New Muzzleloader
07-22-2004, 08:59 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location:
Posts: 42
New Muzzleloader
I have been looking to buy a new muzzleloader. Something under $700. I would end up putting a scope on it. I am going to use it for deer hunting. I have been looking at Knights TC Omega and some of the Traditions. Not sure what if I should get a .45 or a .50. Just wondering what your favorite would be. Any help would be great.
07-22-2004, 09:09 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Wild Turkey Capitol of the World......Missouri
Posts: 1,027
RE: New Muzzleloader
If I were you, I would go with a T/C Omega .50 cal. in stainless in your choice of stock, black synthetic, Realtree synthetic, laminated, or thumbhole laminated. You won't go wrong with this gun and most agree that .50 caliber is the way to go also. Good luck!
07-22-2004, 09:23 PM
#3
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wabash, IN
Posts: 826
RE: New Muzzleloader
There are a lot of fine rifles available these days to choose from. Knight makes a great product, although sligthly overpriced IMHO. I shoot a baseline Knight USAK and it has been a wonderful rifle so far, accurate & sturdy. Both the T/C Omega and the CVA Optima are nice pieces, with great options too.
Whichever gun you choose, I would DEFINITELY go with a .50cal. They are more forgiving in load workups and there are TONs more bullet options for them. The .45s can do nothing that .50cal can't do - within the normal scope of muzzleloading. If you're looking for the Super velocity advertised for the .45cal magnum rifles for that 200yd shot...............don't becasue odds are you won't make the shot.................as those light bullets with 150gr of powder are not accurate enough to be dependable at those long ranges. IMHO.
Whichever gun you choose, I would DEFINITELY go with a .50cal. They are more forgiving in load workups and there are TONs more bullet options for them. The .45s can do nothing that .50cal can't do - within the normal scope of muzzleloading. If you're looking for the Super velocity advertised for the .45cal magnum rifles for that 200yd shot...............don't becasue odds are you won't make the shot.................as those light bullets with 150gr of powder are not accurate enough to be dependable at those long ranges. IMHO.
07-23-2004, 06:20 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,922
RE: New Muzzleloader
Yep... 50-cal is the way to go! You get more horsepower -- you can still use the 40-cal and 357-cal sabot/bullets that the typical 45 uses in it -- you get a much larger selection of accessories to choose from plus it's generally less fussier finding a good load for a 50 than a 45.
There are three brands I would consider with $700. If you don't want any aftermarket barrels, then you won't need the T/C Encore. The others I would consider in the 400-550 price range are:
T/C Omega laminated/Stainless
Knight Revolution
Knight Disc Elite/Extreme
Austin/Halleck 420
There are a few others for less money that are just a step below in craftsmanship like the T/C Black Diamond XR, Knight Wolverine II 26", Austin/Halleck 320. The Remington ML has a couple of issues regarding blowback & bolt assembly/disassembly, White Rifles are in bankruptcy (what does that tell you?) & the Winchester Apex has issues with powder & bullet size restrictions. Rated below those three are the CVA Optima Pro & Kodiak PR 470 plus the Traditions Pursuit Pro and the Evolution Premier laminated.
Just my opinion... how I rate them doesn't mean anything to anyone but myself. I only used the major manufacturers & I could live happily with any of the inlines above except the White... which a majority of the time needs accurizations to perform at a high level & White Inc. may incur a parts shortage in the future... nobody knows for sure yet but likely so due to the manufacture of new Whites recently built upon piece work/uncovered piles of parts.
There are three brands I would consider with $700. If you don't want any aftermarket barrels, then you won't need the T/C Encore. The others I would consider in the 400-550 price range are:
T/C Omega laminated/Stainless
Knight Revolution
Knight Disc Elite/Extreme
Austin/Halleck 420
There are a few others for less money that are just a step below in craftsmanship like the T/C Black Diamond XR, Knight Wolverine II 26", Austin/Halleck 320. The Remington ML has a couple of issues regarding blowback & bolt assembly/disassembly, White Rifles are in bankruptcy (what does that tell you?) & the Winchester Apex has issues with powder & bullet size restrictions. Rated below those three are the CVA Optima Pro & Kodiak PR 470 plus the Traditions Pursuit Pro and the Evolution Premier laminated.
Just my opinion... how I rate them doesn't mean anything to anyone but myself. I only used the major manufacturers & I could live happily with any of the inlines above except the White... which a majority of the time needs accurizations to perform at a high level & White Inc. may incur a parts shortage in the future... nobody knows for sure yet but likely so due to the manufacture of new Whites recently built upon piece work/uncovered piles of parts.
07-23-2004, 06:45 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gouldsboro, PA
Posts: 548
RE: New Muzzleloader
dh,
Check out Cabela's website, since they have some nice rifles. The Knight rifles are supposed to be the best, but you can get excellent rifles from TC, Winchester, Traditions, and CVA. The Knight Disc Extreme, and Revolution look real sweet, and the Thompson Center Thumbhole Omega looks really nice as well. Now, the scope, can be Bushnell. If I had that money, I would get the Leupold Rifleman, about $200, first, than the Knight Revolution, 50 cal Stainless/Hardwoods Green, $489, that is, if I had $700 to burn. What I did leave out were the extras that you need, powder, bullets, powder measure, flints, etc., that can add up.
I have a CVA Firebolt, and a Traditions Deerhunter, both are good rifles, and kill deer nicely.
Good luck....
Tom
Check out Cabela's website, since they have some nice rifles. The Knight rifles are supposed to be the best, but you can get excellent rifles from TC, Winchester, Traditions, and CVA. The Knight Disc Extreme, and Revolution look real sweet, and the Thompson Center Thumbhole Omega looks really nice as well. Now, the scope, can be Bushnell. If I had that money, I would get the Leupold Rifleman, about $200, first, than the Knight Revolution, 50 cal Stainless/Hardwoods Green, $489, that is, if I had $700 to burn. What I did leave out were the extras that you need, powder, bullets, powder measure, flints, etc., that can add up.
I have a CVA Firebolt, and a Traditions Deerhunter, both are good rifles, and kill deer nicely.
Good luck....
Tom
07-23-2004, 07:07 AM
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 714
RE: New Muzzleloader
ORIGINAL: dhhunting
I have been looking to buy a new muzzleloader. Something under $700. I would end up putting a scope on it. I am going to use it for deer hunting. I have been looking at Knights TC Omega and some of the Traditions. Not sure what if I should get a .45 or a .50. Just wondering what your favorite would be. Any help would be great.
I have been looking to buy a new muzzleloader. Something under $700. I would end up putting a scope on it. I am going to use it for deer hunting. I have been looking at Knights TC Omega and some of the Traditions. Not sure what if I should get a .45 or a .50. Just wondering what your favorite would be. Any help would be great.
