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RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Since your willing to spend the money... ask yourself this question..."Will I use this rifle for anything other then black powder hunting?" If you do not plan to put different barrels on the Encore then why spend the extra for it. The Omega is a great black powder rifle and would make all those kinds of shots you mentioned. It also has the warranty of Thompson Center should you have any problems or complaints... You might want to go shoulder one somewhere and see how it fits..

I would get a stainless steel Omega with a laminate stock.......

Good luck

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Jay dog,

I would look into the knight rifles. They are guarenteed to be within 2 1/2" groups out of the box. I shoot less than one ince groups out of mine.

I have the Knight Disc Extreme .50 stainless synthetic thumbhole stock. Knight has a $50.00 rebate and they are on sale at Natchez after rebate for around $380.00. That's a steal.

Knight is known for their accuracy and probably have the best customer service. In fact call them and ask some questions about their rifles and you will see how friendly and helpful they are. It's like calling an old hunting buddy.

I would also look at the Knight Revolution and the Thompson Center Omega. The only thin I've heard bad with the Omega is the bad stocks and guys seem to have to order different breech plugs, and the gun doesn't seem to like triple seven. This is what I learned when I posted in this forum a couple of weeks ago asking the differences between the two for a friend.

Cybersniper

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Knights are a great rifle without a doubt. My Wolverine is a great shooter. The only reason I would stay away from the Knight Revolution (and this might sound stupid) is the rifle just hit the market. They have not had time to test all the bugs that might exhist in the rifle. Give the Revolution another year though, and see how the market likes them and the gun is functioning, and I think Knight has a real winner on their hands here.....

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Thompson Encore or Omega.
Knight Extreme or Elite.
Savage 10MLII.

The Knight Revolution - New 2004 I would wait on to ensure the bugs have been worked out. Personally, I think the stock angle on this is strange.

The new Brutus Denali - Perdosoli models look very interesting as well, but it's also a new model.

Either way, get your hands on all of these and see how they feel.

Personally, I don't mind buying the blued finish as nothing I own ever rusts because I take good care of my weapons AND blued is not as reflective as some of the stainless. I take the extra expense of stainless and invest in optics.

Lastly, the top quality weapon will only perform as well as the optics that are mounted on it.
Thus, do consider Leupold & Burris (American Made forever warranty) or Zeiss.
I have scopes from all of these MFG and they are all top shelf. I've also heard good things about the Nikon Monarch.
Personally, I really like the Burris Euro Diamond and Signature Series with Posi-Lock.
Mounting your optics consider Leupold QRW Quick Release Mounts and Rings.

Black Mag'3 Powder

I'm also very fond of the 300Grain Bullets from:
Hornady XTP, SST
T/C Shockwave
Dead Center
Barnes

IMHO

Good luck and welcome to ML!

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Jaydog,

I will not try to steer you to a specific gun, but I would suggest that you look at the new break-opens. I do not own one I got into the inlines and can not come up with a good reason to abandon them, but i think the break opens are becoming the future, basically because of the ease of cleaning.

Pick a rifle that you have handled and feels comfortable to you, try not to take our specific choices of rifles until you have handled it - they do not all fit or feel the same.

Next check your states regulations, what can you use and when can you use it?

Choose an inline or break-open the looks good feels good to you... then ask us which of those we think might be better.

Finally, I really would not pick the least expensive unless you are stapped to do that. I you choose an inexpensive one and dyou get hooked like most every one else you will be wishing you had spent a little more.

Good luck in you seach

ps I am shooting Remingtons and A&H's - darn good guns

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RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

If I were buying new the Savage 10IIMLS would get my dollars, but then again we can harness the benefit of smokeless powder in ML season. If I wouldn't have the ability to use the smokeless powder in any fashion I would agree the TC Omega, Encore or Knight Elite would be the ones I'd consider today. I use the Remmie 700MLS, it has been great and extremely accurate but has some flaws(to be specific the Rem factory 209 primer setup and required bolt disassembly) and uncertainity in the future of the product.

As far as finish buy the SS, for a newbie it would be worth it know your ML is truly clean and IMO that is the toughest thing to analyze, as well as teach. BP or Subs is extremely corrosive and requires thorough cleaning procedures. Just my opinion but I think it is money well spent for one who doesn't know the ritual or requirements of BP rifles..cheap insurance if you will.

I agree if scoping buy the best optics you can afford. I have excellent service out of the Elite series for an affordable decent scope, many other real good ones as well. Currently I have a Zeiss Conquest topping my 700 MLS, very pleased. Also make sure to hold her tight with good quality rings and bases. I personally like Leupold Bases/Rings my favorite being the double dovetail design but other's to choose from including the Quick Release which has obvious applicable application for a smokepole in particular.

Best to do some tire kicking to find the one that feels right to you!

Best of luck

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

If you are only going to use for muzzleloading:

T/C Omega .50 stainless
Knight Disc Elite .50 stainless
Knight Revolution .50 stainless

If you think there is the possibility of muzzleloading + other tpyes of hunting/shooting:

T/C Encore 209x50 w/ the ability to switch barrels to centerfire or shotgun would be a hands down choice.

Strictly for ML'ing, I personally think the Omega or Disc Elite are the way to go right now. You surely wouldn't go wrong with either one of them!

Good luck!:)

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

I like the Knight Disc for a inline. For a traditional ML it's hard to beat a T/C. Another inline I might suggest for you to check out is the Ruger M-77/50.Since money isn't a factor look around and see which one fits you.I have no experience with the T/C Omega but have heard nothing but good about them. Take your time selecting one. You have plenty of time to find one and practice before next season. I would recoomend a 50 cal since accessories for a 50 cal are plentiful.

Ruger Redhawk

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

I have a winchester x-150, but soon im going to buy a nef sidekick, the reason not the huntsman is because i hear that you can only use 100 grs. and the sidekick can use up to 150, i believe, i know i would never use that much because it is a waist in my opinion but I like the thought that i could use that much. the nef guns are pretty good in my opinion

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

If you are looking for a flintlock and not an in-line,check out the Traditions Pa Pellet.It's priced very low,but has some inovations that will take the other manufacturers some time to catch up with.Not only does it have an oversized pan and flash hole,which enables it to shoot pellet loads,with the quicker ignition,but it also has a removable breech plug for THOROUGH,no mess,quick cleaning.It also sports an adjustable trigger,but mine came out of the box at 5 pounds,which is ideal for me.
It comes standard with true-glo fibre optic sites and swivels and a 1 in 48 twist 26" octagon barrel which shoot magnum loads up to 150 grain BP,pyrodex,triple 7,etc.,in powdered or pelletized loads.
I paid $185 for mine in a kit which included some accessories,gun was completely assembled.
They do also have a model with camo stock,nickel barrel which is slightly higher in price,but a great looking firearm.
Dick's has the camo model regular priced at $229.00 on sale here for $199.00.
Info on this rifle is available on the Traditions website,along with downloads of their manuals,although their prices are high end.
It is a sweet shooting,no frills smoke pole,very accurate,I may add.
Even with my eyes,I get consistent groups of 2" at 150 yards,with open sights,shooting 90 grains 777 pellets and power belt 295 grain bullets.
The website link is http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/es...zleloaders.asp

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Something I'd do before purchasing is to check the rules where you're going to be using the rifle. I'd really like to use the already mentioned break-open, or the TC Omega - but where I hunt ignition sources are restricted and these rifles are not allowed.

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Brother in law was asking on this rifle and what people thought of it, I knew I seen a post here. Thought I better bring it forward so I can find it again for him when he wakes tomorrow.

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Savage 10ML-IIBSS, smokeless (preferably) or not. It's the best built muzzleloader out there. I own or have owned a total of six muzzleloaders (two Traditions, one Knight, two T/C's and my Savage 10ML-II), and the Savage is by far the best of the bunch. It's the most accurate, least expensive to shoot (with smokeless), highest performance, best quality and most feature packed production ML today.

Just some of the features include:

Genuine Gun Barrel Quality steel barrels (416 stainless or 4140 chrome-moly) that are made just like a CF rifle barrel (forged as a blank, drilled, button rifled and turned down to contour), not the soft steel extruded barrels that are common to the lower quality muzzleloaders. The rifling is held to the tightest tolerances in the industry (+/-0.00025"). It's the only muzzleloader I've shot that I can't feel the variations in the barrel/rifling as I load it. It's the same pressure all the way from the muzzle to the breechplug.

Fully free floated barrel, pillar bedded receiver, Accu-Trigger, very nice laminate stock (if you choose that version) with FUNCTIONAL checkering, good quality aluminum ramrod, Williams fiber-optic open sights, totally sealed priming system that almost completely eliminates blowback and is totally water tight. Positive primer extraction.

The only things that I don't like are the lack of a decent recoil pad and the fact that to get the bolt out the rear action screw has to be loosened possibly disturbing the bedding of the rifle. Spending $50 to install a Pachmeyr or Limbsaver pad is a godsend if you shoot the full power smokeless loads.

After owning my 10ML-II, I would not buy another muzzleloader regardless of whether smokeless is legal to hunt with or not.

Mike

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Jaydog,we don't have the option of mail ordering a muzzleloader in NY.I have a TC SS Omega with the laminated stock.It is an awesome gun.It might be worth a trip to the Harlem Gun Center in Buffalo to buy a new muzzleloader.They are very informative and they beat everybody else by $80 on my Omega.They have just about any muzzleloader you could want there and you can pick them up and feel what they are like.It depends on what you want the gun to do on what you buy.If it is strictly for blackpowder hunting then I would go with an Omega.If you want to be able to switch barrels and use it for other forms of hunting,then I would get and Encore.Either way,they are great guns and are backed by the TC guarantee.

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

You can order any muzzleloader via mail, or the internet anywhere in NY (other than maybe the "City of"). I just ordered my Omega from NatchezSS and it arrived without incident.
I live in WNY and have made the trek to Buffalo Gun to buy guns when I was a Deputy. Great gun shop...BTW!

Some stores like Cabela's, or others, might have issues or "self-imposed" rules regarding such, but there is no law that prohibits such.

Take care,
Bob

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Hey Jaydog... Thake a look at Steve in MD thread called Am I asking too much for it? it might be what you are looking for.

LnL

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

I would go with the Knight Disc Extreme. I am also new at this but I just bought mine a week ago and love it. For the money there the best in my mind. I also have a leupold VX11 on mine. Thats just my two bits.

RE: Looking to buy Muzzleloader
 

Hello,

The Encore,Omega and Knight Rifles are a great guns. If you don't want to spend that much money I'd check out the NEF Sidekick. Either way I would check out www.chuckhawks.com . I would avoid anything made by BPI in my opinion. BPI makes CVA, New Frontier, Winchester and Remmington's muzzleloaders. If you wonder why read Randy Wakemans articles on those guns. He is very well respected in the blackpowder community.

Here is the review for the NEF Sidkick http://www.chuckhawks.com/nef_sidekick.htm

Here it the link to web site in general http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm

I hope this helps. I have a Sidekick and l am really happy with it.