Why not a Wal-Mart $114 muzzle loader?

[<SLV>]

Does anyone have a good reason I shouldn't pick up a $114 .50 cal muzzle loader from Wal-Mart for my first muzzle-loader? I just want something cheap that will get me access to another hunting season. I am planning on casting bullets for it.

I think the Wal-Mart cheapo is a "Traditions Tracker".

PS - If I had to money I'd pick up a Thompson Encore Pro Hunter or Savage's smokeless powder 10ML-II.

 

[El Barto]

If this were to be the first and only muzzle loader, one that you expect to keep for a hundred years and pass down, then I would say no, get something else.

If you expect that you may like muzzle loaders and figure on getting another later, then I would say this is a good, inexpensive way to get into it.

 

[frontiergander]

I'd prefer the cva buckhorn as CVA's customer service is as good as tc's. Traditions are fine and all but i'd rather spend the same money on a cva.

try www.budsgunshop.com and look under rifles/cva for the best prices on cva's.

 

[arcticap]

That's a good deal for a Traditions Tracker.
Keep it clean and it will last a long time.
Have lots of fun making smoke!

 

[Six Feet Under]

I'm looking at these as well because I want to get into muzzleloading and I don't wanna spend a ton of money.

Let us know how it works out if you get it soon!

 

[Mark whiz]

I'm still shooting my "beginner" Knight USAK I picked up in 2000 - damn good shooter................and I've yet to buy any other smokepole simply because I ain't seen anything that would outshoot it yet. It's all a matter of finding what the gun likes to shoot and stay within those limits.

 

[<SLV>]

CVA, huh... looks like the "Wolf" is their cheapest, and it is a break action. Which is easier to use/clean? Bolt or break action? I'm assuming that the break action would take down into two parts.

 

[B.D. Turner]

I bought a Wind River Magnum .50 inline muzzleloader on an after season sale for $50.00 and tax. Its not going to last 100 years but it shoots well and only gets used about twice a year.

 

[arcticap]

If you look at Page 12 of the Wolf manual, you can see the firing pin assembly has more small parts and I don't know how frequently these would need to be cleaned.

http://www.cva.com/pdfs/Optima_Wolf_Manual.pdf

The Tracker does have more parts that need to be regularly disassembled but they are larger and easy to remove and clean. They are the bolt & bolt handle, spring, end cap and breech plug.
The Tracker has a sliding plunger bolt that slams forward instead of a hammer that strikes a firing pin.
The Tracker disassembly procedure is shown beginning on page 6.

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/products/FIT 18 Manual.pdf

The Wolf has a more enclosed action which some states have restrictions about so check your hunting regulations.
The Tracker's action is longer, but it is simpler and easy to replace the parts.
With the action open, the 209 primer is probably more accessible on the Wolf.
I don't see any safety lever on the Wolf though. The Tracker does have a safety switch so that once it's cocked, you'd just slide it forward to disengage it and shoot. If the Wolf doesn't have a safety lever, then when hunting the hammer would still need to be cocked before taking the shot.
Every gun has it's advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's fine as a learning experience to start with one of the cheaper smoke poles. But I'm warning you now it's highly addictive. I started with a "bargain" used Pedersoli for $200 and that's ended up costing me a mint ;-) Because once you learn what's out there from the custom shops, you will lose all control. You'll be running around like Daniel Day-Lewis with some custom long rifle that took you five weeks to build.

 

[frontiergander]

Wolf is easier to clean. I'd spend a little extra and go with the Optima.

Got one in trade last month and i liked it so much that i sold my omega. That should say a lot!

Wolf/accura/optima are all simple and easy to clean.

 

[ImARugerFan]

I prefer the break action, especially when it comes to cleaning. I have an inexpensive NEF sidekick. I got the stainless model, the blued/walnut is around $150 brand new. They are rock solid. (the ramrod does suck though I'll admit)

 

[ATAShooter]

I picked up a Traditions Tracker as my first. Great little rifle, served me well. Then I upgraded to a TC Omega. I hated it. Sold it and went back to WalMart and bought another Traditions Tracker and haven't looked back. It is accurate and a joy to shoot. The other thing I liked about it, If it rusted up or got broken, pitch it, and go buy a new one and Still would have less invested overall than the Omega. Yep, many a buck done fell by Ole Black Bertha ( That's her name ).

 

[Pancho]

SLV, There is more to this than you might know. Hunting with a single shot anything opens up a whole new world of hunting. Not having multiple rounds available to a hunter makes a hunter learn and use skills never thought of by the typical repeating firearm hunter. I know I've stepped on some toes but when you've got one round to get the job done you begin to realize and become connected to what our forefathers experienced.
As for ease of use and cleaning, the break action has it all over the bolt action. I own 3 break actions and 10 traditional MLs and I've borrowed, used and cleaned a Knight bolt action. IMHO I'd rather clean a break action.

 

[stevereno1]

The "low- end" in -line Muzzle loaders of today are much better than the "high-end" rifles from 10 years ago. get what you want!

 

[bfhcards]

I just got into Muzzle Loading and it is a great deal of fun. I started on the higher end but I think starting on the lower end sounds like a better idea. I am happy with what I got but not sure if I am skilled enough yet to really appreciate it. That value of moving up the ladder is worth alot and the learning curve is more appreciable.

 

[<SLV>]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I revisited Wal-Mart today, and the $114 gun is actually the CVA standard inline (Buckhorn). They have the CVA break action (Wolf) for $147. I really like the look and feel, but do you think I'd be sacrificing anything with the shorter 24" barrel?

 

[frontiergander]

Nothing much at all. Just an easier barrel to handle in thick woods and such.

You'll barely notice the shorter barrel even at long distances.

had a 2 cva staghorns ( old model buckhorns) and they were both excellent shooters with conicals and sabots.

 

[Pancho]

I've never been a believer in the "magnum loads" gun makers are pushing lately. Short barreled guns especially so. It is my belief and I could be corrected here but the shorter the barrel the less time the burning powder and expanding gases have to accelerate the projectile. In a nutshell don't waste your powder and money with 150 grain loads in a 24" barrel even if the manufacturer says it will work they don't say there is any benefit.

 

[Mark whiz]

I agree with Pancho - the "magnum" gun mentality is hooey. A 300gr sabot over 80gr of Triple Seven power is accurate as hell and has a muzzle velocity of around 1600fps - plenty enough to take down anything in the USA at a reasonable distance.

My Knight has a 24" barrel and I would shoot it out to 125yds with as much (or more) confidence as I would any center-fire rifle with the above load.

 

[<SLV>]

I think CVA recommends 50-100 grains on the .50 cal.

 

[frontiergander]

100gr loose powder and 150gr mag load with pellets.

 

[mgregg85]

If you don't want to pay more then go for it. Traditions do all right, sure some CVA's and T/C's are better but it'll get the job done.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

You'll be OK with the walmart gun. I bought a Cabella's tradition hawkin back in '93 and I still use it every deer season, amid all my buddy's "modern" inlines. Still shoot round ball. Still kill deer.

It's kida like my dear pappy in law's old Schwinn (sic) Bicycle Works Iver Johnson 1940's 16guage single shot I inherited. It goes with me squirrel hunting cause I can bust a squrrel way out there every time, so I leave my expensive shotguns in the cabinet.

If it hits where you aim, that's more important to the deer.

 

[Steven Youngblood]

I have to agree with coyote hunter.
When it's wet and nasty out my old CVA mountain stalker goes to the woods, 100 grains of ffg and a round ball, is all it takes to bag a deer, sure as shootin. as for mr. bushy tail, my 16 ga. stevens, works better than my mossberg pump.