traditions northwest magnum

[honda245]

I just won a traditions northwest magnum in a raffle it feels great it came with a addendum to the manual saying it was designed for a musket cap does anyone have this gun if have you had any problems. also my brass musket capper will not work on this gun is there one that does work. I'm new here so any help would be much appreciated

[Rick]

I've had one for a few months. I really like it. Easy to carry,easy to clean and shoots nicely.

I bought a capper that I took back. The RWS musket caps are big enough that I don't find myself fumbling with them during a reload. No capper needed IMO.

[The100Road]

Wow, What a score. Shot mine for the first time at the range on Saturday. Very accurate and easy to clean. Good gun so far. We'll see what happens when October comes around.

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

Great shooting gun but has three problems.

1. The capper- please call Traditions and complain about the capper issue- I called already and they told me I was the only person to complain! BS!
Call 860-388-4656 The only way to use a capper is to modify the brass musket capper. Use a cutting wheel and trim the top folded over lips. Them put it in a vise lengthwise and squeeze it narrower. You will have to get the musket caps without wings but at least they're still musket caps.

2. The firing pin- it needs a stronger spring as it does not always pop the cap. Current spring might work if the head of the pin was round instead of the little straight bar on it.

3. The scope mount holes- they are not tapped all the way to the bottom of the hole! I tried to mount a Williams peep sight on it and the screws cannot tighten down enough because there are only three threads in the hole. Went back to Bobs to have them double check it. They confirmed the problem- they also checked the other new guns on the shelf- same problem. Need more than 3 threads in the hole.

By the way- shot it with the stock sights without adjusting them yesterday. Shot two groups at 50 yards. Moved to 200 yards and hit water filled milk jug first shot.

[The100Road]

Great shooting gun but has three problems.

1. The capper- please call Traditions and complain about the capper issue- I called already and they told me I was the only person to complain! BS!
Call 860-388-4656 The only way to use a capper is to modify the brass musket capper. Use a cutting wheel and trim the top folded over lips. Them put it in a vise lengthwise and squeeze it narrower. You will have to get the musket caps without wings but at least they're still musket caps.

2. The firing pin- it needs a stronger spring as it does not always pop the cap. Current spring might work if the head of the pin was round instead of the little straight bar on it.

3. The scope mount holes- they are not tapped all the way to the bottom of the hole! I tried to mount a Williams peep sight on it and the screws cannot tighten down enough because there are only three threads in the hole. Went back to Bobs to have them double check it. They confirmed the problem- they also checked the other new guns on the shelf- same problem. Need more than 3 threads in the hole.

By the way- shot it with the stock sights without adjusting them yesterday. Shot two groups at 50 yards. Moved to 200 yards and hit water filled milk jug first shot.

As far as the firing pin goes, I was told that the sping is strong enough but you have to keep it well lubed so that it doesnt get gumed up.

[honda245]

so i took it out i shot 7 times not one miss fire the gun shot great, one little problem the ram rod come out about a inch when you shoot. i came home took the whole thing apart one of the screws that holds the barrel on was a little lose the breech plug was way hard to get out so remember just hand tight. i fixed the ram rod problem with a little bit of tape inside the handle were the rod slides it worked great.  i even took the trigger out all looked good i did mess up some how putting it together when i pulled the trigger the firing pin hit the nipple and broke the nipple thought i was going to throw up i had a spare i bought at bobs. all in all the gun worked great while shooting the gun fired every time

[WonkyWapiti]

I really want to buy one of these.  I met one of the members of this board (can't forget his name) at the Cascade range on Friday morning and he had the Magnum edition.  He stated it shot great but he had some work done to it since there had been a problem with striker hitting the cap on the nipple.  While I was there he continued to have some problems with misfires. 

My buddy just bought one and went to the range on Friday afternoon to shoot it for the first time.  Using CCI musket caps he could not get the thing to fire.  The caps kept getting crushed and would not go off.  Today he went down to Muzzleloader Supply and picked up some of the German musket caps and he was able to fire off four in a row.

I've got my Knight Bighorn set up for deer season with 250 grain Barnes TMZ sabots.  My reason for wanting another gun is to have it set up for a bigger bullet for elk season.  I may end up with another Knight Bighorn.

[chuck270]

WonkyWapiti,

[chuck270]

Ooops!
I have both.  My previous muzzle loaders were liberated from my inventory earlier this summer by fine upstanding members of our community.

My previous guns:  T/C 50 cal. Black Diamond and T/C 54. cal Hawkins

My thoughts now having shot both a couple of times: 
Compairing these two to each other is like compairing a 3/4 ton 4X4 truck to an Itlian sports car... 

Both have williams peep sights and are very accurate.

The Bighorn (3/4 ton 4x4) heavier and bulkier than the other, older time proven design, more robust in its construction, and shoots everytime.  This gun will still be killing game when I am dead and gone.
compared to my T/C BD:  I can shoot more rounds between cleanings before the action gums up, the T/C BD I could get maybe 10 shots, the Bighorn, I don't know haven't gotten there yet but 15+.

The NW mag. (sports car) lite, slim lines, sexy, feels good in your hands, handles well but is twitchy in its operation.  This gun if used hard, regularly and not well maintianed it might hold up for 10 years (I could be wrong but thats my gut feeling).  I had a couple of miss fires the first time out, cleanded it and lubed up everything and the next time out had fewer miss fires but several hang fires then realized I had a batch of bad caps (CCI 0301) switched to the Germans and problem ended for now (I never had one problem with the 10 year old CCI 0300 I previously used).  I don't like the firing pin and I will modify that to my liking later.  I believe that I can get this gun up to my level of reliability soon but it didn't arrive that way. 

I like them both but for very different reasons. 

In summery the Bighorn is ready to go hunting after two trips to the range. The NW mag.?  No...

[Navyrep1]

My Vortek NW Magnum was misfiring (dented cap but no bang) but solved it pretty easily.  Played around with different spring tension settings for a while but ended up just removing the "Hammer Antagonist Spring", part number KK on the schematic or reference number M10017.  All it does is return the hammer to the "half-cock" position after firing, which also happens to be the second safety.  Once I removed the antagonist spring, fired caps or loaded without issue.....alost a hundred so far without a single misfire.  Only "trick" for now is to remember to put the hammer back in the half-cock position prior to reloading.

The way I figure it, the Hammer Mainspring (schematic part JJ or ref number M10018) just isn't strong enough on some rifles to fully overwhelm the antagonist spring on the way to the actual firing pin.  If the mainspring had more tension it would probably work fine.  I just shot Traditions a note today about the issue and offered up a suggestion.  Here's the reply I just got from them:

"I will put two replacement springs in the mail for you, as I do think newer shipments have included springs which are a little bit stronger, and hopefully those will take care of the concerns you are describing.  If, however, you continue to have problems or questions, please let me know and I'll be glad to assist you.  Have a wonderful day.

Melanie Cipher

 Customer Service                       
 1375 Boston Post Rd.
 Old Saybrook, CT 06475
 Phone: 1-860-388-4656 ext. 204
 melanie@traditionsfirearms.com"

When I get the new springs in a few days, I'll repost with results.  For those with the misfire issue, I suggest a simple note to Traditions asking for the newer spring(s).  Obviously, it shouldn't be this way but it is what it is.  I believe that this rifle is overall outstanding in almost every way...light, fast and nimble handling, VERY accurate, easy to clean, great feel, great sights, easy to load, ported, and the Cerakote finish.  Even with a necessary tweak in some cases, the positives far outweight the negatives in my opinion, it's a keeper.

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

Update:
Spoke woth Traditions today about the scope mounting holes not being tapped deep enough. They said they are designed to work with their scope mount and the screws supplied with it. As far as putting a peep there I have to find screws that are short enough so as to tighten down before hitting the end of the tapped threads.

About the pin not firing caps- They said some of the first batches of guns had springs that are too weak- just as Navyrep1 mentioned. They are sending me a whole new trigger assembly with the new springs in it!

I'll update again with results of new trigger assembly.

[Navyrep1]

Damn....you get a whole new trigger assembly and all I get is a couple springs....: )  You must be smoother on the phone than I was in an email.  Glad to here there's a little independent verification of what I thought the issue was.  Thanks for the feedback and info.

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

Damn....you get a whole new trigger assembly and all I get is a couple springs....: )  You must be smoother on the phone than I was in an email.  Glad to here there's a little independent verification of what I thought the issue was.  Thanks for the feedback and info.

    Aside from operations- I'm part time salesman 

[Navyrep1]

Yeah....so I got the new springs today, not so good.  In fact, they're visibly smaller and weaker than my originals.  Put them in and it was worse than ever.  So, I took them back out and remodified the trigger assembly as I had it before.  Good to go.  I'll be calling again tomorrow.  Maybe this time I'll get a new complete trigger assembly.  I'm still very satisfied with this weapon, still a keeper.

[The100Road]

Yeah....so I got the new springs today, not so good.  In fact, they're visibly smaller and weaker than my originals.  Put them in and it was worse than ever.  So, I took them back out and remodified the trigger assembly as I had it before.  Good to go.  I'll be calling again tomorrow.  Maybe this time I'll get a new complete trigger assembly.  I'm still very satisfied with this weapon, still a keeper.

Wow. thats a shame that theyre not getting the hint. I am also very happy with mine (so far). I hate to hear all the negative comments.