New ML advice...

[Blucollar]

I need it bad! Advice I mean.
Wanting to get back into ML hunting and wanted a very inexpensive return.
I want the 209 primer set up and have seen some priced very reasonable but, a few years ago I heard alot of bad stuff on the cheaper MLs,(CVA and others) that were made over seas and didn't have to go through quality checks like here in the US.

Any info would be helpful, Thanks, Blu.

 

[muddyboots]

My wife has a cva wolfe. Is it as nice as a top end muzzleloader? NO. But it shoots accurately and will kill them just as dead.

 

[Blucollar]

The Savage is out of my range.

Didn't mean the remarks about cva as a put down to anyone, just heard some things about the pressure the barrels would stand.

I know there are alot of cva mls out there, just wanted to check, been out of touch with the MLs for a while.

Thanks.

 

[dh1984]

get you a knight rifle they will do as good as anything out there but it will not be able to shoot smokeless powder tho

 

[WTM]

that may have been true about cva's barrels 20 years ago, in certain rifles. but the truth of the matter is if the bergara barrels werent any good, thompson center wouldnt be using them as well.

 

[Model70Man]

If I were you, I would go out and handle the muzzleloaders that you are interested in. I started off cheap, because that was all I could afford at the time, and bought a CVA Eclipse Magnum for $99 at BPS. It was a 209 ignition ML with an open breech. I thought the primer would just stay in once it was in....wrong. Needless to say, I sold it and bought a CVA Optima. It was nicer, but alot heavier, and just didn't fit right to me. Ended up selling it and bought an Encore. I have no other wants as far as muzzleloaders are concerned. The Encore is a perfect fit for me.

You will save yourself alot of time and grief to check out each rifle, the features you like, weight, fit and feel of the muzzleloader. It's better to buy what you want and like than to settle on something that you truely didn't want in the first place.

 

[ewc]

It's better to buy what you want and like than to settle on something that you truely didn't want in the first place.

Probably the best advice ever posted here. An excellent way to traipse though life-

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

The biggest problem most people have with M.L.s is consistently loading the gun everytime. Practice loading and shooting and any M.L. will do the job. Some people like to think the more they pay the better they will shoot.$$$ spent don't make up for practice.

 

[Blucollar]

I've heard alot of good things about the Wolf, although it DOES NOT have a Bergara barrel, everyone seems to like them.

A more expensive rifle would be nice, but the only reason I would be getting one is the one or two days a year I would miss during the Tn ML season.
Just not worth it to me to spend a great deal for a couple of days.
Thanks for all the input, I'm still thinking on it.
Blu.

 

[BlackBelt]

I use the CVA Optima Pro. It's the only muzzleloader I've ever owned, but it certainly kills deer dead, and is very accurate. It was a mid-priced muzzleloader. You give up a little for having a less expensive ML than the top-of-the-lines, but for the couple of weeks I hunt with it, that's okay by me.

 

[Team Browning]

Unfortunately as you can see you get more opinion here than fact. Like going to a truck forum and asking which you like better, ford, dodge, chevy, etc. In that low to mid price range there is a lot of parity. New and cheap may not be better than a slightly used gun that costs about the same but started out higher and got traded for this year's latest and greatest. There is a lot of info on-line from product tests done by folks. Look there but what I find usually impacts my choice is what is available in my area. Season will soon be here so there will be people buying and selling.

I've owned a Knight, 2 Thompson Center and a Remington 700. All shot well and usually outshot me.

 

[A.K.A.]

I really don't know much but I use a Traditions and no problems. Has 209 and holes for scope mount.

 

[Blucollar]

I would like to have a NEF but they don't offer ML barrels now, I don't know if the MLs are available either.

As for a Traditions, I really like the looks of the new cheaper break action better than the CVAs, mainly because of the breech release looks like it would be more user friendly than the one on the CVAs, they stick down under the trigger guard, looks like it would snag alot.

 

[W.Seay]

Do yourself a favor, Get the savage!

 

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem most people have with M.L.s is consistently loading the gun everytime. Practice loading and shooting and any M.L. will do the job. Some people like to think the more they pay the better they will shoot.$$$ spent don't make up for practice.

I agree with you completely!! Having shot Black Powder for 30+ years now.. People do not understand that everything affects the accuracy of Black Powder..Temp's..Elevation..Barometric Pressure inconsistent loading..among other things all affect accuracy..In today's world nobody wants to take the time to learn their own Rifle any more..everything is about instant gratification..I have a old Thompson Hawken with a Green Mountain barrel on it and i will it up against ANY up to and including 125 yards!! She is the only thing i have hunted with for over 25 years now and has never let me down..She has never had a scope put on her nor will she ever!!!

 

[TRHC]

Unfortunately as you can see you get more opinion here than fact.

Here's some fact..Regardless of which make and model you choose, tinker around with loads until you find the best combo for that particular rifle. My buddy has a new ProHunter and insists on shooting a magnum charge of 3 fifty grain pellets because it can and because it's "easier". I have the same rifle and it shoots half-sized groups when compared to his. After much trial and error, I shoot 105 grains of loose 777 under a 250 Shockwave.

 

[Stalker]

My New England Huntsman is accurate and rugged. They don't cost much either. They also have the added bonus of adding centerfire rifle or shotgun barrels for a more complete package.

Good luck finding parts ie: primer holders and ram rods...they do not make them anymore (the gun or parts). I have one and it shoots the FPB's with 80gr 777 loose on top of each other out to 100yrd. I broke the ram rod and can not find a new one. Had a scope on it but took it off for quick close shots (my brush gun) very tuff gun except for the ram rod...I carry an old ram rod from a CVA Hunterbolt that is out off comission when I carry my Huntsman. Shoots Buffalo bullets well and like I said the FPB's REAL well. Does not like sabots or PowerBelts.

 

[TNLynn]

I have shot many, many muzzleloaders in my time. I have never found one yet that I couldn't find a load that would shot very satisfactory out to 100 yards(except the ones with pitted barrels).

 

[rubber]

I have had a cva for 10 years and its the cheapest you can get at one point they were 98 dollars the Apollo eclipse and they were recalling all barrels saying they would blow up all you had to do was send your sn. in and they would send you a new barrel free so i would say go with cva cheap accurate and great support.

 

[IceMann]

CVA Wolfs are made in spain.a great gun for the price,plus its a magnum.very accurate,a real tuff gun.I just bought me a new one at Dicks even though I dont need it..Couldnt pass up the price,plus my sweetie bought it for me..