beat... you might also think about switching projectiles, maybe going to a .452/250 grain Speer Gold Dot/Deep Curl and a sabot. Right now I would suggest a Harvester 'Crush Rib' until you find out how tight your bore might be. Even cleaning and polishing the bore will help a bunch - actually shooting PB out it will polish the barrel.

Most Omega's will shoot just about anything you put down the bore other than in some cases conicals.

Both of mine, a regular Stainless with thumbhole and a blued Z5 shot great with a 110 grains of T7-2f and either a 250 grain or 300 grain bullet... Shoot I forgot they shot 40cal 200 grain bullets lights out.

Remember I am biased but totally positive about the Omega especially compared to a CVA...

If you are thinking about an Omega Z5, you might want to see the price on real SS Omegas here. $400 for a SS/Laminate is a sweet deal.

http://store.thirdgenerationshooting...fm/2,4277.html

Im really thinking about that 45cal SS...... still. :D

If your planning on shooting sabots, the Omega is awesome. If your planning on shooting conicals, I would keep looking.

whats wrong with the wolf? i have both styles and can give you my opinions. my omega with the thumbhole doesnt allow the breech plug wrench to get on it straight. that means you gotta take it out of the stock. maybe i got a weird molded stock:confused2:. the cva will be easier to clean in my opinion. the omega trigger drops down and for me is a little cumbersome and collects gook with and slows the cleaning. the thing your not gonna get use to right away is the fact that on the omega you have the trigger stem on the back that needs to be pushed up to lock the action after its primed. the latch on the cva is kinda opposite in that when you push on it this breaks and opens the action. also the omega has an annoying pointy trigger and doesnt allow much finger room until its ****ed. that is probably a good thing though.

the sights on his wolf dont adjust down enough. I offered to take a look at the rifle and replace the sights if they are indeed bad. I have plenty of spares on hand.

I owned a CVA Optima.Very accurate,easy to clean.I sold it and bought a stainless,camo Omega,and never looked back.It will not shoot,RB very well,Great Plains 385 pretty well,Most any saboted bullet you can cram down the barrel very well. Will not shoot Power Belts worth a darn.

Charlie

I sold the wolf to local guy for 100.00. he seem to think he can make it work.