Optima V2 or Wolf??
 

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Optima V2 all day every day.

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!

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.

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.

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.

I'm not sure about the receivers- anyone else chime in?

The Optima seems a little more "solid" of a rifle to me, if that makes any sense. But I have the blued Wolf as compared to the SS Optima - so it's not exactly comparing apples to apples.

Having said that, I like my Wolf. I have it set up for my dad to use when we go hunting once or twice a year. I probably shoot it less than 20 times a year. My dad's eyes are failing him, so he won't shoot past 50 - 60 yards. So I have it set up for a 50 yard shot with a lighter powder charge (also bad shoulder). It groups well at that range, is 100% reliable in ignition and is very light and easy to carry. He likes it a lot and has taken a couple deer with it.

What kind of hunting are you doing? Is it mostly close range (under 100 yards?). The Wolf is a really nice treestand rifle for close range work - short barrel, light, handy. It also works well for drives in thick stuff. If I was going to be shooting mostly longer ranges (more than 100 yards), personally I would get the Optima.

I did notice that the Optima seemed to have a little more "heft" then the Wolf, and it does weigh a little more. I used a '94 Win. for years, so I do like short, handy guns. I use a scoped 30-06 for longer range. The area that my sons and a grandson hunt in is between two creeks, the ridges are "old field", some are kept clear of brush, some not. I do more riding around on a four wheeler to scare up something for the others then I do hunting myself. We do have tree stands and platform stands, some long range, some short. Blackpowder season is usually much colder, so I would be in a blind somewhere trying to keep warm. That would probably mean short range. I will scope the gun with a low power scope tho. My Scottish ancestors are saying "Wolf", but the Optima is arractive. Thanks for the comments.