good muzzleloader????????????

[outdoor_adventurer]

i turn 18 in about 2 weeks and i was planning to buy a muzzleloader. i would like some advice on a gun that has fairly good accuracy and is fairly decent in price...i dont want to spend an arm and leg for my first muzzleloader incase i dont like it. i would like to have some advice on a good first gun. i appreciate any tips!!!!

[Jeramie]

CVA. Look at the Optima The price is right and they are very accurate. They also make a lower grade, the CVA Wolf. Honestly Id go with the Optima. The Wolf if basically the same Rifle only the Optima has a much better trigger (imho).

Both are break over ML'ers meaning the cleaning is much easier than an in line. In fact Ill never own another in line. They are to hard to clean for me.

Another Great ML to look at is the H&R Sidekick. Cheap ML'ers but are of great quality for the money. They are deadly accurate too. (Yes its a break over).

Btw, all three ive mentioned can easily be had for under $200. All three are tapped and ready for a scope. All three shoot with a 209 primer (burns much hotter). And I'm pretty sure all three now shoot magnum loads. I know the CVA's do. Im pretty sure the Sidekick does now also.

[RangerClay]

I agree with Jeremie, I've heard good things about the CVA Wolf.

However, personally I would like to see you get a REAL smokepole like mine in my signature below. A t/c Renegade

[tallone]

I bought the traditions pursuit pro last year and really love it, shoots great and cleans easy.

[WABS]

Bought a used Traditions Pursuit LT for under $140 and he loves it. VERY accurate as well.

[GWSmith]

This is how I bought my CVA Wolf:
http://www.impactguns.com/store/SS-16585.html
I bought mine at a Gander Mountain Store for about the same price. Actually I had put it on lay-away for a couple months then picked it up after that.
I was thinking just like you are stating about starting out. I wanted a good quality entry level rifle to see if I liked Muzzleloading. The Outfit package had everything I needed but the Powder and Primers. Most importantly it had a DVD I watched that helped me learn quite a bit about what to do and not to do.
As it turned out I'm completely happy with the performance of this short light rifle. That is now, with a little range time and testing different loads, shooting 1-1/4" groups @ 100yds.
Other than planning to upgrade the Scope in the future that came in the outfit package...I probably wont change rifles!

[HaDeRonDa]

I've seen the groups that the CVA Wolf can produce in the hands of a skilled shooter and they are good ones.
Gary, We need to get together soon to hunt Bone Island.
You know both with the bow and then later with the ML.

[RedlegHunter]

If you are on a tight budget I would recommend the Harrington & Richardson (H&R) Sidekick muzzleloader. This is an excellent muzzleloader, and you simply can't find another product with this quality for the price. I bought two this year, one for my son and another for myself. My son took his first buck this month. We both shoot 245 gr. Powerbelts with 150 gr. 777 pellets. This setup will shoot consistent shot groups of 2.5" at 100 yards.

I grew up shooting the H&R shotguns as a youngster. You can purchase one at Bass Pro Shops for $170 online.

[BigAl1781]

i just bough5t an optima 50cal myself i love it,,, but i still love my cva staghorn too they both shoot the same,,,, what ever ya do buy a CVA,,, CVA makes good guns IMHO

[PA_RIDGE_RUNNER]

I am new here but not so new to front loaders. I have been shooting a muzzleloader since the 1970s. In the past 5 years or so I have done a whole lot of shooting. What I have to say next is also just my opinion. Over the years I have owned and or shot Investarms, CVA, Traditions, Lyman, Knight, TC and most recently RMC Accusporter.

I will agree that the Spanish senorita's (CVA, Traditions, Winchester, and others are not expensive. My shooting has proven to me that they may be inexpensive but they are also cheap. I have a big problem with traditions and CVA. My son-in-law bought a CVA and when we took it out of the box the butt stock was so loose it was not shootable. The front sight had also fallen off the rifle. That is only the tip of the iceberg for CVA. I own a traditions rifle that is made in the same factory as CVA and it has given me more grief than any front loader I own. I also have a problem with the proofing on these spanish barrels. As near as I can figure they are only proofed to from 8000 to 10,000 psi and that is not enough for even 100 gr of powder. Yet they say in their manuals these rifles are safe to 150 gr which generates about 20,000 to 25,000 psi.

I much prefer the american made rifles which are proofed much better and much better quality and the greatest warrenty if you should have a problem.

Again, this is just my opinion. But it is an opinion based on many years of experience and more recently, some internet and book research.