Which Muzzleloader to Buy?

[TheCougar]

Correct, the Omega barrels are not offered in .50. The REM 700 barrels are and the Patriot G3s are.

Rem 700/Clone Barrel Kit

www.woodmanarms.com

Those are McGowen and Brux barrels. Silly to ask to “see targets.” They all shoot great.

I can’t find an ETA for TC to start selling again. They say they are going to, but when, how much, and how long to get one?

 

[Southernfried]

I can send the links when I get home but they already have 3 dealers taking preorders, Haus of Arms is one and ebaco is another off the top of my head. They keep saying end of this month.

 

[Bluefish]

I can’t find an ETA for TC to start selling again. They say they are going to, but when, how much, and how long to get one?

Latest from Haus of arms today was a March delivery.

 

[ElDiablito]

I can’t find an ETA for TC to start selling again. They say they are going to, but when, how much, and how long to get one?

TC has not announced plans to rerelease Omegas. They will be producing Encores and Hawkens supposedly. Maybe others. There were a few new Omegas recently on the market (assembled with old stock parts I believe). I’d look for a used Omega on Gunbroker to use as a donor.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Man, you guys talking about paying $2-3000 for a muzzleloader makes me really happy with my traditions tracker that I picked up for less than $200 new. Bought a Williams sight from a buddy for $100 and it shoots lights out with a 420 Gr no excuses bullet over a dry cotton wad and 100 gr of 777


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[northernbill]

Woodman arms makes an extremely high quality muzzleloader for under $1000. They also can use smokeless powder. Without a doubt, my next muzzleloader will be a Woodman. Be aware that they aren’t in stock anywhere, and wait time may be 6 months.

 

[saltwatermuzzy]

A solid easy button is a CVA Optima V2

 

[nagibson1]

So if someone wants to get something that'll shoot beyond 200 under $1k...cva accura? Factory encore? Woodsman patriot?

 

[Sandhills]

So if someone wants to get something that'll shoot beyond 200 under $1k...cva accura? Factory encore? Woodsman patriot?

Add a used white to that list. Doc used to send a video when you bought a rifle from him and on it there would be a segment of them shooting elk out to 400.

 

[ElDiablito]

So if someone wants to get something that'll shoot beyond 200 under $1k...cva accura? Factory encore? Woodsman patriot?

Just about any modern inline you can name would be capable beyond 200 yards with the right load and sights/scope.

 

[nagibson1]

Just about any modern inline you can name would be capable beyond 200 yards with the right load and sights/scope.

yes. Heard. What if we made that number 300yds or 350? When Would you say, "yeah, you should get a Patriot, and not a Wolf; but you still don't need a Arrowhead, or even a Paramount."

 

[nagibson1]

Just about any modern inline you can name would be capable beyond 200 yards with the right load and sights/scope.

And what sights? Williams Western peep and Globe?

 

[ElDiablito]

What if we made that number 300yds or 350? When Would you say, "yeah, you should get a Patriot, and not a Wolf; but you still don't need an Arrowhead, or even a Paramount."

Yeah, I’d say that. Then it comes down to load dev, a solid scope and mounting system and practice.

And what sights? Williams Western peep and Globe?

That’s what I use. Depends on your eyes, but 300+ is beyond my comfort zone these days on a first shot with an open-sighted muzzy on game.

 

[guitarpreston]

And what sights? Williams Western peep and Globe?

The best option out there IMO for the money is the williams globe, williams FP sight, with an adjustable aperture. At that point the limiting factor isnt the gun, its you.

 

[guitarpreston]

That’s what I use. Depends on your eyes, but 300+ is beyond my comfort zone these days on a first shot with an open-sighted muzzy on game.

Open sight muzzy or any centerfire rifle with the same open sight setup. Stuff gets real small that far without any magnification and I JUST got new glasses!

 

[nagibson1]

Thanks guys. so for clarity's sake, this is what you said:

1. Most any inline is good out to 200+ (maybe 250ish). Buy anything you like. CVA Wolf, or the like, is fine.
2. If you want to shoot to 300-350, assuming you have telescopic sights, then something like a Woodsman Patriot is worth the extra money, stepping up from the Wolf-Optima sort of level.
3. This assumes you get the other basics right, like mounting and a good scope.
4. Peep sight and globe is probably the best for "iron sights" but these sights won't work for most eyes out to 300. 200ish is a poke for what you can see with them.
5. Then, it's still gonna take some load developments, so don't think it'll be great your first shot.

Remainders:
1. Would you put anything else in the "worth the upgrade if you want to reach out to 300+" category- Woodsman Patriot, TC Encore, CVA Accura(?)?
2. given what you said about iron sights, would you recommend not having a scope and peep sights on the same gun? I was thinking doing a rail with a peep sight on it, and a globe, with detachable scope rings- so I can shoot with a scope here in WI and take it off when I go to CO or ID. Do you recommend getting a cheaper iron site Wolf or something, and then a dedicated scoped gun for everything else?

 

[ElDiablito]

Thanks guys. so for clarity's sake, this is what you said:

1. Most any inline is good out to 200+ (maybe 250ish). Buy anything you like. CVA Wolf, or the like, is fine.
2. If you want to shoot to 300-350, assuming you have telescopic sights, then something like a Woodsman Patriot is worth the extra money, stepping up from the Wolf-Optima sort of level.
3. This assumes you get the other basics right, like mounting and a good scope.
4. Peep sight and globe is probably the best for "iron sights" but these sights won't work for most eyes out to 300. 200ish is a poke for what you can see with them.
5. Then, it's still gonna take some load developments, so don't think it'll be great your first shot.

Remainders:
1. Would you put anything else in the "worth the upgrade if you want to reach out to 300+" category- Woodsman Patriot, TC Encore, CVA Accura(?)?
2. given what you said about iron sights, would you recommend not having a scope and peep sights on the same gun? I was thinking doing a rail with a peep sight on it, and a globe, with detachable scope rings- so I can shoot with a scope here in WI and take it off when I go to CO or ID. Do you recommend getting a cheaper iron site Wolf or something, and then a dedicated scoped gun for everything else?

I have 37+ muzzys. My wife calls it an addiction. lol. I like options. I think it’s a great idea to have at least one backup. Beyond that it depends on which states you’re planning to hunt. It’s nice to have set ups for different states/regs.

For short to mid range hunting, I like a Peep Rib or Ace in the Hole type rail with peep. Do your load development with a scope and take it off for open sight regs if you have to. For a dedicated longer range rifle, I’d go with a good pic rail, good rings and a good scope.

1. Would you put anything else in the "worth the upgrade if you want to reach out to 300+" category- Woodsman Patriot, TC Encore, CVA Accura(?)?

I love the Woodman Omega smokeless .45 barrels. Very solid 400-500+ yard rifles. As I’ve written before, if I’m going to spend ~ $1000 or more on a muzzy it needs to be smokeless-capable. The only exception to that, for me, is the Knight Peregrine. Great rifle but it has gotten way to expensive recently. I have one in .40 that I really like.

 

[nagibson1]

Thanks for all the input guys. Gives me clear categories to think about. With Thompson's not out yet, and how light the patriot is (considering recoil), and the .50 cal minimum for elk, I'm still a bit on the fence on what would be best to do. But I'm closer.

 

[guitarpreston]

Thanks for all the input guys. Gives me clear categories to think about. With Thompson's not out yet, and how light the patriot is (considering recoil), and the .50 cal minimum for elk, I'm still a bit on the fence on what would be best to do. But I'm closer.

One thing I would suggest is stay with a used but well taken care of rifle. Look here, modern muzzle loader, gun broker, pawn shops, local gun shops etc. it’s a pretty niche market where I am so I got a low mileage knight for $325. I’d take that or a used omega all day over a clamshell gun personally. Some people have good luck with them but they’re cheap for a reason.