Preferred current products? Traditions? Cva? T/c? Looking for 209 primer usage, reliable accuracy with a variety of projectiles, break action, and comfort level when the bangswitch activates? Feel free to iterate specific models (optima magnum, t/c prohunter, etc etc)
Inline muzzleloader for hunting?
- Thread starter horsey300
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Armored farmer
Member
I'm a T/C fan .
#1 son has a break action t/C (Triumph?) that is really good gun . His wife has an Omega .50 that has always been just "old reliable".....dead on bullseye every year.
Even my old t/c Hawken .54 kit gun has lasted and served me well for 40 seasons. Since 1983.
#1 son has a break action t/C (Triumph?) that is really good gun . His wife has an Omega .50 that has always been just "old reliable".....dead on bullseye every year.
Even my old t/c Hawken .54 kit gun has lasted and served me well for 40 seasons. Since 1983.
red rick
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If you go T/C you will have to find a used one . They are no longer being produced . I liked T/C the best of the inlines . Probably the CVA Wolf is the best value . You will have more choices with the CVA Optima , colors , sights , optics , barrel lengths and more .
Yeppers, there's a couple used ones on my radar at the moment
red rick
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Just remember if you need a part for it , it might be hard to find , or not available .
md7
Member
Have had good experience with CVA in the limited times I’ve used inlines.
They’re fairly ubiquitous, they work, and in current production. I’d go CVA.
They’re fairly ubiquitous, they work, and in current production. I’d go CVA.
Gerd33
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I'll have to also lean towards T/C as I really like the Omega my father got for me 10+ years ago. I wouldn't call it a break action though, closer to a falling block, perhaps?
I do also have a recently acquired Traditions Buckstalker XT Youth for my daughter and there are definitely a few things that I don't care for, primarily regarding the sights, etc.
1. Since I was buying a Youth model, there wasn't a package available therefore I was buying just the rifle. When sold that way the rifle came without any sights at all, although it was D/T for both scope mounts and irons. Everything would have been available through Traditions, but I would have had to purchase it all separately.
2. I was hoping to find a one piece scope base but I had difficulty finding a 1pc base that wasn't the Traditions offering so I ultimately ended up going with a 2pc weaver base instead.
3. The hammer sits and moves higher than the rifle barrel, and therefore I also had difficulty finding rings and a scope that would clear the hammer, at least if I wanted to keep the scope mounted as low as possible. Picture shows what I ultimately used.
4. I don't care for their ramrod design, but it hasn't been an issue thus far.
Having said all that, I don't actually have any complaints about how it's worked thus far. Once sighted in, it was shooting accurately and consistently. Do to scheduling conflicts, my daughter wasn't able to make it out for our late ML/alternative methods season, so I brought the Traditions with me this year instead of my T/C. It was light, easy to carry, and performed as it should on the medium sized doe I took at ~25 yrds with it.
I was really actually hoping to go with the CVA Wolf Youth/Compact model, but both the Traditions and CVA youth models were out of stock for about 6-8 months, so when the Traditions came available first I ordered that one immediately.
Had I had the choice I would have gone with the CVA.
I do also have a recently acquired Traditions Buckstalker XT Youth for my daughter and there are definitely a few things that I don't care for, primarily regarding the sights, etc.
1. Since I was buying a Youth model, there wasn't a package available therefore I was buying just the rifle. When sold that way the rifle came without any sights at all, although it was D/T for both scope mounts and irons. Everything would have been available through Traditions, but I would have had to purchase it all separately.
2. I was hoping to find a one piece scope base but I had difficulty finding a 1pc base that wasn't the Traditions offering so I ultimately ended up going with a 2pc weaver base instead.
3. The hammer sits and moves higher than the rifle barrel, and therefore I also had difficulty finding rings and a scope that would clear the hammer, at least if I wanted to keep the scope mounted as low as possible. Picture shows what I ultimately used.
4. I don't care for their ramrod design, but it hasn't been an issue thus far.
Having said all that, I don't actually have any complaints about how it's worked thus far. Once sighted in, it was shooting accurately and consistently. Do to scheduling conflicts, my daughter wasn't able to make it out for our late ML/alternative methods season, so I brought the Traditions with me this year instead of my T/C. It was light, easy to carry, and performed as it should on the medium sized doe I took at ~25 yrds with it.
I was really actually hoping to go with the CVA Wolf Youth/Compact model, but both the Traditions and CVA youth models were out of stock for about 6-8 months, so when the Traditions came available first I ordered that one immediately.
Had I had the choice I would have gone with the CVA.
courtgreene
Member
I have two cva wolves. The first I’ve had for coming up on twenty years. Then they came out with the tool-less breech plug or whatever, and when I caught a huge sale I grabbed one of those. There’s nothing special about them, but they do shoot well. I think it’s more about finding a load that works than the make and model in the inline muzzleloader game.
In terms of blackpowder inlines, Ive used the old optima/new wolf from cva, an old knight 85, and a traditions ultralight. IME all shot just fine, but handled differently.
My UL was long and light, the CVA chunky and stocky, the Knight more similar to a standard hunting rifle.
The only issues ive experienced were fairly minor, but the CVA did require a replacement hammer spring.
Id suggest handling the ones your interested in and buying what felt best, unless you shoot them a whole heck of a lot i dont think youll notice a difference in longevity or accuracy.
I switched to shooting smokeless, and wont be going back to BP if i can help it tho.
My UL was long and light, the CVA chunky and stocky, the Knight more similar to a standard hunting rifle.
The only issues ive experienced were fairly minor, but the CVA did require a replacement hammer spring.
Id suggest handling the ones your interested in and buying what felt best, unless you shoot them a whole heck of a lot i dont think youll notice a difference in longevity or accuracy.
I switched to shooting smokeless, and wont be going back to BP if i can help it tho.
I have a CVA Wolf. I've killed more deer with it than with any other weapon. The accuracy and reliability are fine. The corrosion resistance isn't great and the button to open the action is placed in such a way that it often gets bumped and opens the action when the gun is slung. I'm planning to get an Optima at some point. I haven't muzzleloader hunted since I left Ohio a few years ago, so it hasn't been a priority.
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Make sure the barrels and stuff aren’t pitted from lack of cleaning
Yup. Buddy got one for $73.99
courtgreene
Member
Those clearance sales are going on now according to my local Walmart. “January through February until we’re out,” is what I was told.
FL-NC
Member
I bought a traditions buck stalker a couple years ago at wally world, with scope- I want to say it was about $180. I had never even owned or fired a muzzle loader. I have killed I believe 3 deer with it, longest shot was 100 yards. I use 2 777 pellets and a Hornady sabot bullet. It works good enough for what I use it for.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
I voted for both CVA in-lines. I have only handled them, but not shot them. They also seem readily available in my area.
I will ask, have you considered a old fashioned percussion or flint? I like my Cabela's (made by Pedersoli) percussion. @Armored farmer mentioned his TC. Great fun to hunt with and shoot
I will ask, have you considered a old fashioned percussion or flint? I like my Cabela's (made by Pedersoli) percussion. @Armored farmer mentioned his TC. Great fun to hunt with and shoot
earlthegoat2
Member
Ones you can buy off the shelf today?
CVA Wolf is a great value.
However, if you can stomach a teeny tiny bit more upfront cost and load development, Remington 700 MLs and TC Omegas and Triumphs are some of the best modern muzzleloading firearms ever made. The old Knight MK-85s and DISCs are nothing to scoff at either.
CVA Wolf is a great value.
However, if you can stomach a teeny tiny bit more upfront cost and load development, Remington 700 MLs and TC Omegas and Triumphs are some of the best modern muzzleloading firearms ever made. The old Knight MK-85s and DISCs are nothing to scoff at either.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I wanted a T/C Encore but when I was in the market for one, I didn't have the funds for the T/C.
I ended up getting a CVA Optima Elite that had the barrel swap options. And as my luck would have it they soon after ceased production of the rifle and the barrels. So now I have a muzzleloader that I can't get any barrles for.
But, I do like it a lot. I've had it for about 15 years and it still shoots lights out. I killed this doe from about 175 yards.
I ended up getting a CVA Optima Elite that had the barrel swap options. And as my luck would have it they soon after ceased production of the rifle and the barrels. So now I have a muzzleloader that I can't get any barrles for.
But, I do like it a lot. I've had it for about 15 years and it still shoots lights out. I killed this doe from about 175 yards.
nettlle
Contributing Member
I have a White Shooting System Super 91 that will shoot 5 shot 1.5" groups at 100 yards.
I'm fairly familiar with percussions, shot a handful of rifles in my younger years, my brother and I had .44 and .36 cap and ball revolvers, honestly the big appeal of the inlines is the 209 primers, bh209, and scopes. Where I live currently, there's no extra season for muzzleloader, but some areas do allow muzzleloader but not rifle. If I do go other places close by, the muzzleloader season is AFTER firearm, so the way I see it, I'm trying to compete with a centerfire the best I can, and I do have centerfire options readily available but they're null in both instances I'd like to explore. When I'm out for meat, I'm not trying to make it a better challenge so much as I'm trying to do everything I can to ensure success.I voted for both CVA in-lines. I have only handled them, but not shot them. They also seem readily available in my area.
I will ask, have you considered a old fashioned percussion or flint? I like my Cabela's (made by Pedersoli) percussion. @Armored farmer mentioned his TC. Great fun to hunt with and shoot
nettlle
Contributing Member
The inlines these days will compete with the good shotgun slug guns and even some rifles. I've only hunted with percussion inlines and not 209 primer. I have an accurate 12 gauge slug gun.
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