Traditions Vortek Northwest Magnum

[Wash.hunter]

Picked up a new Traditions Vortek Northwest Mag. ultralite in 50 cal., switching to blackpowder this year for deer season, I was a little uneasy after reading the reviews for it on this site but after taking it to the range for the first time today I was very pleased to get really decent groups out of it at 50 yards, it seemed to shoot better with the barrel a little dirty, I cleaned it after every shot for the first dozen or so shots, then left the barrel dirty for half a dozen or so shots and got the best groups that way, I can say I had no misfires or any other issues with the gun, I am using Powerbelt aerotip copper  348 gr. bullets with Jim Shokey gold super sticks 150 gr. and RWS no.1081 musket caps, the ones with the four tangs. I hope to get just as good of groups at 100 yards next time, the gun was also very easy to clean up after shooting for the day, I am very pleased with the gun.s

[Bigtine96]

People can talk bad about it all they want, I have it and love it! Killed my bull with it at 175 yards last year and have never had a misfire or any problems with it. Would definitely buy it again!

[Wash.hunter]

What powder and bullet do you use? what range do you sight in at? I am thinking 100 yards is a good range to sight in for. I am new to this whole muzzleloader thing so any info is appreciated.

[Bigtine96]

I use 150 grains of Pyrodex pellets and this year I switched to 300 gr. copper jacketed sabbot's. I sight all my smokepoles in 3" high at 100 yards and use the top and the bottom of the front sight to adjust for farther ranges. I put the top of the front sight dead center at 100 and that should be 3'' high. Then if I put the bottom of the front sight dead center at 150 it will hit dead on. This is just what works for me and my setup, I dont like anything farther than 150 yards personally because there is more elements that come into play. But practice for long shots and get confident with your gun and it will take care of you when the time comes.

[carpsniperg2]

It seems like they have worked most of there problems out with them now. I had one of the first ones and it was junk. First gun I have ever owned that scared me and went off by itself. I think most are better now days. Good luck this year

[Bigtine96]

It seems like they have worked most of there problems out with them now. I had one of the first ones and it was junk. First gun I have ever owned that scared me and went off by itself. I think most are better now days. Good luck this year

They changed alot, from the trigger and firing mechanism to changing from crappy#11 caps to musket caps.

[B-Nut]

Were you shooting at the Plantation rifle range?

[Wash.hunter]

Were you shooting at the Plantation rifle range?

 I was shooting at Custer.

[B-Nut]

Just curious, someone was shooting some muzzle loaders at plantation yesterday next to me. Seemed really cool. I am thinking about checking some out.

[Wash.hunter]

Went to the range again with this new Traditions Vortex and this time tryed using Powerbelts Platinum bullet in 338 grain with 150 grain Jim Shockey Gold Pellets and found my groups to be even tighter at 100 yards, got 3 shots into a 4 inch group, that is good for me since I am a poor shot anyway, this gun seems to like this bullet a little better then the copper jacket Powerbelts I was shooting before, they shot decent too but not as tight of grouping.

[jbender]

I responded to a couple of people last year about this same muzzy.  A buddy and me each bought one last year and had great success with the accuracy of them.  We were both using 295 grain Powerbelts and 100 grains of powder.  We tried loose powder and pellets but I didn't see any difference in my accuracy.  So for hunting ease we used pellets.  Upon reading a lot of the peoples posts that were complaining about this rifle they were talking about mis fires and the gun going off when they closed the breech.  From my experience the mis fires were probably with the #11 cap on the NW Edition model, not the NW Magnum Edition which shoots the musket caps.  The problem of them going off when they close the breech was likely caused by these guys changing the nipples over from the #11 to the musket cap which the company tells you in the manual not to do.  I called the company and they told me there is a 300th of an inch difference in the two nipples and they are not inerchangable.  If you put the musket cap nipple on the regular NW Edition it is too long and can cause the cap to fire. 

I love mine, especially how light it is without giving a lot of recoil.  As always, just my 

[264winmag]

I have the Vortek NW Magnum also in .50/   i caught a lot of flak from buddies on this rifle. Even some local stores tried to talk me out of it.

              I want to clear some things up on this ML.  My buddy has a night Big horn and can't touch my groups no matter what load or bullet he tries!
              It's light! It's accurate! I went through a 100 ct of german musketcaps so I know I have shot it at least 100 times. NOT ONE MISFIRE!  This rifle can misfire when you close the action just like the old one. But it takes about 3 dozen shots without cleaning the firing pin and letting it sit for a day for it to stick. If the pin is dirty enough to be protruding so it clips the musketcap when closing, YOU ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF YOUR MUZZELLOADER PROPERLY.
              When I was at the range I shot once then ran 2 pre soaked patches up and down 5 times. Then 2 dry patches and fired again. I did this 40 times in one outing and I shot out a 2" hole in my 100 yard target. Every shot after was through the same hole. Got only 1 flyer out of 40 shots.
               I then cleaned the whole thing including taking the screw out to remove the firing pin, cleaned and replaced.  Shot again to see if it was still on.   Yep,  no change.   Clean your guns and you will love this ML!!!!!
  100gr Pyrodex pellets-250gr SST    Would'nt change a thing!   Love it!!!!!!
     I lied, I would change one thing!   I wish it had a more user friendly ram rod!   That's it.

[James E]

I have a remington and 2 knights. The vortek is by far the most accurate. The steel feels cheap compared to the Knights, but is sure shoots nice. Have not had a misfire yet.

[wackum]

I bought the Vortex NW Magnum last year and have had no problems with it, the only miss fire I have had was after 20+ shots without cleaning. I think this is a great muzzle loader.

[Wash.hunter]

 A little update since I started this thread and now it seems to have come back to life again I have switched to using loose powder and found even better accuracy, currently I have two loads that this gun seems to like, 100 grains loose powder and a 300 grain Powerbelt platinum, and 120 grains loose powder and a 338 grain Powerbelt platinum. I can group both loads the same at 100 yards under 3 inch groups. Makes even a poor shot like myself look half way decent!