NEF Sidekick or TC Omega?

[BoomStick82]

I really like both rifles, the lower price and "primer carriers" are a plus to the NEF, but only if the Omega is hard to cap/decap with hunting gloves on. I Also think the blued/walnut of the NEF looks a bit better.

NEF:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20815&hasJS=true

Omega:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20815&hasJS=true

Thanks,
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[arcticap]

Most folks would choose to buy the Omega because it's such a good rifle, and TC has a great lifetime warranty. But I don't care much for their QLA muzzle.
Here's some pictures of a bad one:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=280251

The Sidekick might have some drawbacks including the primer carrier & the ramrod, but they are also reported to be excellent, handy rifles.
I do wonder whether the firing pin stays clean, and if the primer carrier blocks the powder fouling.
I have one of their rifled slug shotguns to which I mounted a short 4X32 shotgun scope with low rings and a hammer extension, and it's a tackdriver.
So I'd choose the Sidekick, save a few bucks and "suffer".

 

[ImARugerFan]

How much do you plan on using this gun? Either will be fine. I only hunt muzzleloader 2 days a year, so the sidekick is great for a guy like me. I just got one and will be using it this season. The ramrod is junk, but at least you can buy replacements directly from NEF for $7.75. To me the omega is a nicer gun though, it had a better feel up against my shoulder. But I couldn't see spending the extra money on a gun that I won't use much. The NEF will kill deer, that's all I need.

 

[BoomStick82]

Good call, I'm really curious to hear how easy/hard it is to cap and decap the omega before making a final decision. Thanks for the good info.

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[Misfire99]

I have a NEF Huntsman, model before Sidekick but very similar, and love the thing. It has good sights, William's fire sights, And the collapsible ram rod is a very good idea. You could have a hook for a hand and still be able to change the primer carrier on the NEF. So without seeing the omega I don't know for sure but I would bet the farm that changing the primer on the NEF is way better if you load the carriers ahead of time. I liked mine so much that I bought a handi rifle in 45/70. The design is that good. And with the NEF muzzle loader you can get NEF to fit shotgun barrels to it. Both rifled slug and smooth bore barrels. Can't do that with an omega. And to get the other barrels it's about $50. Not bad for another gun.

Here is a link for the barrel program:
http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.aspx

It says that you can put a Huntsman muzzle loader on a handi rifle but you can only put shotgun barrels on a huntsman. I am still waiting for my 45/70 to get here. But when it does it goes right to NEF for a couple of new barrels. My Huntsman will get a rifled 12 gauge barrel and the handi rifle in 45/70 will get a 7mm-08 and a 243 bull barrel. I think with that I am all set.

 

[BoomStick82]

Hmmm... If NEF makes a smoothbore muzzleloading shotgun barrel I am so there!

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[BoomStick82]

Although if I could get a custom 10 or 12 gauge (heck, even a 20 would be fine), smooth bore barrel for the Omega, that would be cool too!