Looking- New Generation .50 Caliber muzzleloader

[mackdaddy]

Looking for guidance in a new in-line muzzleloader that is WA state compliant. I have shot a T/C Hawken .50 cal. for over 30 years. But after a recently shoulder surgery (new parts) I am thinking about a new unit with a recoil pad to help absorb some impact. You know that 50 with a brass butt plate has a little kick to her. I have not looked at what's offered out there in years. Any suggestions?

[Oh Mah]

Went and bought mine today,tired of problems with the traditional.Don't get me wrong i love my traditional but when in the field looking down the barrel of a 3x4 (TODAY)and it not going off is not a good feeling.yes it can happen with the in lines to no doubt but i can take the breech off an inline push out the problem and still have a chance at that deer.getting the puller out putting it together fighting it out reloading again,,,,,,Deer is not gonna still be around i'm sure.


               Anyways I bought the CVA Accura V2 NW Compliant breech plug for    319.00 Cabelas lol no box

[castnblast]

I've been happy with both of my Knight Bighorns in terms of reliability, ease of cleaning, and accuracy.

The prices keep rising on them over the years, so picking up a used one is a good option.

I'd also think about dropping the powder and bullet weight. Last year for my son's first muzzy deer hunt I dropped down to 80 grains of powder and the 245 gr Barnes spitfires for him.  Less load resulted in a very manageable recoil and still had plenty of punch on his first deer.

Best of luck to you!

[BigGoonTuna]

i really like my bighorn.  however, if they had been making the littlehorn when i bought it, i would have gone that route instead.  that 26" heavy barrel makes it nice to shoot, but i'd like carrying that shorter littlehorn any day.  hard to deal with a bighorn with a sling, i find myself carrying the rifle in my hands most of the time.

i think i paid about $350 when i bought my knight in early 2012, i had heard they'd gone up quite a bit and when i looked at their site a couple days ago, my jaw about hit the floor.  makes me wish i would have bought another one(or two) when they had a big sale last year.

[b.roberts]

I have a tc renegade and a knight disc extreme.   Recoil is way more comfortable in the knight.  I don't think the in-lines are any more reliable than the traditionals.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Goex2Fwithroundball]

I walked down this road in recent years. Having all of my buddies switching over to modern in lines. I chose to stay with my traditional. Mainly because I have the utmost confidence that when I squeeze the trigger it will fire and shoot accurately. No doubt every time.
I have been shooting a TC Hawken .54 for many years. I did not like the feel of an inline and don't get me started on the misfires. . I found that the new modern guns with their 150 grain charges kick harder than my Hawken.
I also have shoulder issues. My remedy is to wear a shooting shirt with an integrated pad. I also shoot a patched round ball bullet which provides much less recoil than sabots or conicals.

Good luck.

[crowinghen]

I like my Knight Little horn. it is awkward to carry because of the weight distribution, looking to get a no slip sling, that might help. It's too small to be comfortable for my husband though ( Length of pull) so keep that in mind. Recoil is fine- shooting a 290 grain Barnes Tez with 2 pyrodex pellets.
susie

[arees]

My son recently got a CVA Wolf and we were working on that for this season.  I would not buy another one due to the misfire issues with plugging the flash hole.  The very first time we shot it the musket cap went off but not the charge.  This has repeated itself over and over.  Sometimes you get a few shots before it plugs, other times you get one shot.  Once it is plugged it is not easy to clear it with a nipple pick.  We spent too long trying to drill through the blockage with a nipple pick while his elk was kicking in the brush.

We have been using Pyrodex powder and RWS musket caps.  This is not a viable combination with the CVA Wolf Northwest edition.  If it were not for this one issue I would give it a pretty good review.

The other minor issue with it is that the ram rod is in two pieces and you have to take off the 6 inch tip part before you slide the ram rod under the barrel.  That leaves you keeping the tip in your pocket.  I keep thinking that they must have had another plan that I don't understand but I haven't found it yet.

[MountainDevil54]

Can't blame the sidelock for not going off. Its all user error of loading and not keeping the rifle protected during the hunt.

[Smoke]

Can't blame the sidelock for not going off. Its all user error of loading and not keeping the rifle protected during the hunt.

beg to differ.... hunted muzzy a lot back in the 70's..  CCI #11 caps, and never, never, never had a misfire or hangfire....  pulled it back into service last year to take my grandson out muzzy hunting, had to buy new caps and powder of course... now almost half my shots end up misfires, and if it does go off, half of those are hangfires.... tried 3 different brand of caps, and same problems...  checked everything on the weapon, even changed the nipple... no help... it's not the gun or the operator... its the lower quality of supplies they put on the shelves now days...

[lazydrifter]

I'm in the same boat. Shoulder surgery last year.  I shoot a TC Renegade in 54 cal.  100 grains of pyrodex and a 425 grain bullet.  Very hard on my shoulder.  Very heavy to carry. Been looking at the new Traditions Vortek Stryker fired NW Magnum. 50 cal. You can get  either a 28  or  30 inch barrel. Nitride coated.  No hammer and very quiet to cock.  Hear alot of good things about the Knight Bighorn too, but I haven't seen one in stock anywhere where I can handle it.  Not to fond of the double triggers on the Renegade.  I haven't had any misfires with my Renegade but I went on my 1st elk hunt in 30 years last weekend and missed a 100 yard shot at a broadside 6 point bull.  Forgot to set my trigger.   Bull knew I was there.  Started pulling the trigger and it didn't go bang like it should at the touch.  I think I wound up jerking it.  We couldn't find any sign of a hit and looked for 2 days.  Shot my Renegade today and it is still shooting a 3 inch group at a 100 yards  I've seen an aftermarket single trigger assembly for these but don't know how they work.  Think it's just time to hang the Renegade up and buy a new inline.

[mackdaddy]

Thanks everyone. I feel your pain, in the shoulder Lazy. I like the sound of the Vortek Stryker NW version also but have not had my hands on one yet. Its on my short list. I will keep the T/C Hawken around for backup or visitors. Let me what you come across or decide.

[Goex2Fwithroundball]

I'm in the same boat. Shoulder surgery last year.  I shoot a TC Renegade in 54 cal.  100 grains of pyrodex and a 425 grain bullet.  Very hard on my shoulder.  Very heavy to carry. Been looking at the new Traditions Vortek Stryker fired NW Magnum. 50 cal. You can get  either a 28  or  30 inch barrel. Nitride coated.  No hammer and very quiet to cock.  Hear alot of good things about the Knight Bighorn too, but I haven't seen one in stock anywhere where I can handle it.  Not to fond of the double triggers on the Renegade.  I haven't had any misfires with my Renegade but I went on my 1st elk hunt in 30 years last weekend and missed a 100 yard shot at a broadside 6 point bull.  Forgot to set my trigger.   Bull knew I was there.  Started pulling the trigger and it didn't go bang like it should at the touch.  I think I wound up jerking it.  We couldn't find any sign of a hit and looked for 2 days.  Shot my Renegade today and it is still shooting a 3 inch group at a 100 yards  I've seen an aftermarket single trigger assembly for these but don't know how they work.  Think it's just time to hang the Renegade up and buy a new inline.

A good rule of thumb about double triggers: Never use the set trigger for hunting. Only for target shooting. I also learned this the hard way!
I always practice shooting without using the set trigger. It takes awhile getting used to the heavy trigger pull.

[lazydrifter]

I handle one of the Traditions Vortek Strykers today and really like it.  Really quiet cocking it and has a simple uncock button.  Buds has a great price on these.

           https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/719005053/TRA+VRTK+NW+LDR+50+30+NIT+XTRA                 

[Sabotloader]

Looking for guidance in a new in-line muzzleloader that is WA state compliant. I have shot a T/C Hawken .50 cal. for over 30 years. But after a recently shoulder surgery (new parts) I am thinking about a new unit with a recoil pad to help absorb some impact. You know that 50 with a brass butt plate has a little kick to her. I have not looked at what's offered out there in years. Any suggestions?

I am totally biased so really keep that in mind! 

I would really suggest a Knight rifle to you... They are American made and they are so darn reliable!

I do not know how much you might use a ML but if you are like me using the rifle during regular rifle season and the short ML seasons I would highly suggest a Western Knight ULite.  They are really light 6 lbs. with a Kevlar stock and a bedding block built into the rifle...







The problem they are expensive but they are a lifetime rifle...

After that the DISC Extreme is a great rifle and as other people have suggested here the Bighorn is just a journeyman's muzzleloader. It just gets the job done...

This is my Knight MK-85 it is sorta the old man of the Bighorn.  They look basically alike - bighorn has a longer barrel.

 

I would suggest this rear sight for a Bighorn

[Oh Mah]

Can't blame the sidelock for not going off. Its all user error of loading and not keeping the rifle protected during the hunt.

beg to differ.... hunted muzzy a lot back in the 70's..  CCI #11 caps, and never, never, never had a misfire or hangfire....  pulled it back into service last year to take my grandson out muzzy hunting, had to buy new caps and powder of course... now almost half my shots end up misfires, and if it does go off, half of those are hangfires.... tried 3 different brand of caps, and same problems...  checked everything on the weapon, even changed the nipple... no help... it's not the gun or the operator... its the lower quality of supplies they put on the shelves now days...

went shooting the new cva accura v2 today had all of this happen first shot great 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 primers nothing cleaned breech in between all primers nope.the flash hole is tiny way to small i used a needle to clean it out between shots.can anyone tell me how big the flash hole is on there inline?

[predatorpro]

I have a traditions vortek and I love it! Best muzzy I've ever shot! Super simple and easy to clean and shoots great!

[Oh Mah]

the answer is .035 the accura is closer to .027.gonna drill it out and see if it makes it better

[syoungs]

I found that after use, my cva breech plug "broke" in. I don't know if it was just use, or the fact I clean the flash hole with a set of welding tip cleaners often, or what for sure, bit she goes bamg every time.
If your using loose powder, use the 209 style plug, let's the order sit right at the musket cap. Also, you really gotta reef the musket cap on sometimes, I found res 1081fl's to work best in my wolf, my optima v2 will shoot anything now. (Approx 300rndd down pipe)

I really recommend the gas welding tip cleaner over a nipple pick though, probably the biggest thing to make mine function reliably

[lazydrifter]

I really like that Knight Mountaineer UL.  I looked on their website last night but didn't see it listed with the western options. 

[Sabotloader]

Can't blame the sidelock for not going off. Its all user error of loading and not keeping the rifle protected during the hunt.

beg to differ.... hunted muzzy a lot back in the 70's..  CCI #11 caps, and never, never, never had a misfire or hangfire....  pulled it back into service last year to take my grandson out muzzy hunting, had to buy new caps and powder of course... now almost half my shots end up misfires, and if it does go off, half of those are hangfires.... tried 3 different brand of caps, and same problems...  checked everything on the weapon, even changed the nipple... no help... it's not the gun or the operator... its the lower quality of supplies they put on the shelves now days...

went shooting the new cva accura v2 today had all of this happen first shot great 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 primers nothing cleaned breech in between all primers nope.the flash hole is tiny way to small i used a needle to clean it out between shots.can anyone tell me how big the flash hole is on there inline?

On a Lehigh/Knight breech plug the flash hole is .031/2 and the flash channel is 5/32"...

[Sabotloader]

I really like that Knight Mountaineer UL.  I looked on their website last night but didn't see it listed with the western options.

Actually the best place to get one is at a local Sportsman's WHSE. If you call Knight at the 800 number ask for Garry McKelvy he can get you all the information you need... It would much more expensive from Knight because they can not undercut there retailers.

I know both Spokane and Kennewick have them in stock

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Knight-Ultra-Lite-.50Cal-Western-Muzzleloader-Tan-Stainless/productDetail/Muzzleloaders/prod99999026781/cat100008

[Oh Mah]

I found that after use, my cva breech plug "broke" in. I don't know if it was just use, or the fact I clean the flash hole with a set of welding tip cleaners often, or what for sure, bit she goes bamg every time.
If your using loose powder, use the 209 style plug, let's the order sit right at the musket cap. Also, you really gotta reef the musket cap on sometimes, I found res 1081fl's to work best in my wolf, my optima v2 will shoot anything now. (Approx 300rndd down pipe)

I really recommend the gas welding tip cleaner over a nipple pick though, probably the biggest thing to make mine function reliably

I Just came back from shooting and i did the welder tip cleaner bit,you are right the hole looks way better to me i did not drill it out but what a difference the tip cleaner made.i guess the caps i was using was the biggest problem loading the flash hole up. thanks for this tip 

[Sabotloader]

Just out of curiosity which caps were you using?

[Oh Mah]

i cant tell. they are in a red top black plastic ...made in germany...maybe a symbol with an RWS

[Sabotloader]

i cant tell. they are in a red top black plastic ...made in germany...maybe a symbol with an RWS

Yep RWS 1081's... they are probably the best (hottest) Musket cap available...

[Twang]

Traditions Stikefire may have problems lighting the cap and customer service has messed with my buddy for months.  If you go with Traditions and like a hammer the Vortex handles nice and patterns very well
I tried a CVA and ended up replacing every crappy screw for good ones after threads spun on trigger and sight None of the metal was good.  Like it was meant for interior use only, i have to keep it greased up and still I wonder how long it will shoot.  Broke the front sling lug (plastic) right away
I hunt with a knight Bighorn.  Added a thumbhole stock and peep, adjusted the stock trigger to my liking and can only think of one thing I would prefer
Knight fixed that with the ultralight
PS it cleans up like new.  Good steal

[Twang]

Traditions Stikefire may have problems lighting the cap and customer service has messed with my buddy for months.  If you go with Traditions and like a hammer the Vortex handles nice and patterns very well
I tried a CVA and ended up replacing every crappy screw for good ones after threads spun on trigger and sight None of the metal was good.  Like it was meant for interior use only, i have to keep it greased up and still I wonder how long it will shoot.  Broke the front sling lug (plastic) right away
I hunt with a knight Bighorn.  Added a thumbhole stock and peep, adjusted the stock trigger to my liking and can only think of one thing I would prefer
Knight fixed that with the ultralight
PS it cleans up like new.  Good steal

[mackdaddy]

Because of my lack of time to sit down and do the research I am wondering which of all the above mentioned manufactures muzzleloaders are made in America and have lifetime warranties? My old Thompson Center Hawken .50 cal after 20 years of occasional muzzleloader hunting developed a crack in the walnut stock. I contacted T/C and they sent me a new stock, just as nice as the original.

[mackdaddy]

I have looked at a couple of muzzleloaders and they happen to be equipped for Musket Caps. I have always used #11 percussion. Musket caps are legal in OR and WA ? 209 are not?

[lazydrifter]

I just bought the Knight Disc Extreme.   Was delivered yesterday.   Sportsmans warehouse had a $50.00 off coupon which took it down to $449.00.   Incredible rifle.  Waiting to shoot it until my new sights come in.   This comes with both the musket nipple and #11 and yes, they are both legal in Washington and 209 primer IS NOT legal.