Jenks

I am looking for a stainless inline. Cheap. I have narrowed it down to the new Optima or the Wolf. The Wolf can be had a little cheaper, but not all that much when you go to Gunbroker. I will mount a scope on it, which I already have. I want the plain black stock. This will be used once a year for deer hunting.

Is the new Optima worth paying a few more dollars more then the Wolf costs??

Thanks for your opinions.

cayugad

I have a stainless steel barrel plain black stock Optima but its the older model. I personally like the rifle a lot and it is a great shooter. Well made, and quick release breech plug. Just a nice rifle. I had the same dilemma and went for the Optima.

TNHagies

In my opinion the Optima fits better than the Wolf. My suggestion is get to somewhere you can handle both.

Jenks

Caynugad & TNHagies:

Thanks for the info. I will try them both for fit, I should have thought of that. Otherwise, the big differences I see in the guns seem to be where the breech opening catch is, two inches more barrel on the Optima and maybe a "big name" maker for the Optima barrel. I don't know who makes the Wolf barrel.

Thanks again.

oldsmellhound

Definitely handle both of them before you buy. I have a Wolf and I like it, but if I could do it over again I would have gone with the Optima. Mostly because I like the way it shoulders/feels better.

chaded

Optima V2 all day every day.

Ohboy

I asked the same questions last feb. when the new optima came out. I went and checked both out at bass pro and decided to go with the optima. I also only use mine a few days out of a year. I bought the gun from Carlos at Eds gun shop and havent looked back. I actually killed my best buck ever with it in nov. Good luck!

edwardCVAmason

They are both great MZ's. The Optima with the V2 Upgrade is probably a better set up. I was hoping to see the Wolf with the V2 upgrade in 2014 but they chose not to make it happen.

Jenks

Thanks for the advice so far--all good. I did go to a Dunham's and try both out for fit. Actually, I can get along with either. I am wondering about the receivers tho, are they stainless on the stainless barrel guns? I can see no difference, but I suspect they are alloy. If either the Optima or the Wolf had a stainless receiver it would interest me. I like for guns to be built solid. Otherwise, the difference is in price. I can get an Optima delivered for appx. $265. I can get the Wolf locally for about $170. That makes the Optima cost around 50% more then the Wolf. For use a few days each year the Wolf may be the better bet. Still pondering. Thanks for your thoughts.

WV Hunter

Sounds to me like you just answered your own question. For a few days a year, certainly either gun will do very well. And since you have shouldered them already, there will be no surprises with whatever you choose.