The Spanish barrel thing is a fabrication dreamed up by Randy Wakeman. If you don't believe me, show me a string of reports of these barrels exploding out of proportion to any others. Good luck, I've looked and it's just not out there. I think we should get this on Myth Busters...Just because a barrel says 10,000 doesn't mean it blows at 10,000, it means they didn't test it higher. It might handle 100,000 for all you know. Sure, it'd be nice to know, but given the number that are out there and the dearth of lawsuits what explanation is there other than they are SAFE???
That being said, most guns equipped with Spanish barrels (namely Traditions, CVA) are of lower OVERALL quality (trigger, action, stock etc) than American-made counterparts.
A new shooter has several concerns:
1) Ease of cleaning
2) Ease of proper ignition (ie avoiding misfires)
3) Ease of tuning (getting a bullet/load that shoots well)
4) Quality
5) Powder choice
Two basic non-flintlock types (flintlocks are not the best for beginners):
1) Sidelocks - This is what I started on. Cheaper price for many, but they are less forgiving in terms of following proper procedure to get reliable ignition. A lost a couple deer to misfires/hangfires, especially in cold weather, while I was learning.
2) In-lines - Easier all-around to learn, but most are a bigger pain to clean. The Omega-style guns have solved this problem however by eliminating blowback into the action.
As for overall quality, I'd rank the ones I have EXPERIENCE with as follows: T/C (Omega+Encore), Knight, CVA, Traditions. Austin-Halleck I have never shot, nor White (which has serious corporate issues). Both have their followers. I have not shot an NEF either though I will soon. The Winchester Apex is made by the same company as some of the other lower-quality guns but I've actually heard it's a little better than them (but never shot one). My first two were Traditions and I'll never own another; the quality, especially of the triggers, was abysmal.
I shy away from any gun that requires a proprietary insert for the primer. This is Knight, and correct me if I'm wrong but NEF too? I don't want to get in the woods/remote location and find myself with lots of primers but a lack of the primer carriers.
The Encore and Omega are both great guns, I have an Omega. I will admit that these guns can be finicky in finding a good load however. I've felt the ease of cleaning and quality made up for a few extra afternoons on the bench testing loads (once you find one, it's done but the quality keeps going!). If you are happy with 80-100gr loads (plenty to whack a deer), it's not as much of an issue as the difficulty increases with more powder. Some T/C guns have barrel tightness issues, some don't. I don't know for sure about other brands.
I learned on Pyrodex but I try not to touch the stuff today...so much harder to clean. 777 is a good substitute but has issues (crud ring) in the Omega that I would not want a beginner to fight...use BlackMag3 if you get an Omega even though it costs a little more.
As for bullets, the sky is the limit. What do you want to pay? Hornaday XTPs are pretty cheap and perform well. SST/Shockwaves are awesome and cost a little bit more. Lots of cheaper ones out there too, and some more expensive (Precision Rifle).
If I were to recommend a gun to a beginner that reaches the best comprimise on all these issues, I'd get an Omega, shooting BM3 and Hornaday 240gr XTPs or 250gr SST/Shockwaves. If the barrel is tight, try another or come back and ask for where to find slightly smaller sabots.
The Apex would get you in a little cheaper, but I learned after my Traditions experience that it's better to cry once than every time you shoot the gun because you settled for lower quality. The price you pay for the extra quality of a T/C gun is small.
