Muzzleloaders, advice needed...
Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:55 pm
I'm looking at picking a up muzzleloader in the next week or so (assuming I can scrap the $$ together). I'm looking at getting the TCA Omega Z5 .50 cal starter kit. Everything I read says its a good gun at a good price. I've read that it is easy to clean and shots well at 100+ yards, both of which are very important to me.
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/omegaZ5.php
Anyone have any insight on buying a Muzzleloader? I want to buy something I will be happy with and will work well for a few years if not longer, I have 2 deer tags I can fill starting December 11th with a muzzleloader and would love to fill them both.
Tim
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/omegaZ5.php
Anyone have any insight on buying a Muzzleloader? I want to buy something I will be happy with and will work well for a few years if not longer, I have 2 deer tags I can fill starting December 11th with a muzzleloader and would love to fill them both.
Tim
Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:51 pm
That TC looks like a nice gun, they make good stuff. I have a few BP guns but they are side locks, I don't own an inline but I have fired a few. they have a little faster lock time = better accuracy.
Just make sure your state is OK with inline muzzle loaders. Some places don't allow them for BP only seasons. Texas just changed a few years ago.
Make sure you do load testing. Start low @ 50 gr and work up. I shoot @ 78-80 grain with round balls for paper shooting...works well. More is not always better. I also shoot BP-ffg and Pyrodex RS. I can't tell any difference in clean-up.
Have Fun ...Shoot Safe.
Z
Just make sure your state is OK with inline muzzle loaders. Some places don't allow them for BP only seasons. Texas just changed a few years ago.
Make sure you do load testing. Start low @ 50 gr and work up. I shoot @ 78-80 grain with round balls for paper shooting...works well. More is not always better. I also shoot BP-ffg and Pyrodex RS. I can't tell any difference in clean-up.
Have Fun ...Shoot Safe.
Z
Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:53 pm
I'm fine with NYS Hunting laws, I'm ok with Maine also, now to check the other 35 states I wouldn't mind moving too 
I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject the last few days and there is a lot to it, as I figured there was. I think I'll put out the bit extra for an American made product. I'm still very disappointed the Win has moved production off shore, very disappointed
Tim
I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject the last few days and there is a lot to it, as I figured there was. I think I'll put out the bit extra for an American made product. I'm still very disappointed the Win has moved production off shore, very disappointed
Tim
Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:37 pm
Well I did it.
I bought a Muzzleloader. I picked up a TCA Omega Z5 at Wal-Mart. I shopped around at the local gun stores and they all had top of the line guns ($450 and up), I realized that I had to either buy a middle ground gun or I was not going hunting. I chose the TCA because it was American Made and a very good name. I also was very happy to find that Wal-Mart was getting rid of all the Muzzlelaoding stuff. $50 off the gun and $3-6 or so off everything else they had. So I filled the cart!
A quick run back out to get some powder and finish studying up tonight and I will be shooting tomorrow! I can't wait.
Tim
I bought a Muzzleloader. I picked up a TCA Omega Z5 at Wal-Mart. I shopped around at the local gun stores and they all had top of the line guns ($450 and up), I realized that I had to either buy a middle ground gun or I was not going hunting. I chose the TCA because it was American Made and a very good name. I also was very happy to find that Wal-Mart was getting rid of all the Muzzlelaoding stuff. $50 off the gun and $3-6 or so off everything else they had. So I filled the cart!
A quick run back out to get some powder and finish studying up tonight and I will be shooting tomorrow! I can't wait.
Tim
Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:43 pm
Hey Tim,
That looks pretty cool. I've got a Lyman Great Plains rifle on my wish list. How's it shoot?
That looks pretty cool. I've got a Lyman Great Plains rifle on my wish list. How's it shoot?
Sun Dec 31, 2006 9:21 pm
Hi Tim,
Looks like a nice gun, I hope your happy with it. I too am interested as to how it works out for you. I have a small BP pistol and also did Ztex suggested, I started at a low powder grain load and worked my way up till I found a load I was happy with.
I too was disappointed in Winchesters departure from the states, and since I was looking to get a lever action rifle, I went with the Marlin 336A 30/30 instead of a Win. 94. Picked it up just a week ago............Roger
Looks like a nice gun, I hope your happy with it. I too am interested as to how it works out for you. I have a small BP pistol and also did Ztex suggested, I started at a low powder grain load and worked my way up till I found a load I was happy with.
I too was disappointed in Winchesters departure from the states, and since I was looking to get a lever action rifle, I went with the Marlin 336A 30/30 instead of a Win. 94. Picked it up just a week ago............Roger
Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:30 am
The TCA Omega is a very nice gun. I was really surprised how fast it shots (the time from trigger pull to the boom). It also seems very accurate. I hunted with the Triple 7 pellets, it was fast and easy and not extra equipment needed. For Christmas I picked up a Powder flask and measurer so I can find a load that will let me shoot the best groups I can. They say that you should be able to get a group all touching at 100 yards, I bet the gun can group like that but I’m not sure about me. I also plan to put a scope on it. I had some deer that came out a bit before sundown at 200 yards and the front site completely covered the deer, so I could not take the shot.
I was also surprised how easy and fast it was to clean, the In-Line Guns are the way to go. I think it took me less time to clean my muzzle loader than my other rifles which was very nice.
The overall Muzzle loading season was great! It was a bit warmer than usual which made it a lot nicer to sit for long periods of time. I shot a doe opening day, I took a shot at a nice buck near the end of the season but he was running pretty fast across a field and I did not lead him enough. Thankfully the lead was so wrong I never touched him. If I don’t get a good hit I want a total miss.
This is the doe I shot opening day, she is a bit hunched so she looks smaller but she weighted in at 118# dressed out. In my area that is a pretty good size doe, Thanks goes out to whoever had the corn feeder setup and feeding her. She tasted great!
Tim
I was also surprised how easy and fast it was to clean, the In-Line Guns are the way to go. I think it took me less time to clean my muzzle loader than my other rifles which was very nice.
The overall Muzzle loading season was great! It was a bit warmer than usual which made it a lot nicer to sit for long periods of time. I shot a doe opening day, I took a shot at a nice buck near the end of the season but he was running pretty fast across a field and I did not lead him enough. Thankfully the lead was so wrong I never touched him. If I don’t get a good hit I want a total miss.
This is the doe I shot opening day, she is a bit hunched so she looks smaller but she weighted in at 118# dressed out. In my area that is a pretty good size doe, Thanks goes out to whoever had the corn feeder setup and feeding her. She tasted great!
Tim