CVA Wolf 209 Magnum

[Bob the Cynic]

Hi all,  
 
A buddy of mine is looking to get into muzzleloading and he doesn't have a bunch of dough to spend on his first gun.  He is looking at the CVA Wolf 209 Magnum.  I like the simplicity of the break open design but I've never owned or even shot a CVA gun so I was hoping for some first hand feedback.    
 
Has anyone here ever owned or shot this gun http://www.cva.com/products/rifle_wolf.htm before?  If so did you like it?  Did you have any problems with it?  How about the overall quality of CVA guns?  
 
Thank you ahead of time.

[CRIMSON63]

My step-dad ordered the kit with the scope and starter kit, the qualitys not all-that, but it shoots great. He shoots 90gr. of Pyro, 240 gr. TC sabot. Drives nails at 50yds., close at 100. The Wolf, Optima, and Traditions Pursuit are great starter rifles. I have the Pursuit and "like it a--lot". For someone like me and Jim that has never fooled with a ML, they're good rifles. After I take a few with it, thinking about getting something a little nicer like the Omega, or Encore.

[NONYA]

I ordered the CVA hunter mag  kit from Cabelas and killed a cow elk,2 MD does .2 antelope does and a badger with it the first season.Not the pretiest ML I have seen but shoots like a champ,150 gr pyrodex pellets and a .45 cal sabott out of the .50 cal barrel.The longest shot i made was 200 yards on a doe antelope dropped here on the spot.

[Bob the Cynic]

"For someone like me and Jim that has never fooled with a ML, they're good rifle."
 
That's exactly what he is looking for.  My buddy is new to muzzleloading and he is looking for a hassle free into with a shallow learning curve.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

[Keith Lewis]

To some extent there is some truth in that the American produced products are more expensive and there may not be enough difference for the increase in price however; things to consider are: American produced products like Thompson Center carry unconditional guarantees that transfer from owner to owner for life, Parts are more available easier and faster, there are American rifles at competitive prices to the Spanish ones like the NEF or H&R break action, Maximum loads in the american rifles are recommended which is not always the case in the spanish rifles if you read the owners manual correctly (many of the 150gr. specified rifles do not recommend 150gr. of loose powder only pellets and then only Pyrodex). Personally I have an Omega and a Traditions Pursuit plus a  Thompson Hawken and would only consider a maximum load in the Omega which is not required for me anyway as I kill elk with a 90gr. load of Black Mag'3 and a 300gr. bullet. I am not afraid of the Spanish barrels but I also do use some caution and not push the envelope.

[TN.Frank]

As a side note, my Austin & Halleck Flint Mt. Rifle has a Spanish barrel on it and I really don't think A&H would build their firearms with junk parts.  I picked up a CVA Optima Mag but I'll never shoot mag loads out of it because it's not necessary to kill a deer at woods range.  I'll probably go with an 80-90gr load of Pyrodex RS with a bullet in the range of 200-250grs.  I really like the look of the 40cal, 200gr. T/C bullet that's on the market. It should give some pretty good down range balistics.