Winchester X-150 Magnum 209, Advantage Timber ??????

[J.Solo]

I just won a Winchester X-150 Magnum 209, Advantage Timber with a fluted Stainless Steel Barrel in .50 caliber. at my gun club raffle.

The box says Made In Spain.
Does anyone know what company made this Black Powder gun for Winchester?
Is this a good Black Powder Muzzle Loader?

I currently have a Remingtom 700 ML with fluted Stainless barrel and 209 primer system and Black composit stock in .50 caliber.

I've fired the Rem. 700 about a dozen times to sight the scope in and still have to work up a good load.

Which gun should I keep?

I'm really a pistol hunter and I'm pretty sure I can return the Winchester to the Gun Shop where purchased and exchang for a store credit. I'm not looking to buy another Black Powder Gun, just need a little help on what gun to keep.
thanks
J.Solo

[crow_feather]

keep neither - get yourself a decent side lock, shoot black powder, and try to hit something at 75 yards without a scope.  Round ball and Goex - work up on the charge until you can hit within 4" of the bull at 100 yds.
nothin to it!

[RandyWakeman]

The X-150 is made by BPI (CVA).

[Triple Se7en]

J Solo

Since the new rifle has already been bought & paid for by the raffle sponsors, I would keep the Winchester.

In recent reviews, the X-150 was rated higher than the ML or MLS. It's easier to clean,  has less blowback with 209 primers than the ML has with musket caps. The X-150 shoulders easier & balances nicely.

Plenty of trigger problems associated with the ML/S and the awkward removal of the bolt described in the owners manual is a disgrace to this long-standing, once reputable company that has fallen on some major quality control concerns lately & their customer service appears to have succumbed to the same disease.

If you decide to keep the Remington & you are not removing the bolt to clean the action, there's a small section of it that's not being seen with the naked eye that will completely rust thru... causing a permanent failure of the rifle.

If the store offers you full credit on an exhange, for the same money, get the Knight Wolverine II 26" with the Timney trigger, Green Mountain barrel and the new red discs that help waterproof the action. If they only have the 22", most stores will order the 26" for you.. all you pay is the shipping.  Then turn around & sell the ML on gunsamerica.com, ebay.... etc.

Here's a review on your Remington ML/S

http://www.chuckhawks.com/remington700MLS.htm

Check out this thread about rusted actions & a nice picture of Remington blowback.

http://ushunting.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=mod&action=display&num=1060834175

Why stop now J. Solo.... there's more to read -- X-150 Review

http://www.chuckhawks.com/winchester_X150.htm

[J.Solo]

Triple Se7en:

Thanks for the great information links. Now I don't know if should just chuck the whole black powder thing or not.  I really don't feel like shooting the Remington anymore due to the safety and cleaning issues ( though I did not have any problems with only 12 rounds fired with factory 209 conversion unit installed) that I won't be able to sell and the Winchester that does not allow easy to purchase bases, hard to get at spent 209 primer and with the ram rod flying to God knows where in the woods and snow.

Maybe I should just stick with the .454, .22, 9mm, .223, .243, 30.06 and the 12 guage.

I'm kind of getting turned off with the whole black powder thing before even getting started. - J.Solo

[Triple Se7en]

"the Winchester that does not allow easy to purchase bases, hard to get at spent 209 primer and with the ram rod flying to God knows where in the woods and snow. Maybe I should just stick with the .454, .22, 9mm, .223, .243, 30.06 and the 12 guage.
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re: J. Solo

The bases Randy is referring to are the expensive steel ones. I used the $16 two piece combo base/rings on my former Traditions Tracker 209. They fit your X-150 also, they are easy to find & work well. The ramrod on yours might be fine, if not -- add a strand of duct tape to the end of it that goes in the forearm. The 209 primer may need one of those 3" extractors... I think they cost $2.

Don't go running off to "Centerfire World" just because you may have to put high rings on your Remington to save your scope using #11 caps or fail to take out your bolt to clean the action. There are chores to do in Centerfire World also.

Muzzleloaders are fun -- centerfires are now boring... at least to me! Putting a shell in the chamber is too easy. Once you get the hang of it, you will be surprised as to how much enjoyment you'll get from the blackpowder sport. But you have to try it again -- not run away from it.

[Wolfhound]

I'm kind of getting turned off with the whole black powder thing before even getting started. - J.Solo

That's really too bad. There are some guns out there that do that though. I started with a CVA hunterbolt that's almost the same gun as the Winchester you just won. While it got me started, I didn't enjoy all the cleaning that went with it. I'm now using a Knight Disc Extreme as my primary muzzleloading rifle. It's still a bit of cleaning, but it's not as long as before.

If you decide to give it another go though, you might get rid of the two you have now and pick up something different. I've heard a lot of good things about T/C Omega's. Knight Wolverine 209 is a good gun too (wife has one).The Wolverine is in the $250 range so it's not really that expensive. The Omega's easier to clean though. I wouldn't shoot a Remington 700 ML if someone gave it too me. What's scary though is that I almost bought one instead of my Extreme.

I hope you decide to give muzzleloading another go. I hate to see people start something and not give it a good go. Whatever you decide though, just have fun and do what's best for you.

[RandyWakeman]

Wolfhound is right, there are PLENTY of excellent choices out there-- the Omega being one of them. Here's more, and why . . .

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_muzzleloaders.htm