Shopping for muzzleloader

Huntinjim

Huntinjim

New member
Well I've finally decided to join the modern times and get an inline muzzleloader. Definitely on a budget so I'll be looking at both new and used rifles. I'm hoping to get a little more bang for the buck by going used, either sporting goods store trade-ins or pawn shops. Aside from the usual things to beware of when buying any firearm, is there anything unique to inlines I need to be aware of when shopping used? Any lemons or "features" that should be a red flag?
 
If you are on a budget I highly recommend a T/C Omega. I have one and it is reliable and accurate. I bought a Traditions Striker fire to replace and that was a mistake. Only reason I bought the Traditions was for the trigger pull and lock time. Turns out it wasn't worth it.
 
I have a couple of the T/C Impact inlines and they have been very good to me. Easy to scope, easy to load, easy to clean, simple, accurate, completely reliable, economical to purchase. I have zero issues with them, handle, balance and carry easy, kill deer dead as Madonna's virginity.
 
I have a T/C Omega and a Remington 700. I spent $160 upgrading the ignition system on the Remington and it shoots good and is reliable but the T/C still out shoots it. Killed a bunch of deer with the T/C and the only upgrade I did was put it in a Thumbhole stock. The only reason I changed stocks was because I got a screamin deal on it. I bought the rifle at WalMart and its the cheapo Z7 version. Shoots exceptionally well with 250 grain Shockwaves and 100 grains of 777.
 
Originally Posted By: GCI have a couple of the T/C Impact inlines and they have been very good to me. Easy to scope, easy to load, easy to clean, simple, accurate, completely reliable, economical to purchase. I have zero issues with them, handle, balance and carry easy, kill deer dead as Madonna's virginity.

My brother has an Impact and it has been flawless. I love my CVA Optima V2. The CVA Wolf is hard to beat for the low price.
 
I have a TC Omega I want to sell.It's a great gun but I always end up hunting the ML season with a bow anyway.I"ll be selling it with everything you'll need.Case,Leup scope base with Leup QD rings.Weaver 4x scope with BC flip up caps.Also has TC open FO sights.Several speed loaders,bullets,primers.Both loose powder and pellets.Cleaning jags and a few other items.I'll have to go through it all before I can give you a price.Let me know if you're interested.
 
I have a TC Encore Pro Hunter and a CVA Wolf. They both shoot about the same for me but the Wolf gets a lot more action because it is much lighter.
 
I shoot a CVA Buckhorn with Power Belt bullets and 100 grains of loose pyrodex, and at 100 yards, average group size is an inch or less. I have shot a lot of deer and hogs with this gun, as well as a few coyotes, crows and armadillos.
 
I am actually going the the other way. After years of shooting an inline, I am going back to a traditional percussion rifle.

Before that, I had a CVA Optima Elite and a TC Omega. Both were good guns, but I preferred the Omega by a sizable margin.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: liliysdadI am actually going the the other way. After years of shooting an inline, I am going back to a traditional percussion rifle.


You’re heading in the right direction!
grin.gif


*
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotit screwed up the entire concept of muzzle loader hunting when they started allowing scopes, sabots and inlines.

Move to Nevada where you're not sitting in a tree over a foodplot or bait and your shots are much longer. We can use Santos but no optics of any kind, even 0 modification red dots.
 
I can honestly say "primitive" hunting was more fun with the old style percussion muzzleloaders. There was always that thought, Is it going to go off or not? Not much challenge when you shoot one inch groups at 200yds using smokeless powder and a near match grade bullet. Granted, MAYBE, less deer are wounded or maimed but its not near as much fun.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI can honestly say "primitive" hunting was more fun with the old style percussion muzzleloaders. There was always that thought, Is it going to go off or not? Not much challenge when you shoot one inch groups at 200yds using smokeless powder and a near match grade bullet. Granted, MAYBE, less deer are wounded or maimed but its not near as much fun.

I agree with you 95% of the time. Unfortunately, this is not one of
those times. Being a meat hunter, I don't want them to get an adrenaline
rush to the meat. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than pulling
the trigger and immediately watching the death kick. Little to no pain.
Never got those results with my old side lock.
 
I feel guilty when I take out the 58cal Hawken(Percussion), much preferring my 54 cal Southern Mountain rifle(rock lock) never had a "Clatch" in the field. I have a cows knee for damp days and keep my flints sharp. Never had s serious runner as I usually sneak up pretty close before pulling the trigger, never shot over a food plot or feeder all taken still hunting or tracking.

I cant se the difference between an inline with smokeless powder, jacketed bullet, scope and my old Ruger #1 or one of my break action Euro rifles.
 
I love my tc encore,bought a 50 CAL. barrel and converted the 7 mag.to a muzzleloader.The T/C is a tack driver and I can use it for many other converts when the seasons change.
 
Originally Posted By: DannoBoone

I agree with you 95% of the time. Unfortunately, this is not one of
those times. Being a meat hunter, I don't want them to get an adrenaline
rush to the meat. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than pulling
the trigger and immediately watching the death kick. Little to no pain.
Never got those results with my old side lock.

Do you have any evidence to support the “adrenaline rush ” deal?
It’s always been a bunch of crap in my experience.


*

 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI have a T/C Omega and a Remington 700. I spent $160 upgrading the ignition system on the Remington and it shoots good and is reliable but the T/C still out shoots it. Killed a bunch of deer with the T/C and the only upgrade I did was put it in a Thumbhole stock. The only reason I changed stocks was because I got a screamin deal on it. I bought the rifle at WalMart and its the cheapo Z7 version. Shoots exceptionally well with 250 grain Shockwaves and 100 grains of 777.

I pretty much have the set up listed above but I use BH209 and Barnes tez. The Omega will give you a longer barrel in a shorter gun because there is no action. Its hard to beat any new muzzeloader really these days. Traditions and CVA stuff is even good now.
 


If you really can not shoot a flintlock then go find a Savage ML.
I have had mine a long time. I shoot 5744 smokeless powder.
These other rifles are low pressure smoke sticks.
See I do not have a cloud of smoke when I fire my Savage.
Just look it up on the web. You will buy one too.
Jim S. on TV likes his. I rest my case.
 
Back
Top