break open or omega style

[doublebeard]

looking to buy a new in-line and wanted to know which is better. the break open or the omega style . I've been looking at the T/C g2 and omega, CVA's and traditions. Which style is better and who is better.

[two slow]

I like the CVA optima pro. Its a break open. Best accuracy I've seen in a muzzle loader.
A hunting buddy has the omega and is real happy with it.

[Redhawk1]

I would go with the Encore, just my preference.  I am getting great accuracy with mine. :grin:

[str8shooter48]

T/C all the way. Any of the three are fine rifles. I can personally vouch for the Encore. My brothers loves his Omega, I'm sure T/C put the same quality into the G2. Sure the T/C's cost a bit more. Just remember you get what pay for. T/C quality and service if you need it.

Good Luck

[Wlscott]

I had a CVA Hunterbolt that I liked a lot.  I had decided to sell it though, and upgrade.  I was looking at the CVA Optima, and the Traditions Pursuit Pro.  

I sold the Hunterbolt to a friend.  I had stripped the bolt stop screw out a while back, and really didn't worry much about it when I owned it.  But when I sold it to him, I called CVA to get another one.  I told them that it had stripped out, and that I would like to have a replacement.  The guy on the phone told me...."we can take care of that", and proceeded to get my info.  After he was done, he asked me for my credit card number.  I thought that they should replace it since it stripped.  I ended up paying a dollar for the screw and 3.50 for shipping and handling.  If I had lost it, I could understand paying for it.

That kind of made up my mind on which muzzle loader I wanted.  Ordered my Pursuit Pro a week ago.

[Keith Lewis]

I have an Omega which is a great rifle but a little expensive. I have a Pursuit LT which is a much cheaper rifle with a terrible trigger as received. I hope your Pursuit Pro has been improved. I had to stone the trigger two times before it became usable. The rifle shoots well but that is after I improved the trigger. I would look strongly at the CVA Kodiak which is a copy of the Omega and the one I handled in Walmart looked pretty good.

[nrb]

A break open Huntsman or Sidekick can't be beat
They are very reasonably priced
They are well made
They are very accurate
The company H&R gives fine service
They are American built

best,     nrb

[Rwalter63]

Hello,

I personally would go with a break open style.  The Thompson's Encore is a great gun. So is the Omega. I considered both when looking at purchasing a muzzleloader but choose the H&R Sidekick (break open style also).   I did a lot of research on the topic incuding several visits to local gun shops.  I decide that my fat finger where not suited very well for the Omega style action. With that style action to get to the 209 primer cap I would have to use a pimer puller tool. Also to load the gun I would need a primer carrier. (Most primer carriers I've seen include a primer pulling tool). Either way thats one more thing I would have to buy and carry with me. The Encore pops the primer out automatically. I tried to avoid anything made by BPI, which includes CVA, Traditions, Winchester and New Frontier ( I believe Remington also), due to the minor Spanish barrel controversy that going on currently. I know that there are a lot of guns out there that are made by BPI and they are working safely. However many Ford Explorer owners drove their trucks on Firestone tires with out a problem too though it didn't necessarily make them safe. Check out the link below

http://www.huntingpa.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/272363/page/0/fpart/2/vc/1


(I have also read about a Winchester XL150 that was not overcharged blow up, but I can not find the link right now if I find it I'll post it)

Or go to www.Muzzleloadingforum.com



Or just do a search on Google and make up your own mind on this issue.


I orginally narrowed my choices down to three guns, the Encore, Omega and Sidekick.  The Omega was eliminated due to my fat fingers. That left me with either the Encore or the Sidekick. Now the Encore is an excellent gun and Thompson's support service is second to none in the industry. However I did not want to spend that much for a gun. The H&R/NEF (A Marlin gun company which has excellent service also) Sidekick is made with rifle grade steel using the same process they use for all there other rifles.  The gun is also made here in the USA! It is uses plastic re-usable primer carriers to hold the 209 primer. It makes replacing the primer easy. Finally the price on the gun starts at $159. I could buy three of them for less than the price of one Encore. (www.Cabelas.com) or Gander Mountain.


I just carry a couple of the carriers with primers in them in a film container and when I shoot I just replace the carrier with a new one and put the used one in my pocket. I just recently purchased this gun so I don't have a lot time shooting it but it seems like it very accurate. My primary use is hunting. I took it to the range this weekend and had no problems at 100 yrd using 245 powerbelts and two 50 grain 777 pellets.  The gun will except magnum 150 grain charges and has a 26" barrel.

Now if your looking at a gun for hunting I would seriously take a look at the Sidekick. If you a competition shooter I would probably purchase the Encore. Either way do your own research. I would at least drive to a local H&R dealer and look at the Sidekick. It might just save you a lot of money.

Good luck.

Robert

[Rwalter63]

Here is some one else referencing the same story. I read the orginal

http://bushnelloutdoors.ibforums.com/lofiversion/index.php/t7192.html

If I run across it I'll post it.