Traditions Vortek StrikerFire NW Magnum

[whacker1]

Does anyone have any feedback on the StrkerFire new line of muzzleloaders?

I know that they were just released in the last month or two for delivery, so I am looking for the early adopters.

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Vortek-Strikerfire-Northwest-Magnum

I handled one.  Very light. 
28 inch barrel
1:28 twist
exposed nipple

I was pretty impressed by the handling, but haven't had the opportunity to shoot one.

[Sabotloader]

Does anyone have any feedback on the StrkerFire new line of muzzleloaders?

I know that they were just released in the last month or two for delivery, so I am looking for the early adopters.

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Vortek-Strikerfire-Northwest-Magnum

I handled one.  Very light. 
28 inch barrel
1:28 twist
exposed nipple

I was pretty impressed by the handling, but haven't had the opportunity to shoot one.

If they use the same nipple setup as the Vortek - I would expect them to be just as suspect as the Vortek.

One of the posters here has one and has shot it, his is a 209 edition, and he really likes it - but he likes anything that somebody will send him for testing.

[whacker1]

but he likes anything that somebody will send him for testing.

Funny how it is different report when the price is right.

I want to see what the reports look like 2-3 years down the road after these have been used and abused.  I like the innovation they have gone through to lighten the action over a bolt, but waiting to see how they hold up.

[Sabotloader]

but he likes anything that somebody will send him for testing.

Funny how it is different report when the price is right.

I want to see what the reports look like 2-3 years down the road after these have been used and abused.  I like the innovation they have gone through to lighten the action over a bolt, but waiting to see how they hold up.

For so many years the public felt that a ML needed to heavy to help reduce recoil.  And of course a lot of extra weight is built into the thickness of the barrel.  With the advent of the different Ultra Lite ML - I really thing that perception is changing.  The barrels are becoming thinner but yet with the right good metal will hold up to the rigors that a ML may get exposed to... double loads - double projectiles - we humans can make some really dumb mistakes.  You would not believe what Doc White designed his barrels to withstand.  Just because of people...

I know the Ulites are expensive but they are going closer to the weight and looks of a modern rifle...

[MountainDevil54]

Does anyone have any feedback on the StrkerFire new line of muzzleloaders?

I know that they were just released in the last month or two for delivery, so I am looking for the early adopters.

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Vortek-Strikerfire-Northwest-Magnum

I handled one.  Very light. 
28 inch barrel
1:28 twist
exposed nipple

I was pretty impressed by the handling, but haven't had the opportunity to shoot one.

If they use the same nipple setup as the Vortek - I would expect them to be just as suspect as the Vortek.

One of the posters here has one and has shot it, his is a 209 edition, and he really likes it - but he likes anything that somebody will send him for testing.

A case of the pot calling the kettle black. Enjoy your knight stuff these days SL?

Results speak loudly for the Strikerfire. Not sure about the NW edition as I prefer to just stick to a sidelock if i have to use a #11 cap.

The trigger is awesome on mine, it breaks consistently between 24 to 27 ounces.


Reports from used and abused guns say nothing about the gun, just that the owner was a poor cleaner and did not care for his or her investment.

[MountainDevil54]

Just did this about 15 minutes ago. 80gr volume Clean Shot "Old stuff 10+ years old" cci inline mzl primers and homecast 370gr maxiballs. 25 and 50 yards, big hole to the far left is 3 shots. The Strikerfire does not use the QLA muzzle thankfully.

[kerrdog]

Just did this about 15 minutes ago. 80gr volume Clean Shot "Old stuff 10+ years old" cci inline mzl primers and homecast 370gr maxiballs. 25 and 50 yards, big hole to the far left is 3 shots. The Strikerfire does not use the QLA muzzle thankfully.

You guys have to use "full bore" bullets where you are?  My main motivation to buy a new inline was the 1/28 twist so I could shoot sabots with copper bullets.  It seems that your motivation was that you like the shotgun primers.

[MountainDevil54]

in colorado we're limited to open sights, full bore conicals, loose powder. That deer was shot in new mexico which does allow scopes & sabots. Im just working up some colorado loads for it now so i am ready next season. Ignition types isnt an issue in either of the states i hunt.

[bagwahn]

I'm shooting Hornady FPB 350gr at 100 yds open sights, about as good as I can do, sights are all fuzzy but I can still see the target, if I could just hold steady. I really like the trigger pull and the way it shoots. Got me a white tail buck too, freezer's about full

[ErikJS]

I had a Traditions Vortek Strikerfire NW Magnum and returned it because it would not fire the musket caps reliably.  Note the picture of the caps with a firing pin dimple yet did not fire.  I am no expert, but I believe musket caps and #11 caps are designed to be struck with a full face blow to fire the priming.  The strikerfire system does not appear to be properly designed.  Looks like they just jerryrigged the 209 striker to get into the NW market.  They do not have all that good of reviews as I am not the only one with this problem.  I really like the concept of the vortek and it is well made, but if does not go "boom" it is no good.  Still in the market for an inline, question is which one?  I am kind off turned off by Traditions.

[Damnimissed]

Go with the Knight Ultra Light if youve got the budget for it. I just picked one up to replace my vortek NW...anyone wanna buy it? Only got two seasons on it.

[Kuduman]

I thought about a vortek because they sure feel nice but the reputation they have for misfires made me choose a disc extreme. Had a buddy of mine draw a blues bull tag two years ago and was camped on a bull that he eventually got. He literally lined up a bunch of primers on a log and when the bull stood up from where he was bedded he started going through them until his gun fired. I wanna say he went through 4-5 musket capes until his gun fired.......NO THANKS

[Mfowl]

I've had no troubles with my Vortek. Its not a Strikefire but its fired every time I've pulled the trigger so far. I shot my elk at 10ft this year (literally) front on. If the gun didn't fire I would have been trampled. Instead I put it on its butt where it promptly expired. Its been much more accurate and consistent than the Bighorn I used to own.

[MountainDevil54]

I'd change out the musket nipple with a different brand and see how that does.

[Damnimissed]

I'd change out the musket nipple for a #11. They're more weather resistant. I had problems with musket caps too, but not 11's.

[whacker1]

I had a Traditions Vortek Strikerfire NW Magnum and returned it because it would not fire the musket caps reliably.  Note the picture of the caps with a firing pin dimple yet did not fire.  I am no expert, but I believe musket caps and #11 caps are designed to be struck with a full face blow to fire the priming.  The strikerfire system does not appear to be properly designed.  Looks like they just jerryrigged the 209 striker to get into the NW market.  They do not have all that good of reviews as I am not the only one with this problem.  I really like the concept of the vortek and it is well made, but if does not go "boom" it is no good.  Still in the market for an inline, question is which one?  I am kind off turned off by Traditions.

if you are buying new.  Knight Disc Extreme with Western Kit or knight Mountaineer western kit.
These seem to be the two best.  Sabotloader compared the two for us here
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,139815.msg1855923.html#msg1855923

[ErikJS]

Thank you whacker1.  I did allot of research on Knight and called them. Too much info to put on this thread.  I ended up ordering a Bighorn western.  Main reason was the simple solid design and then price.  $400.00 out of pocket (less $ than the Vortek Strikerfire) and I have a solid well made rifle.  The Disc is a step up and the Mountaineer is at the top, both bolt guns.  Bolts have a slightly faster lock time and the Mountaineer has the 27" barrel.  Money aside, the Knight Mountaineer with the western kit is the best ML for these parts, allot of money for me though. I can put up with less accuracy, less velocity because they are known factors that with practice I can over come.  But the gun not going boom when you need it to, well I just can't abide. 

[kerrdog]

I had a Traditions Vortek Strikerfire NW Magnum and returned it because it would not fire the musket caps reliably.  Note the picture of the caps with a firing pin dimple yet did not fire.  I am no expert, but I believe musket caps and #11 caps are designed to be struck with a full face blow to fire the priming.  The strikerfire system does not appear to be properly designed.  Looks like they just jerryrigged the 209 striker to get into the NW market.  They do not have all that good of reviews as I am not the only one with this problem.  I really like the concept of the vortek and it is well made, but if does not go "boom" it is no good.  Still in the market for an inline, question is which one?  I am kind off turned off by Traditions.

This exact thing happens with my T/C NW Explorer.  It dents the primer without setting it off.  Usually it will go off the second time.  I always assumed that the hammer spring was too wimpy, or the hammer itself doesn't pack enough momentum.  Now I wonder if the firing pin is just too narrow?  Anyway, I've pretty much given up on that rifle.  It's been back to the factory twice, and it's proven (over and over) that's it's just not reliable at setting off caps. (the hammer is made from pot metal, and broke in half one time).  I always loved the design of that action, but after being let down so many times…..I'm done.

[Red Duckworth]

I bought a strikerfire at Christmas time when Cabelas had them on sale. I finally had the chance to take it to the range on Saturday and was completely disappointed. It misfired at least 20 times although it seemed to be denting all the musket caps. I tried fourdifferent kinds of  musket caps and could not find any that would fire in my gun although my buddy had a muzzleloader that was not strikerfire and it fired every time with all brands of caps except 1 misfire with CCI. So completely pissed off i went to Cabelas and the guy at the gun counter says he was not surprised that i had this problem and had returned other strikerfires because of the same issue. Although they are very like and easy to handle guns it appears there may be some design flaws that are going to plague this particular gun. Also i was told that strikerfire cannot be switched to #11 because of the firing pin design.

[Red Duckworth]

I had a Traditions Vortek Strikerfire NW Magnum and returned it because it would not fire the musket caps reliably.  Note the picture of the caps with a firing pin dimple yet did not fire.  I am no expert, but I believe musket caps and #11 caps are designed to be struck with a full face blow to fire the priming.  The strikerfire system does not appear to be properly designed.  Looks like they just jerryrigged the 209 striker to get into the NW market.  They do not have all that good of reviews as I am not the only one with this problem.  I really like the concept of the vortek and it is well made, but if does not go "boom" it is no good.  Still in the market for an inline, question is which one?  I am kind off turned off by Traditions.

This is what my musket caps also looked like but I had 6 fires out of about 75 different caps. From 4 different manufacturers.

[carpsniperg2]

I will never own another traditions they are having way to many problems and the one I had was a nightmare.

[Red Duckworth]

I will never own another traditions they are having way to many problems and the one I had was a nightmare.

I agree 100% mine was a complete disaster.

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[Yelper Guy]

I've got the Traditions Vortek NW edition and when I pull the trigger it goes boom.
Try using the German caps, with the four fluted edges, they work great!

[MountainDevil54]

watch out for some of the newer cci musket caps, they are called "reinactment" and are made just for that. Could be one of the main problems some are having.

[Red Duckworth]

I've got the Traditions Vortek NW edition and when I pull the trigger it goes boom.
Try using the German caps, with the four fluted edges, they work great!

I was using these caps primarily there was no bang from my gun. Although they worked great in my buddies gun.

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