Hello and thank you in advance for your responses. I am just getting started into black powder hunting and would like to purchase my first black powder rifle. I been looking into several models. I really don't want to spend a fortune on the rifle but I want something that is built with quality, is safe to use, accurate, easy to clean and that will last. I am looking at several rifles including the two in the title. I really like the center break of the CVA Optimum and Optimum Pro however I am concerned about the barrel being made in Spain and its accuracy. I have read that CVA is made by BPI (BPI apparently manufactures CVA, Traditions and Winchester) and that they might have some safety issues with pressure ratings on there barrels. I have also read that they might not be the most accurate rifle either, but that they would proably work fine for hunting which is what I my primary use would be. ( I would love an T/C encore but I don't want to spend that much money.) With that said I also am looking at the Traditions Pursuit and Pursuit Pro(Same concerns as the CVA), NEF SideKick and Heritage and the T/C Omega. The price of basic Omega is about as much as I want to spend on the gun itself. I seen them advertised for around $350. I realize the Omega is not a center break though, but I like the reputation that the gun has for its accuracy and the company's track record. With that said any one else have any other gun they would recommend. (I really don't want a bolt action). Or if you have any comments on the guns I am looking at it would be very helpful. I live in Western NY and will use the gun for deer hunting as its primary function though I might like to take it to the range once and awhile.

I have a stainless .50 Omega and a blue Pursuit LT. I love the Omega and the trigger on the Traditions Pursuit is terrible. I had to do two trigger jobs to get a decent trigger and it is still just barely acceptable. If you are not into gunsmithing and have not done any trigger job work stay away from the Pursuit. The Pursuit shoots OK but like I said only after doing a fair amount of work on it. Traditions will do the work for you but you have to send it back to them. I would look at the Omega and then check out the CVA Kodiak. I think Midsouth has a deal now where the scope is free if you buy a Kodiak. I looked at one in Walmart and was impressed with the gun for the price. I would not worry about the spanish barrels if you keep your loads in reasonable levels. I only shoot 80gr. of Black Mag3 with a 300gr. bullet for Elk and you don't need more than that for NY deer. Midsouth's price for the base Kodiak blue with black composite stock and a free scope is $185.66 plus shipping. I have seen some real good reports from Kodiak owners concerning accuracy.

Consider the Knight DISC Elite, about the upper scale of your price range, but a great shooting American made rifle. They are offering $50 rebates thru end of year.

Thanks for the input. I heard that about the pursuits trigger. I orginally at least the CVA Optimum had the same problem, though they seemed to have corrected that. I might want to shoot those 150 grain loads. The area where my property is has some pretty big black bears, some going over 500 lbs. Bear season and deer seasons run concurrently here in NY.

Has any on any experience with a Rossi? They make a break action 50 cal that the user can swap to either a 20 guage shot gun, rifled slug barrel, or a .223 rifle barrel.

Looks like though I may just break down and cough up the money and buy the plain jane encore, blue barrel with a synthetic stock.

With the rifles you were talking about and the different considerations you mentioned, I would go with the H&R Huntsman or Sidekick. They are American made out of American steel. They are from a well known company, and the posts I have read on the rifles tend to describe a very accurate rifle with an excellent trigger. Being a break open, and H&R has been making them for countless years, this would be my deciding factor. They can be bought for around $160.00 and that would leave you plenty left over for the extras and a scope if you wanted....

I have Huntsman and I feel for the $$ it is a great bargin . Not the best looking but it dirt simple to use and it shoots great with every load that I tryed

Omega is the sound choice unless you plan on buying expensive barrels & forearms for the Encore later-on.

The NEFs are a good entry-level ML, but they fall short of the Omega in quality, resale value & overall warranty.


The Pursuits, Kodiaks & Optimas must be examined thoroughly for bad triggers & sloppy hinge right at the counter. Then you roll the dice later-on & cross your fingers you got an accurate one at the range. Some Optimas & Kodiaks shoot very accurately & owners are real happy. But your odds of getting a bad Encore or Omega are very low -- plus T/C Inc has the best ho-hassle warranty in the business if you suprisingly do find something wrong with their rifle.

When window shopping, I look at T/C & Knight exclusively even though my former CVA Plainsman, Traditions Tracker 209 & Cabelas Rolling Block were excellent shooters. All had some issues with me that turned me off for more looks at those makes in the future.

Speaking of the NEF Sidekick, I was wondering if anyone knew of a good source for ramrod accesories? The thread pattern is totally different on the colapsible ramrod and none of the "standard" attachments I find will fit. I need a replacement loading jag to handle Shockwave/SST style sabots.

Rwalter63;
picked up a traditions pursuit about 3 months ago & have fell in love with it. have had no problem with triger or hindge .
have shot from 70 gr. 777 to 120, settled on 90 with 295 gr powerbelts.no problem out to 100 yds.
cost was about 190 bucks @ Gander Mt.
Good luck & hunting

graybeard 50: Are you the graybeard, from graybeard outdoors?

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