Author Topic: Most accurate, Worst, favorite Muzzleloader you have owned out of the box. (Read 5569 times)

grouse · « **on:** April 09, 2009, 11:02:51 AM »

The most accurate muzzleloader out of the box is a toss up for me. The Knight Disc Elite and the T/C Triumph are really close. I’m going to leave that a tie.

The worst out of the box Muzzleloaders for me are the Encores. They take a lot of tweaking to get them to work right. Triggers, hinge pin, fouling in firing pin. A couple companies made a living on making the Encore better. I will mention when T/C copied the Triumph breech plug for the Endeavor it did take away the fouling.

My favorite Muzzleloader is no doubt the Encore. I just loved hunting with that gun. To most they are ugly, but looks don’t kill the animals. Mine was strictly for Muzzleloading, no CF barrels at all for me. It was also really easy to handle on a Quad as well. It was a great fit for me. It just takes some money to get it really good.

burntmuch · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2009, 11:07:34 AM »

I had an winchester X150 that would shoot anything I fed it into nice groups, but it was heavy

My Omega X7 is a sweeet little gun that shoots great & carries like a dream. It kicks like a mule on crack if I try to push 250 grain bullets too fast. So I stick with the 200 grain bullets

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2009, 11:55:53 AM »

X-150 i had was a sweet shooter with pretty much everything i used.

I havent owned a bad shooting rifle yet. Im sure i will get one some day but why think about that day?

tn_junk · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:04:31 PM »

Best- CVA Wolfe. Bought it at a Pawn Shop, with scope, for $80. It would shoot anything, cast minnie, sabot, round ball, and keep 3 shots in a 3" circle at 100 yards all day long.

Worst T/C Encore 209x50. It was an absolute tack drive, sub MOA accurate, with one, very exact, load. If you cleaned it after every shot. Took me weeks to find that one load. Anything else, especially cast minnie balls, the groups looked more like shotgun patterns.

Sad thing is I sold the Wolfe so I could buy the Encore. I wanted a "real", "name brand", "high quality" muzzleloader.

alan

Two Bears · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:19:57 PM »

T/C Omega (3 of them) most accurate. Just could not reload them unless you swabbed them....

Knight bighorn was worthless and hard to keep on paper. although I have had several other knight bighorns and LK 93's that shot great.

okielectrician · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2009, 03:06:22 PM »

Purchased a T/C 54cal Hawken about 15 years ago,sighted it in been a straight shooter ever since.Shoots round balls out to 100yards and maxis out to 150,I know some believe you need a GM barrel for these but mine has always shot true for me.If it aint broke dont fix it.

Swampman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2009, 03:36:37 PM »

The most accurate muzzleloader - for me was a cheap CVA inline I paid $89.00 for at BPS

The worst out of the box Muzzleloaders - Several CVAs because of their very poor overall quality.

My favorite Muzzleloader is - My Remington 700ML

rt_con · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:54:26 PM »

Most Accurate: My Disc Elite has a slight edge over my Omega.

Worst: None.. I can honestly say after owning 3 Knights, 2 T/C's and 2 Whites, that none disappointed me. Any problems were due to operator error.

Favorite: Currently my Elite...but some T/C Triumph and Endeavor owners have gotten my attention with some really good accuracy with BH209.

doulos · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:36:58 PM »

Most accurate--no doubt Disc Elite ,second most accurate-- white 98
worst---Knight Master Hunter. No matter what I tried the gun always had flyers and never grouped better than 2 MOA
favorite---MK-85 and Disc Elite that I sold like a fool

Flatlander.54 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2009, 02:41:56 AM »

I have owned and shot T/C, White, Knight, Austin&Halleck, & CVA.

Most Accurate Inline: Hands down T/C Omega, have owned 5 and all were sub MOA guns with the same load...250 gr. Shockwave and 100 gr loose T7. My current Omega will put 3-5 into 3/4" @ 100 yds time after time. (Friend has one that will do the same.)

Most accurate caplock: T/C Hawken, with Dutch Schoultz's Dry Lube System they will shoot patched roundballs into clusters that measure 5/8" @ 50-60 yds.

Least favorite: T/C Encore, too danged much tweakin and fiddlin around to stay under 2" @ 100 yds. Dont like the blow-back issue either.

Biggest suprise accuracy-wise: CVA Buckhorn Magnum, got one for the wife to hunt with and it consistently shoots 1" groups @ 100 yards, but I have seen several others that shoot patterns instead of groups. Pain in the hiney to clean though.

Least accurate Inlne: All CVA's I've shot except for the above mentioned Buckhorn.

Least accurate traditional style: (suprisingly) Austin&Halleck Flintlock Mountain Rifle (sure was a prudy gun though.)

All time favorite muzzleloaders are the T/C Omega and T/C Hawken.

rt_con · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:08:06 AM »

Flatlander.54: Have you tried BH209 in your Omega yet ?

Reason I ask, I'm still testing it in my Omega and the jury's still out. It shoots T7 very good with the .25 ACP ... but I'm just trying to simplify things.

Flatlander.54 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2009, 04:57:04 AM »

As of yet I have not tried the BH209, it's nearly $40 for a bottle of it in my area, and from what I'm told it's not sold by the pound but rather in 12 oz. bottles if I remember correctly. Plus, my Omega shoots loose T7 so well that right now I would rather stick with it than try to fix something thats not broken.
In addition to that I've recently aquired a .45 cal. T/C Hawken with a 32 1/2" Brass Tube Scope mounted on it in a trade, so any extra play money I have will likely go into finding an accurate load for that rather than the pricey BH209. I hear the BH209 is very clean burning and accurate, but does have a problem with carbon buildup in some breechplugs. The loose T7 does leave a minor crud ring in my Omega, but is easily swabbed out between shots, not enough of a hassle to even worry about since I swab between every shot anyway.

JimG · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:42:11 AM »

I've owned several but the best is my Knight Extreme. However the worst @#$%#@@ BP rifle I have ever had the displeasure of shooting is my worthless T/C Omega. This one rifle has soured me on T/C products forever. Not even worth using as an anchor 'cause it's too light.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2009, 08:12:02 AM »

Best: Austin Halleck 320, barrel heavy,but balanced it with a Boyds lam thumbhole stock...too bad they couldn't market it better
Worst: First CVA inline, neighbor still shoots it with conicals, but not the best design.

bubba · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:37:30 AM »

Best My H&R huntsman barrel that was fitted to a rifle frame. It shoots anything and everything very well.

Worst A t/c encore 209x50 that I could not find a decent hunting load for say nothing about a truly accurate load. I traded the barrel very soon.

Busta · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2009, 12:43:43 PM »

Most Accurate: That would have to be my .50 cal Knight Disc Extreme MHC with the Knight USS PBT (Barnes TMZ) in the yellow sabot using BH209. The first 3 loads with that bullet, 100 gr, 110 gr, 120 gr, ALL came in under MOA. It shoots other bullets very well also. My NEF Huntsman is a VERY close second, and better overall with a wider range of conicals and saboted bullets.

Worst: About 10 years ago, right before the Knight TK2000 came out,I was looking for a full camo inline 12 ga muzzleloading shotgun. The only factory gun at that time that I am aware of was the Traditions plunger action. I ordered one and when it arrived it had a VERY bad camo film dipped finish that was hand painted to fill in the voids in the dip. It gets worse! The sight was mounted off kilter somewhere around 11:00. I removed the plunger and breech plug to find the rustiest thing I ever saw. I think they film dipped them in Spain then shipped them accross the pond having never dumped the solution (water?) out of the barrels. Needless to say, that one went back for a full refund.

I later bought a TK200, then found a NIB camo stocked White Thunder (Tominator) which is my favorite Turkey Thumper.

Favorite: For hunting would be the NEF Huntsman after the mods, just a dream to carry and shoot. If I have that rifle, I have the confidence to make any shot within reason/range. Since you said out-of-box, that may have to go to the Knight Disc Extreme MHC mentioned above, but I did install a NFPJ conversion and a Power Rod on that too.

I like to mod my rifles to fit my needs, so none stay in the out-of-box condition very long.

.308 Win. · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2009, 02:24:52 PM »

Best one I've ever had is an inexpensive CVA. I think it's called a BigHorn, something like that. Didn't pay but a C-note for it, but she's a shooter.

Close second was a T/C ThunderHawk that T/C replaced for me due to a problem with the barrel splitting on the end and they didn't have any more ThunderHawks available so, they sent me an Omega in its' place...free of charge! How's THAT for customer service?! I've had a bunch of T/C's over the years and they are a solid gun.

Worst overall muzzleloader I ever had was an expensive Browning Mountain Rifle that they only made in 1980 and 1981. It was a caplock, heavy too but couldn't shoot a round ball in the ocean. Was a beautiful gun but I sold it for obvious reasons.

rt_con · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:57:17 PM »

Quote from: .308 Win. on April 10, 2009, 02:24:52 PM

Best one I've ever had is an inexpensive CVA. I think it's called a BigHorn, something like that. Didn't pay but a C-note for it, but she's a shooter.

Close second was a T/C ThunderHawk that T/C replaced for me due to a problem with the barrel splitting on the end and they didn't have any more ThunderHawks available so, they sent me an Omega in its' place...free of charge! How's THAT for customer service?! I've had a bunch of T/C's over the years and they are a solid gun.

Worst overall muzzleloader I ever had was an expensive Browning Mountain Rifle that they only made in 1980 and 1981. It was a caplock, heavy too but couldn't shoot a round ball in the ocean. Was a beautiful gun but I sold it for obvious reasons.

Yeah... I remember that Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle. I was on the fence about buying that for while. I agree, it sure was a looker. Certainly more authentic than my T/C Hawken.

Based on what you reported... I guess I made the right choice for a change ! .. it was prob. because I didn't have the $ for it.

grouse · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2009, 04:29:07 PM »

Thanks guy's, i really enjoy reading about your Muzzleloaders good or bad.

coop2564 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2009, 08:07:08 AM »

Most accurate and my favorite is my omega!
Worst I havnt had one even the el cheapo CVA I bought yrs ago shot well wth the right load!

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:07:44 AM »

Quote

Yeah... I remember that Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle. I was on the fence about buying that for while. I agree, it sure was a looker. Certainly more authentic than my T/C Hawken. Based on what you reported... I guess I made the right choice for a change ! .. it was prob. because I didn't have the $ for it.

I owned a .50 & a .54. Neither would group.

mechanic · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:36:09 AM »

Most Accurate. TC Blackdiamond.

Worst. Traditions.

Favorite: CVA Wolf.

crittergitter · « **Reply #22 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:44:01 AM »

My most accurate muzzleloader would hands down be my first year Remington 700 ml. Absolute tack driver! A dozen 150 - 215yd kills and bunches closer too.

My worst....TC Pro Hunter....between the crud ring and poor grouping with every combo on the planet I sold it.

My favorites are my 2 Remington 700 mls

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 17, 2009, 06:09:34 AM »

Most accurate: Knight Disc Elite .50. One hole at 100yds with 300gr SST and 120gr 777fffg. A lot of other loads would shoot under an inch too.

Worst: The stainless Omega I bought last year has been frustrating. It'll shoot a 3/4" group with 250gr SST's, then the next group will be 2". Bought a new breech plug for it and now I don't have a scope that's got enough vertical adjustment to get it zeroed. I max aout my Elite 3200 and it's still 2" low at 100 yds.

?? I've tried 3 other scopes with the same problem. The flash hole in the plug looks to be larger than my old plug was, maybe I'll get another plug and try it out.

Favorite: The blued Omega I had was a consistant MOA with a couple of different loads. Easy to load too. But, I just HAD to have a stainless gun! I wish I'd have kept it now.

Forestclimber · « **Reply #24 on:** May 19, 2009, 09:50:49 AM »

I have a knight Bighorn that shoots good. I had a youth model Traditions inline that really shot good, but I sold it. Wish I had it back.

ricktile66 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 24, 2009, 03:42:47 AM »

I agree with the Encore. It was a pain in the ass to get shooting but once I found what it liked (and replaced the firing pin which froze up and broke off due to fouling) it shoots great and gets me a deer every year. I would not trade it for anything now that I have the bugs worked out. My very favorite which is no longer an out of the box is my TC Hawken flintlock with a Green Mountain barrel, L&R lock and Lyman tang mounted peep sight. Unbelievable that a flintlock can shoot as well as that gun.

Double 30 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 24, 2009, 06:49:32 PM »

Best, a 3 way tie my daughter's Traditions Tracker 209 converted to musket cap. Killed everything its ever been pointed at.My Black Diamond XR .50. Truely a spooky rifle and my late Omega Z5.
Most accurate: a dog fall between the Omega and the Black Diamond.I'd truely hate to live on the difference.The BD shoots as well with her peep sight as the Omega did scoped!Where the Black Diamond beats all is shooting black powder.Swiss 3f is really her favorite.Half again as accurate than T7 with just about every load.
Worst A T/C Hawken flinter with a Green Mountain ball barrel.VERY inconsistent accuracy and a wandering zero.

nomosendero · « **Reply #27 on:** May 28, 2009, 02:21:29 PM »

My old Knight MK85, my son's Rem 700 & my new Optima Elite are fine shooters. Unfortunately, my Encore was a flop, I sent it back to TC & they discovered a burr where the QLA meets the rifling. That helped, but only one load would shoot 1.5MOA & I would not want to shoot bigger than Deer loads of over 250 gr. in it, they would not group & in 250 gr, only the SST & not over 2 pyrodex pellets, period. I spent $200.00-250.00 trying diff. combos. I sold the barrel to a guy that knew this, but only hunted Deer. I plan on trying a Bergara barrel.

grouse · « **Reply #28 on:** May 30, 2009, 02:57:27 PM »

Pretty interesting guy's, THANKS.

doghouse · « **Reply #29 on:** May 31, 2009, 12:44:22 PM »

Most accurate: T/C Black Diamond XR, but a PITA to clean, load, and keep breech dry in rain.

Favorite: CVA Wolf, good shooter with all loads I've tried, easy to carry and clean. Will flash rust if shown a picture of rain though.