I have had no interest in muzzle loaders until I shot one last weekend and that is all it took!

So, I grab the cabelas and start thumbing through and realize that this is a whole new ball game for me!

My first step is choosing a gun and I need help. My first thought would be a TC Triumph, but it seems that there are endless guns to choose from (all claiming to be the best). TC, Knight, Traditions, CVA, Savage etc.. I am totally confused. I'd like to get a gun that I'll be happy with for years.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

stay away from knight they are bankrupt and when the guns left on the shelves are gone they are gone. nobody knows if anyone will continue to make parts for anytime into the future

TC makes excellent muzzle loaders LIFE time guarantee

A friend shoots a CVA optima and has no complaints

I shoot a 209x50 Encore inline and a Cabelas brand 50cal traditional rifle

go to the store and handle as many as you can find the one that fits your budget and you

i bought a .45 cal. CVA a few tears ago on sale for $135 and once i went through a few different brands of bullets ,i found it shot the Hornadys VERY,VERY well....

im using 3-50 grain Triple-7 pellets with the Hornady SST and it groups as good as i can shoot any of my centerfires

My buddy bought a CVA Wolf for about $149 on a recommendation from one of his co-workers. It shoots right with my more exensive T/C Omega if not better. Since then I have recommended the same rifle to 3 other hunters who have all purchased with the same results. They are all shooting 100 gr. of 777 pellets and a powerbelt bullet. Save money for a good scope and grab one, if you don't like it, you'll still have the scope for the next rifle. If nothing else, it's a great place to get started.

How much do you want to spend??

Can you put a scope on the MZ in the area you want to hunt??

Are there any bullet restrictions in the area you want to hunt??

Do you want an inline or a traditional??

Do you hunt in CO?? They have some strange BP laws.

You need to answer these questions first, before any good recommendations can be made.

You also need to realize that you need to buy a lot of accessories for your MZ. So you have to leave extra money for those accessories.

Personally I prefer the Knight rifles. Yes they have went out of business(as of right now). But their MZ's are top notch. And will basically on average outshoot about any other MZ out there. And with the superior barrels they have, the Knight's will also shoot about any type of projectile you want to shoot. And right now if you shop around they are closing some out at some fantastic prices. I realize there may be a warranty problem with a Knight, but I have never sen one break down. And I have been shooting them, selling them, and been around them for 25 years. And at a discounted price it is worth losing a warranty if you can pick up a high quality rifle.

First you need to decide what type of projectile or bullet that you want to shoot. Twist rate is pretty important in MZ's. So you need to know what type of bullet or sabot you want to shoot, before you purchase a rifle.

If you are looking for a starter rifle and only want to spend a little money then a CVA is a god starter rifle. However if you want a quality built rifle then stay away from them. CVA imports their rifles, and personally I do not care very much for them.

The TC rifles are some good choices. However they are priced a bit high. You are paying for all that advertising that they are putting out there. And watch the TC's, they can be very finicky to certain bullets, and sabots. I know a bunch of guys who have spent a bunch of money to get their TC's to shoot. However some of them will shoot very well.

Buy quality accessories to start with. You will not be sorry. A solid brass range rod is a very good idea. Just google range rod, and you will find a few for a good price. Also get a good spin jag.

Keep it simple to start with. A lot of shooters will say to buy one or the other because the one they are recommending is easier to clean. Well the bottom line is all MZ's need to be cleaned. And you may save one or two minutes with one or the other, but that is no big deal to me.

Below is a picture of my Knight Long Rang Hunter. And it really is a LRH rifle. I have a Leupold 4.5X14 with the B&C reticle. Shots to 250 yards are no problem whatsoever with this rifle. However I also like my traditional Flint Lock rifles as well. Where I hunt in PA all you can use is an open sighted FL. Tom.

Get a tc omega and just be done with it. I have never saw one that didnt shoot great. Mine shoots holes touching at 100yds. I have had many cva rifles and I still own a cva optima elite. No comparison, I also have owned a couple tc encore rifles. The omege wins hands down. I have never shot a triumph. I saw in cabelas that the omega synthetic blue is like $369. Knight rifles were good rifles but they went out of business. I shoot 3 50gr 777 pellets and a 250gr tc shockwave. All I can say is awsome.

I want a modern inline MZ and I'd like to shoot sabots through it as well. I would like the option of mounting a scope if needed someday as well.

I'm with Hogghead on this. I have 4 Knights.

Savage smokeless is the only way to go in my opinion. Sorry but I hate to clean the other stinking things. Mine shoots very well without the mess. They have had a price increase as I paid 399.00 for mine and I think Natchez has them for 509.00 now.Good luck with your choice. That's blued and black synthetic........

I cant think of one bad thing about my T/C Omega. Best shot yet with the T/C was out to 218 yards shooting 200gr. shock wave bullets and 150gr. of 777 and with this combo it will knock them flat!

I have a TC Omega, great gun, very accurate, and super easy to clean.

If you get any of the TC muzzleloaders you wont regret it. I've got the Omega and its an excellent gun.

Get the TC Omega and you will be very happy. I owned two CVA's before I got my Omega and they were both JUNK, I would rather not hunt than to carry a CVA.

savage 10ml, use N110 powder and get under 1" 3 shot groups at 100yds with velocity to spare.

no clean up, still loads easily after 20rnds, clean it whenever you get around to it.

I have the Triumph and it is nice to clean and shoot. The only negative I have is using iron sights, the comb of the stock just doesn't drop enough to feel comfortable for me but it is something I can live with. (I think the T/C Omega fits better for iron sights.) I have shot it with a scope on it and it feels perfect. I would suggest looking at holding differnt guns and deceide what fits you and how you will shoot it the most, open sights or scope.

I'm shooting Blackhorn 209 powder in it and I've shot 20 rounds without running a patch down it and the groups are still very tight. I love this powder.

I had the Omega Z-5 a couple of years ago and sold it, mistake #1. I bought a Traditions, stainless, fluted,w/ a muzzle brake and a matching camo scope, mistake #2. Sold the Traditions ( at a sizeable loss) and bought a new Omega. Life is good once again.

I have a TC Omega with a Thumbhole stock which has accounted for two bull elk and two mule deer bucks. Highly accurate and durable even in wet (rainy this last season) hunting conditions.

As many Savage shooters as there are here, I am surprised nobody mentioned the ML10 smokeless. I am not a Savage guy - as I feel they are kinda clunkie and have a low resale value. But - I was so tired of the cleaning involved and supplies needed with the other models. I went with the ML10 and all I can say is WOW. Heavy and clunkie but accurate as can be and that think hits like a 45/70! Got my first deer this year at 110 yards shooting a 250 Hornady SXT using a Leupold 6x42 with burris rings and bases. If you want to buy the last muzzle loader you will ever want, check out the Savage.

Actually, I think that it has been mentioned twice in this thread already.

I agree, the Savage would be tough to beat. I enjoy mine. I should clean that thing soon.

Regards,

Chizzy

Yes agreed my Tc Omega is a awesome shooter and the trigger in my opinion is great and is a very accurate rifle. To what one of the other stated above above the Cva wolf is no where the muzzle loader the Tc a friend of mine has one and I don't find it to be comparable to it at all.