Best of the low priced inline muzzle loaders?

Grizzlypeg

Grizzlypeg

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What would be the best of the lower priced inline muzzle loaders? Is a nickel finish better than plain blued steel for reduced fouling and corrosion? I've seen some traditions guns around $200.00. Junk or decent?
 
Hey, depends what's the meaning of Junk :confused:.

I have one of these inexpensive Tradition at $149.99. What can I say about its performance, beside that it's a .50cal, blued, synth stock, fiber optic sights, drilled & tap for scope mount, shoots excellent, surprisingly accurate enough for my needs +- 2"/100yds, sometimes better, likes every bullet/sabot I tried and works well on game. About accuracy, I compared with a couple of higher quality ML and I was right in the fight, and better in some occasion :cool:. On it, I installed a fixed 2x scope.

Ok ok, I really like it, and I bought it especially because it was not too $$$. I am not afraid to bring it out in the bad weather, or have a bit of dirt on it or should I say to drop it in the mud, it's simple to operate, light and easy to handle, good recoil pad.

Cons:

Metal is soft and easy to ding, easy to rust without proper care, bit more work to clean compare to a break action, fiber optic sights are plastic crap but very easy to use. s**tty ramrod, I made another one because, well, it's a s**tty one.

For me, it's an inepensive reliable gun with no fuss and no gold trimming, just cheap and effective but not yet junk ;).

Hope this help
 
I have the cheap Traditions tracker 209 blued.Picked it up for $143.99 this will be the fifth year I will be useing it.I threw a cheap bushnell 3x9x40 (sorry I like big optics) and it was ready to go.Shoots 2" groups.I also replaced the cheap ramrod.Only qualms I have is trying to keep it rust free,also after firing a shot it is a ##### trying to get the next shot down the barrel.I started off with this model because I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy muzzle loading,but hey it works for me.:)Yes it does use the 209 primer,happy hunting.
 
I use a NEF Huntsman. Its a nickel plated break-action. I paid around $279 for it. Took the sights off, put on a Burris FF2, replaced the stock ramrod with a custom Hubbard one. Also I will have a Breech plug conversion soon, that uses .25acp pistol brass and small rifle primer, instead of the 209 primers. More effective ignition and no blowback or gas from the primer.

While mine works well and is light, if I had to do it all over I'd go with the new T/C Triumph for $479, it has most of the Pro-Hunter features, but half the price. Only thing it doesn't have is interchangeable barrels like the PH.
 
I love my CVA Staghorn Mag. A simple inline topped with a scope that easily equates to a mortgage payment. Bought it new in 2003, and am looking to make three additional notches into the stock this year.
 
I have a Traditions Tracker 209, and I like it as much as PaulT and 7mm-08 like theirs. I put a used Weaver K4 Challenger on it. (Sooner or later, I try a used K4 on all my guns.) It's an effective hunting tool and a really cheap way to try out muzzleloading. If you later decide you want something nicer, you can easily get $100 back selling it to someone else who wants to try out muzzleloading without sinking lots of money into it.

Oh yeah, the ramrod is flexible. It works, but it gets irksome pretty quickly. I'm probably going to get a replacement made.
 
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My only peeve with the in-line models mentioned(Trad,CVA) is they fire from an open bolt which in turn exposes the source of ignition to the elements.
Thats just my 0.02 cents, whatever works for ya...works;)
 
I have an old Traditions deerhunter inline uses #11 caps. It has 8 notches on the stock. Closest 25 yds, longest 225 yds. Need I say more?
 
I have found the Hornady great plains 385 gr lead bullet works the best in this rifle. Only 90 gr equivalent of Pyrodex . Not really fast, but at that diameter and weight it doesn't have to be going fast to work.
 
What distance do you zero the sights at? And what was the drop at 225, not that I'd take a shot like that. I'm hoping for 75 yards or less.
 
I'm about 2" high at 100 yds. I held about 6"over the deer's back and hit lower chest. It only ran about 75 yds before folding up. I usually wouldn't try such a long shot, but it was broad side on a windless opening day morning standing in a corn field. I couldn't resist. Most of my deer have been inside 100 yds.
 
You might try a used Savage muzzle wumper if you can find one. They aren't that pricey and it sure is nice using smokeless.
 
I have 2 deer so far with my Traditions with the 209 kit and a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4 scope.

1 was at abut 15 yards and the other paced out to 130 yards.

+- 2" - 3" @ 100 yards. with 100 gr 777 pellets and 250 gr .45 sabot XTPs.

Thinking of selling though as I don't have time to muzzle hunt this year.
 
I have a traditions tracker as well, very cheap gun, but works quite well. same thoughts about the ramrod, it's like useing cooked spaghetti! I bought a T/C ramrod with the t handle, works great.
 
i have a traditions tracker 209 and a cva wolf magnum, their not the prettiest smoke poles around but they are pretty good shooters. a word of advice on rusting and corrosion.here in ontario our muzzle loader hunt is just that muzzle loader not black powder only. there is now available , in 50 gr. stick form, a black powder replacement,which is sulphur free (sulphur being the killer corrosive in black powder) from the American Pioneer Powder company. clean up is much easier since oil based solvents which normally cannot be used are o.k. with this powder
 
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