Traditions Vortek NW Magnum Review

[garrenj]

After reading the reviews on here I was a bit nervous about picking this gun up, but decided to give it a try. Thought I would post my thoughts on it here in case others are interested. Heading out for Elk next week and was hoping to get a gun that would I would feel comfy out to at least 100 yards. My current .54 cal ridgerunner isn't quite there.

So far I am very happy with this gun.

Picked it up at Bi-Mart for $369, originally wanted to shoot 275 Maxi's with 777 but I couldn't get a group out of them at 100 yards. Switched to 320's and they seemed to group pretty well. Shot about 20 shots total, and absolutely no misfires. The trigger is very crisp and no creep. Love the fiber optic front and rear sights. With it's lightweight is does kick a bit, but will be great for lugging around the backcountry.

95 grains 777
320 grain Maxi's
German Musketcap's

Out of the box it shot about 2 feet low and six inches right at 100 yards. I managed to get it brought up to 1/2 low and right at 100. 2 out of 3 touching. My shoulder was pretty sore by this point so I'll take it for now.
I'd like to know what loads other's are having luck with. I'm in Oregon so no sabot's for me unfortunately.

[Bigtine96]

I love the Vortek, Just killed a bull with it at 150 yards with the factory open sights. The musket caps really make a difference alot more fire getting to the powder. I would highly reccomend it no matter what some people say..

[bigpaw 77]

I got this gun this summer and like it. At first I had some misfires, so I lubed up the spring and only hand tighten the breech plug and nipple and it has fired everytime. Im shooting 120 grains of loose powder and 290 grain powerbelts.

[honda245]

mine worked great at first but after shooting it 10-20 times it started to fail i got the new trigger from traditions installed it and no difference i wish you well with this gun its way accurate light and feels great in your hands.  i shoot 100 grains 2 pellets and 245 grain power belts and its a tack driver.  i wouldn't hesitate to shoot out to 200 yards with this gun but not knowing if it will go off is the problem i hope traditions makes things right.

[shorthair15]

not to po any one off. but with all the problems with this rifle why do people continue buy this when you can get a knight bighorn and they go off every time.they have two safeties and that may be a problem for some but i just use one safety in the field no problems. just my traditions needs to get there s..t together and fix this problem. i talked to some one about this issue and they said if you dont keep the firing pin spring clean and lubricated that it will get gummed up. and cause ignition problems with the caps. it was a guy at bobs. good luck with your rifle. ive looked at this gun they seem nice but i dont think i will buy one with all the issues people have had.

[Bigtine96]

I know traditions had ignition problems with the original vortek and they changed it to a musket cap. I have the musket cap vortek, and have shot it well over 200 times and have not had one misfire. I am very anal about my weapons however and clean my muzzeloader every 3 shots and deep clean the breach and nipple every 12 shots. I think alot of these people claiming problems are not taking as great of care with their muzzeloader as they should be.

Plus the vortek has a 1 in 26 barrel twist and the bighorn had 1 in 28 which I do not want.

[shorthair15]

i just looked at a new vortek magnum in musket yesterday. it has a 1 in 28 twist barrel it says right on the side of the barrel. yeh i take mine apart all the way and do a detailed cleaning after every time i shoot it.

[The100Road]

I Shot mine about 10-12 times at the range with zero problems. Loaded very easy every time with no hesitation when the trigger is pulled. I shot a bobcat last weekend with it after it did not go off when i pulled the trigger the first time. The cap didnt go off, it felt like the firing pin didnt even hit the cap. I took the firing pin out that night and the firing pin & spring was SUPER gummed up. I cleaned it and it shoots great sense. I will just have to add the firing pin to my routine when cleaning the gun. Shoots very very accurate.

[honda245]

OK i took out my firing pin cleaned it no change  the only thing that makes it fire is taking out the return spring then it fires every time but then the gun is unsafe and you shouldn't have to change a $433.00 gun i will call traditions Monday. the new trigger Assembly turned out to be just a new trigger that is the same as the one that was in the gun i held them side by side and there isn't any difference there are way to many postings on this gun misfiring there has to be a problem its to bad the gun is light and accurate. i do clean the gun after every fourth shot and i mean i take out the breach plug and nipple deep clean both re-grease and clean the barrel. the caps all have dents in them the pin just dose not hit them hard enough i hope traditions can fix the problem i want to sell it but i wont if i cant get it fixed i couldn't do that to someone.

[shorthair15]

i hope they fix the problem for you it seems there is a problem with the length of the nipple to me it sounds like it is too short. seems like a good gun hopefully they fix the issue . did you check the springs for the firing pin to make sure there not gummed up and dirty.

[honda245]

yup took everything apart and cleaned everything the springs were fine i think the return spring overwhelms the firing spring and dose not let the hammer hit the firing pin hard enough. i hope they make things wright do not call them on a Friday like i did they are short handed and the lady i spoke to was filling in as a customer service rep and the gun smith left early that day i wanted to talk to him. 

[shorthair15]

with how much you paid for it they should give you a new gun. it says it has a limited lifetime warranty. time to send the gun in and have them fix it or give you a new one.

[garrenj]

Shot another 20 rounds or so over the weekend and it seems pretty flat out to 100.  Over 40 rounds total still no misfires. I am feeling comfortable out to 125 tried a few shots at 150 but couldn't get a group within the kill zone on an elk. Guess I know my range.

Heading out today for a week long elk trip. I sure hope the 1st misfire doesn't happen in the woods. Forecast is looking good maybe I'll have some pics to post.