Top muzzleloader pick?
 

What is everybodys choice for a high end muzzleloader? I have been looking at the Omega by T/C and the Apex by CVA. Any tips or feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you

You should post in the Blackpowder section...

I primarily roll an Omega, and it's a tough one to beat. It's affordable, very simple, lifetime warranty (that I haven't had to use yet), shoots great, and I love my trigger. It's a steal for what they cost.

T/C Encore series gets my vote as best of the best when it comes to top shelf muzzleloader!

TC Omega with laminate thumbhole stock. The new Knights look very good but they are very proud of them!

A couple of years ago I was in the market to buy a new muzzle loader. I was going to get the Omega when the owner of the gun shop called me one day and told me to come down. I went in and he had 2 brand new Encores. Laminate wood, thumb hole stock and stainless steel. He told me that I could have them both for $1000.00 even. I bought them and a buddy and I split them. It has been the best $500 I have ever spent on hunting equipment. In the past I had always hunted with an 870 12 gauge. This gun has over twice the range and is twice as accurate. I have killed more deer in the last 5 years with this gun then I had in the previous 10 years with my shotgun. I know it is not all about the gun but when you double your range your odds go up.

I have a Omega. Its a great gun. The only thing I wish it had was a speed breech plug. When you do buy a muzzleloader spend the extra money and get a stainless barrell....they are worth every extra penny.

I had the Omega with the laminated thumbhole stock, it was good but I love the Triumph

I shoot a TC ProHunter 50 cal and it shoots .75 moa every time out at 100yds. I love my TC PH.

CVA. I have been shooting 2 different cva,s for 20 years or so. My newest and the one I use now is a Optima Magnum. I have shot a deer at 200 yards with it. Affordable price, great durrability, and a great warrenty. Now about that. My first CVA had a recall on it. I called it in and was telling the service rep on the phone that I had a hunt in 1 week that I wanted to use that gun on. She asked if it was scoped and what load I used. I told her. She said I would have the new one in 2 days. Sure enough in 2 days I got my new barrell,and scope with a target showing it hitting at 100 yards. All I had to do was drop in my trigger assembly(2 bolts) and put it in the stock(1 bolt). Killed a nice buck at 120 yards that year. A gun dosent have to be priced high to kill deer. It just has to do it!

I have had my tc encore in .45 cal for over 7 years it is deadly accurate. I also have a 7mm-08 barrel for my son to use it is very accurate as well.

One word of advice be careful of the PowerBelts. Some guys swear by them. I can tell you that without a doubt they just dont hold together very well if you hit bone it will not pass through and leave no blood to trail. I use the barnes and get pass throughs even on big hogs some over 250lbs.

I love my Thompson Center Encore!

WTF?! Muzzleloader hunters aren't welcome here?!

MDDEERHUNTER I bow hunt, ML hunt and Rifle hunt so this is where I hang.

if you think of another weapon to use on deer? let me know I am biting at the bit for more weapons.

T/C Omega..

T/C Omega for me also, and I agree with some of the others. Having had both, the stainless barrels are by far worth it on a muzzle loader. I don't want another one without one.

TC Omega .50 composite TH stock...

Thought I successfully posted this yesterday ... but guess not.

My No.1 choice is the Savage 10 ML-II. This rifle incorporates Savage's "Accutrigger" and is capable of using certain smokeless powders. Mine is very accurate with the Savage recommended load of 45 gr. of AA-5744 ... and I use the Barnes 250 gr. T-EZ sabot. Most groups have been sub MOA. This particular bullet has performed far beyond my personal expectations. I have had zero problems with recovery and amazing penetration. I have not tried any black powders in my 10ML. If it is legal where you hunt to use smokeless powder ML's, if I were you I'd jump on this rifle.

I also have a 2008 vintage CVA Optima, fluted barrel, 50 cal. It is a very simple, straight forward in-line design. It shoots great using 112 gr. of Blackhorn 209 or 115 gr. of Triple Seven, and 245 gr. Power Belt Aero Tip bullets. The factory trigger in the CVA is not all that good, but it'll do. I have had an occasional issue with separation of this bullet, but always a very close range (like 20-30 yards) and when the bullet hit bone such as a fore leg or vertebrae. I have had zero issues with recovery. I have not tried any other bullets in this ML because this set-up shoots consistently about 1 to 1.25 MOA.

I can recommend either of these two set-ups.

I have a TC Encore with a scope on it. Accurate and reliable. I recently was looking for another muzzleloader with open sights for Colorado. I didn't want to take the scope on and off my Encore. I must admit that TC has had quality control problems as of late. I ended up buying a CVA Optima. Great accurate gun with a stainless fluted barrel and finger removable breach plug. I would recommend this gun especially considering you can pick it up for $218.

I forgot to add that I was going to purchase an Omega when I found the good deal on the Encore. When i bought them the Omega was 399.00 and I got the Encore for $500 so to me it was a no brainer to spend the extra hundred for the flexibility. That said if you are sure you just want a muzzle loader I would have no problems getting an Omega. I think they shoot just as good as the Encore.

Very very happy with my Knight Mountaineer. Fit and finish is top notch, trigger is awesome and deadly accurate with the Barnes Tmz bullets im shooting.

encore 209x50

Lot of Knights in my family. Nothing better! The convincer ( i didn't need one) was when I had a problem. I called them and they asked if I could put it in a box, if I could they'd send someone by to pick it up, I did. They took the gun and went through every inch of it, shot it 50 times and sent it back. Thats what I call personal service.

You really can't go wrong with the T/C or the CVA. I have shot both, killed more than a few deer with my T/C Omega. My dad and hunting buddy both have CVA's, and they kill just as many deer. T/C has a rifle called the "pro hunter," and it addresses some of the issues the Omega has (like the breech plug). Very good guns all around, the inline MLers shoot better than slug guns and almost like rifles. Spend some time at the range working up the perfect load and you will be shooting groups < 1".

I shoot an TC Encore 50 cal, synthetic, thumbhole, etc. It is flat out the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. :rock:

I'm probably going to take a key board beating for this one. But I'd recommend anything BUT the TC encore. I had an omega, great trigger, shoot great. As soon as the prohunter came out I had to have it. What mistake, trigger was crap. Had to send to bellm TC to have it worked. Hinge pin caused accuracy issues. Good looking gun though. I just think they are hit and miss with the factory tolerancing. Get one with a loose hinge pin and it won't shot less than 3" groups at 100. TC is good at marketing though. I now shot a cva accura v2 and it blows the doors off the omega and encore. Paid $355 for it in SS and can't be happier. I've had good luck with my omega too.

Went to buy an encore, came home with an Apex. 'Nuff said

Savage 10MLII. You can thank me later! I'm done with blackpowder since I tried one. 9 y/o son took a doe with mine last week... 162 yards on a bi-pod sitting in the grass on the edge of a cut corn field. A little on the heavy side, but makes for less recoil for the kids. I use a textbook load of 44g 5744 and 250 XTP bullet.

Go to Alabama and kill you one with a spear!

tc pro hunter. best ever made

I plan to pick up a T/C Impact here in a week or two.

Good quality, great price and excellant performance! This is what my stainless CVA Accura Ver. 1 is! Sure there are higher priced guns. And sure, there are probably more refined guns! And, I would even imagine that there are guns that can out shoot mine by producing less than my MOA. But, anyone would have a hard time convincing me I could have done better for the $250 I spent!

I shoot a laminate gray stock tc omega
Very nice shooting gun