[tequillaeagle]

well im looking into getting a rifle and i was wondering what peoples opinions were i have heard some things like the steel in the TC is bad and can blow up but it was after doing a google search . but im open to pretty much any inline that takes a 209 with a thumb hole stock bc i like the way it feels and a .50 cal , i would be using it for white tail dee here in Illinois insted of a shot gun

[jbkebert]

I shoot a T/C encore pro-hunter and love the thing in BP. A good friend of mine shoots the omega with similar joy. There will be a huge diffrence in prices of BP guns. Knight makes a fine rifle and I am told that CVA optima pros are good guns. So you do have several options. I have shot a Encore with a thumb hole stock and did not liek the stock. The way the Encore, CVA optima pro, and Knight KP1 have a pistol grip style stock already the thumb hole IMHO does nothing for you. The T/C omega on the other hand the thumbhole is a plus. Also the Omega has several models available from fairly cheap $300 up to $650 nice guns. One thing that I did notice is felt recoil between the encore with the flex tech stock and the omega with the polymer stock changes alot.

[arcticap]

TC makes really nice guns. I don't think that you can go wrong buying one.
The Traditions Bargain Bin has some special prices on the Pursuit XLT's with thumbhole stocks.
You may need to check with them to confirm which have the thumbhole stocks.

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/10Browse.asp?Category=Bargain+Bin:+Rifles

[Macgille]

Try a sidelock instead. After shooting a traditional BP rifle you will find that the inline seems like a cheat. Just invented to get around deer hunting laws.:mad:

[Hawkeye748]

Really, any of the inlines is just about as good as the other. They were madeTo try and make primitive weapons as easy as shooting ordinary suppository guns. The problem is the substitute propellants. They are not suited for muzzle loaded firearms with a design that was meant to use real Black powder. With BP any of the primers work fine, you don't need the expensive super hot 209's. If they come up with a propellant that ignites as easily as BP, it too will be classed as an explosive. The 209 is a solution to a problem of their own making when they went to Subtitute powders that were, depending on who you listen to, Easier to use, no measuring required, Cleaner, non-corrosive, etc. etc. etc.

They are trying to improve on technology that had reached its peak in the 1860's. They are trying to create a market among folks that want clean and easy and there is no such thing in muzzle loaded firearms. You can't be lazy and shoot muzzle loaders.

I suspect if a Thompson gun blew up on someone, they either loaded it with smokeless powder or did not fully seat the bullet. Either is an accident waiting to happen that is not the fault of the maker. I have seen guns damaged from both of these acts.

With those restrictions, have fun. I don't like the 209 primer or any inlines. When you decide you want a real ML, post again. We will steer you right.

[Voodoochile]

Inlines are not new, the confederates were converting old hall rifles to fire percussion in Richmond & many other arsenals around the south.

Macgille;
I agree with you 100% & I personally do not care to have another modern inline muzzleloader but I don't care what any one else is shooting as long as they put in the time & effort needed to make sure the shot is going where it needs to go.

I will say that if you stick with a inline muzzleloader the offerings from TC & the Traditions Persuit is your better rifles, just remember that the max charge isn't going to be the most accurate & that just like any rifle you need to spend some bench time burning powder to find it's best load.

Shoot safe.

[gizamo]

I'd try to steer you to the older style muzzleloaders...

Somehow the frontstuffers aren't quite as elegant...

Difference is one of how you wish to go through this life..

You could have married BroomHilda the Witch...and everything would be in order, done as ordered, and utilitarian as possible. When approaching her, Seig Heil comes to mind...

Or you might prefer a more tender touch. You might not be able to figure this one out, at first....One that responds to you as you try to understand what it takes to make something beautiful come into tune with your own entity...

Think a very young Sophia Loren...

But hey, it's your choice...LOL!!!

giz

[Hawkeye748]

Voodoo,

While I agree many Halls were converted to percussion, I believe that the primers and flash pans were still off set from the centerline of the gun. Thus, not an inline. They were the first breech loading US adopted gun if I am not mistaken.

Some one correct me if I am wrong.

[AdmiralB]

Just invented to get around deer hunting laws.

How does it 'get around' them?

If the inlines didn't have something to offer over sidelocks, they wouldn't have been successful in the market.

I like sidelock military rifles (Enfields, Springfields, et al) a lot. But when I picked up an Omega with the thumbhole stock...it just fit like a glove.

There are a lot of things to like about inlines, and about the only thing to NOT like is the way they look.

I haven't bought a BP rifle yet, and I'm conflicted with the decision. But I know which style will be more accurate, all else equal, and I'm interested in performance.

The fact that the Italian repros aren't any cheaper than USA-made TCs doesn't help their case.

[gizamo]

Most accurate?

I shot a .36 squirrel gun this past year against a friend ( that is a well experience shooter ) with a Bushmaster equiped with a red dot.....

I had no problem beating him at 100 yards in three shot groups off a bench. And against the ten ring.:neener:

giz

[tequillaeagle]

Well so everyone knows I did start off with a BP Kit from Scheels long ago but I haven't been able to get the accuracy out of it that I have wanted , I used a cousins Inline and I loved how simple it was an the extended range that I could get from it besides the 20- 30 yards from mine. that's the reason why I was looking for an in line,, but don't get me wrong I Love the old style !!!!!!!!!!

[Loyalist Dave]

If the inlines didn't have something to offer over sidelocks, they wouldn't have been successful in the market.

CORRECT they offer the idea that they are almost the same as the bolt action or single shot breech loaders that they resemble. If they were superior to the sidelocks in accuracy, then they'd be winning target matches at the national and international level, wouldn't they? :)

LD

[AdmiralB]

If they were superior to the sidelocks in accuracy, then they'd be winning target matches at the national and international level, wouldn't they?

Are they allowed to compete?

The inline design isn't inherently superior in terms of accuracy, but I guarantee you that the average shooter is gonna group tighter at 100 yards with an inline and a 4x scope than he/she is with a Euroarms 1861.

Inlines have features that allow them to perform better. Sure, you could build a match Springfield repro and scope it...but who would?


EDIT - as I thought, NRA rules prohibit 'non-period' metallic sights, telescopes with 'internal adjustments', and saboted projectiles, among other things...so, your argument is meaningless, since the features that give inlines advantages are disallowed.

[jbkebert]

Try a sidelock instead. After shooting a traditional BP rifle you will find that the inline seems like a cheat. Just invented to get around deer hunting laws.

You know the funny thing with this statement is that it usually comes from the people who shoot Compound bows, or the ones I really love they shoot carbon arrows out of a recurve bow:cuss:

[AdmiralB]

I have no allegiances to either style. But if you're going to stick with ML designs, it seems silly to suggest that modern guns (inline or otherwise) don't have significant advantages over period-correct designs.

T/C Hawkens are drilled and tapped for scope mounts - if I put a 5-9 variable Leupold on one, am I still "cheating"?

[Ratdog68]

not interested in 'em. Sidelocks and revolvers... now, THAT'S another thing !!

Sort of like compound bows... sure, they're fancy... but, gimme longbows and a few recurves on the side.

Arrows? I like carbons AND woods... have, and shoot both... but, with feathers ONLY (LW, thank very much).

[Voodoochile]

OK Ratdog68, you've got me goin now.

Sidelock only for me, & PRB for sure the only projectile in em.
Revolvers, you-bet-cha.
I have a compound bow but I've come to love my recurve & so far only aluminum is my shaft material with RW feathers, soon as I get the chance I'll try my hand with some Cedars. :D


HA HA HA

[jbkebert]

So maybe the cuss thing was a little over the top. A old oby that shoots at the archey club I belong to. He belittles the heck out of everyone for shooting compound bows and blah blah blah. He is moraly superior to the rest of us but goes tromping through the woods with a recurve shooting carbon arrows (blazer vanes) and dead nuts fiber optic sights. Can't tell you how much I like that guy:barf:.

[Ratdog68]

I figured I'd getcha to chime in on that remark. :neener:

LOL jbkebert... I had to add my peanut gallery reply. I understand completely what you describe. Good natured banter is one thing... it's a shame when folks behave like that. Kinda takes the fun out of it. Heck... I've got a couple of bows with training wheels... but, they're "vintage", like me. :D

[arcticap]

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_217042_imageset_04?$main-Small$

Cabela's has a nickel Pursuit thumbhole LT package with 2-7 scope on sale for $229 this week.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21404-cat21420-cat370001&id=0068592217042a&navCount=6&podId=0068592&parentId=cat370001&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233

[Macgille]

As a matter of record, after I placed second in the California State championships shooting freestyle, I changed to a longbow and self nocked cedar arrows. I shot the long bow for years until arthritis made me give it up.

[BHP FAN]

The Morse carbine was a Civil War inline,with an action very like a backwards trapdoor Springfield.

[elmerfudd]

Compound bows are traditional. I even saw them on some old western show called "the Dukes of Hazard".

[Smokin_Gun]

Well a Side lock will never blow a bolt back in your face, they are not Traditional and they will and have been the demize of muzzleloading seasons for hunting game in some states...
I don't like inlines what so ever I never will. Nor will I understand the Sport in Scoped hunting with a Tradition style Rifle or Hangun or any rifle for hunting game at all...what's the sport in it?
If ya have to use new modern gadgets to get your deer so be it if you are starving, but don't try and tell me or any real traditional muzzle loader that it is sporting.
I don't even think Robert Redford would have used an inline or a 4X Leopold Scope on his Hawken :O)
Ifin you like inlines that's fine with me as long as you don't screw up muzzleloading season in my area and try to tell me they are just as fair to hunt with. I Really Really don't like um in case you can't tell :O)
No hard feelin's just the truth from this Traditional Mountain Man Black Powder lover...

[Cpt. America]

TC is a fine gun the only bad thing I've heard is some where prone to rusting. But that is well in the past. I shoot a CVA Optima and love it, I just couldn't see spending the $600+ dollars for a TC. I have been shooting a CVA since I started BP hunting and still have that Bobcat in my arsenal. I would say pick what your willing to spend and then go hold some and find what fits the bill.

[Marlin_444]

Think

Cadillac - T/C Hunter Pro

Toyota - CVA Optima Pro

It's all about economics, I have owned both... I still own a CVA Optima Pro...

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x264/M_444/CVA/OptimaProNickle.jpg

To each his/her/it's own... I have owned one of most of them... Keep coming back to the CVA Optima Pro...

Ron