new ml. bonecollector vs accura vs optima

[r1100s]

im interested in a new ml. ive been using a knight lk93 which works fine but im borrowing it and want my own plus i want something easier to clean. im not %100 sure i know the all the differences between the optima and accura but ive handled them both and they fit me nicely. which is easier to clean? and do either one have hand removable breech plugs? i know with the optima i can get rifle barrels, can i do the same with the accura? and what does the barrels cost? i really like the tc bone collector and all of its features but not the price so much but is it worth a few hundred more than the cvas? and last but not least should i forget these and just get a savage smokeless or cva electra and is the electra legal in tn? lots of questions i know but ive read the reviews and have turned to yall for real word evaluations as im still confused. thanks again. james

 

[DocMort]

If you want rifle barrels, you can buy an Encore for around 550 or so new maybe a little more. It's a great shooter no matter what you put on it.

 

[UTGrad]

CVA Optima Elite: changeable barrels from ML to centerfire
CVA Optima/Optima Pro: muzzleloader only
CVA Accura: muzzleloader only, very nice trigger pull
CVA Electra: muzzleloader only, legal in TN, won't ignite Blackhorn 209 (best loose powder in my opinion)
TC Bone Collector: muzzleloader only; pricey but nice
TC Encore: muzzleloader and centerfire; pricey but nice

 

[r1100s]

im probaly going too get a bone collector or accura then. i like having multiple guns lol. and a dedicated bolt 7mm rem mag is next after my ml but i have a nice 30-30 for close range work and a nice 270 for out to 300 or so. i guess the question is the tc stock, powerrod, and speed breech xt worth the money? they both shoulder real nice but i do like the cva thumbhole.what makes the accura better than the optima or optima pro? does it have a better trigger or just a little lighter? my big concern is ease of cleaning and id love one that would reach to 250yds but that would be a rare exception as most shots are 100yds or less. thanks again

 

[UTGrad]

If you want strictly a muzzleloader and don't care about changing barrels I would recommend the CVA Accura. The Accura has Bergara barrels which are very accurate. The Accura also has a nice trigger pull that is adjustable. The Optima is I think a 26" barrel and the Optima Pro has a 29" barrel. The trigger pull can be rougher on these models and they don't have a Bergara barrel, but they kill deer dead as anything else and can be had at good prices.

 

[square]

Do a little research on the encore line before you fall in love with it. You may get lucky and get a good one or you may get a lemon. Many of them will not shoot accurately unless you do quite a bit of work on them. This is especially true when you buy extra barrels. Problems range from inadequate hammer springs, too loose hinge pins, excessive headspace, to even having the chamber not bored concentrically with the barrel Even worse, T/C will not do anything about it.

Yes, I am a disgruntled encore owner. Originally I bought a ML that shot OK. I later bought a .35 Whelen barrel that would not shoot better than 3-4 in. at 100yds and suffered from frequent missfires. A hammer spring, oversized hinge pin, glass bedding the forearm, and a trigger job got it down to slightly larger than 1 in. groups and no missfires. Surprise, surprise the ML barrel shot better after all the work. Well over half the encore owners I know have experience the same issues, especially when extra barrels are purchased.

I doubt seriously there will be any more T/C products in my gun safe.

 

[jakeway]

I've owned an Optima and a T/C Triumph. The Triumph is MUCH easier to clean; the CVA has a lot of tight spaces around the hex breechplug, and there's a vent that allows gasses to get under the forearm and get the barrell and even the ramrod dirty. I've gotten black hands from using the ramrod for follow-up shots. The Triumph has the hand-removable breechplug and much fewer spaces that require Q-tips to clean.

The Triumph is just as accurate, though the bore is a tad tighter and I had to go to the Superglide sabots.

Having said all this, I refuse to buy anything that says "Bone Collector" on it. I get a kick out of Waddell, but this over-marketing just buns me.

 

[jakeway]

Oh, check out the CVA Apex. Looks like a wonderful little break open ML or Centerfire, with more traditional lines and feel than the Optima or Encore. I haven't seen the ML version yet to check if it has the gas venting under the forarm.

 

[r1100s]

lots of good info guys! im leaning towards the accura more and more but i do like the thought of easier cleaning

 

[shopson]

I have a Triumph and the Bone Collector is just the Cadillac of Triumphs. I love mine. Accurate, easy to clean, feels good. No doubt if you buy the Bone Collector you wikk be happy with it.

 

[r1100s]

lol i really like em both! i think this is a harder decision than any other gun purchase ive ever had

 

[UTGrad]

You'll be happy with either one. The Accura is easy to clean.

 

[TrailWatcher]

I got a BoneCollector this year I can't wait to get it in the woods.....

 

[Team Browning]

I own a Pro Hunter and cant see myself paying that much for a Bone Collector which is a dedicated muzzleloader that only gets a 2-week season in Tennessee.

 

[shopson]

I own a Pro Hunter and cant see myself paying that much for a Bone Collector which is a dedicated muzzleloader that only gets a 2-week season in Tennessee.

True but it can be a lifetime investment and you can always take it on the rifle hunt, especially if you have doe tags to fill.

 

[r1100s]

so can you use a ml in a buck only gun season to kill does? i wouldnt think so but i sure hope so!!!

 

[shopson]

If it is buck only then you can not kill does but there are a lot of doe hunting opportunities durng the rifle seasons.

 

[jakeway]

I'm telling ya, check out the APEX before you buy an Accura. I predict the Acura will be phased out soon. No reason to have it and the APEX. They'll keep the Wolf for ultra-low price gun, Optima for middle of the road, and APEX for direct head-to-head competition with the TC Encore.

CVA even openly mentions the Encore in their APEX ads.

 

[r1100s]

i usually shoot a nice camo stainless knight lk93 how does the 209 compare with ease of cleaning and fire hotness? the knight hasnt failed me yet but ive seen others that have and it isnt too easy to clean. also what do you think the range of the lk93 is with 90 grain loose powder and a 245gr sabot?

 

[BlackBelt]

I've got an Optima Pro, but I'm saving my pennies for that Bone Collector.
I know that the ML season is short here in TN, but I hunt that season hard. And I really like muzzleloading.
I like to have gear that I like to use.

 

[turkeyhunter64]

I did a lot of reseach and ended up with the accura. TC are to expensive for me and interchangeable barrels are just a gimmick. look at what you have to buy to use the systems and the costs. You can buy good guns for what you will end up paying for all the extras.. I love my Accura.

 

[Mathews Hunter]

I bought an Accura this year. Can't say enough good things about it. I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[usanglure]

If you put a price on any of our hunting weapons vs season you will really think about giving up and going to meat market. You might even get some good bino's and bird watch from one of those platforms that you drove to in your hybrid.....Look - Try - Love it.....all above work well for someone maybe even you.

 

[UTGrad]

Accura was a good choice! Make sure whatever you do get good mounts a good scope.

 

[Model70Man]

I did a lot of reseach and ended up with the accura. TC are to expensive for me and interchangeable barrels are just a gimmick. look at what you have to buy to use the systems and the costs. You can buy good guns for what you will end up paying for all the extras.. I love my Accura.

The interchangeable barrels are nowhere near being a gimmick. You get a high quality receiver and interchangeable barrels for numerous types of hunting with an Encore.

 

[SAWDUST]

I did a lot of reseach and ended up with the accura. TC are to expensive for me and interchangeable barrels are just a gimmick. look at what you have to buy to use the systems and the costs. You can buy good guns for what you will end up paying for all the extras.. I love my Accura.

The interchangeable barrels are nowhere near being a gimmick. You get a high quality receiver and interchangeable barrels for numerous types of hunting with an Encore.

true Model70Man. its all in what a man likes.