Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders What is the best northwest legal 50 or 54 caliber muzzleloader

Have been looking at the knight light hunter or a CVA. Any advice would be appreciated am leaning towards the knights.

Funny you should ask, I bought a Traditions NW hunter this afternoon for a cow elk hunt in the Blue's in Dec.-Muddy

I like my Traditions Vortek NW for an inline. Same one you got Muddy?

Also like TC sidelocks.

Yep, dry side-Muddy

Knight - would be my vote.

I have a Bighorn that needs shot, but the LK-93s I have shot are good rifles for what I want.

The best? Tough question because we don't get to use the best. That said, still a lot of good choices.
I saw the Vortek the other day and it looked good to me.
I have a Knight LK93 in .54 with a thumbhole stock. It has been a winner. Have had TC Black Diamond's in .50 which I would call the standard for WA. 75% of the guys I hunt with have them. I picked up an Austin Halleck 420 in .50 and it is awesome.
Too bad we can't use the newest rifles that take advantage of the better primers and powders.
Still, lots of good choices.

I will take a look at the tc.

Muddy good luck on your hunt what unit are you hunting. I have a co worker that just got back from a bull hunt in the blues.

I have an old TC side lock with a green mountain barrel in 54 cal. Never shot it at fur it's in good shape but was thinking a inline might be a bit more accurate.

Do any knight shooters prefer the 52 cal. I will be shooting elk and maybe deer but mostly elk.

Heck man, you already have a good one! A .54" Maxi Ball/Hunter, Great Plains or PRB out of your T/C will spoil any elks day. Assuming you have to use iron sights, there's not much to gain in the accuracy department going to an inline. Mounting an aperture sight would give you a bit more precision in the aiming department. However, far be it from me to suggest you not buy a new rifle if you want one. (As good an excuse as any!) As has been mentioned, don't overlook the older plunger style inlines from Knight, White and T/C. Many times they can be picked up virtually new for not much cash. My LGS has one of the aforementioned Black Diamonds basically new in the box for $250. Good luck in your search and hunt!

But what u think not us But u asked so I would buy Knight or a old TC or CVA

Fred, mine is in unit 154 and is a limited access anterless (private land only) hunt from 12-9 through 1-20 (hunt #2289). I got a bull just outside of Toledo several years ago and hunt/fish with some guys from Salkum. My hunt is mostly in the 2015 Blue Creek wildfire area starting about 8 miles east of Walla Walla. Muddy

Ive been looking and will probably get a cva optima and stick a williams peep on it.

For $299, it seems to be a bargain.

I would say "no" based on the deep discounts that Knight has on the .52 calibers on their site.

I think they made a bold/big/something move with the introduction of the .52 caliber in their line, but I think it has fizzled out to the point that they aren't pushing it out, just clearing it out.

I can't shoot long range enough here to make any sort of a distinction between the .52 and a plain vanilla .50 LK-93.

Finding .52 caliber bullets is a challenge, but somewhat less of an issue with lead-only states.

If "somebody" introduced a good .52 caliber sabot jacket for heavy pistol bullets, the caliber might live a bit longer.

Many of he 475 bullets are a heavy bullet for 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh. The 325gr XTP works well in the Knight 52 sabots. There are also a few good 400gr bullets in 475.

475 bullet selection is pretty weak compared to 458 and 458s are widely available in a larger weight range.

Nothing wrong at all with the Knight 52 other than few conical choices. Paper patching 515s is one of the best options if you dont mind casting your own.

Ballistically there isn't much advantage, or disadvantage, to the .52. As mentioned, there's sabots available for .458 & .475 bullets and Parker makes a couple lead conicals for it. The fact the rifles are discounted would be enough for me to go for one IF I were in the market for a new ML. That's just me, but $320 for a Freedom Series Disc Extreme isn't a bad deal.

Is anybody selling the .52 sabot jackets in bulk?

I've looked, but didn't find any...unless Knight added some, and I missed it.

Knight website lists some. Don't know who makes them for Knight but would guess MMP?

.475" sabots

.458" sabots

Looks like I missed it.

IIRC, they were sold out for months when I was looking last, to the point I figured the caliber was being phased out of the Knight line.

Thank for the link, TM.

ok it's now one of three a knight light hunter CVA or TC. I really like the feel of the CVA and no bolt leaves more room for barrel in a shorter package. Plus it's several hunderd cheeper leaves lots of room for load development. I have to get a knight and a TC in my hands.

CVA is looking like a winner the more I read and talk to people.

are idaho washington and oregon laws on muzzle loaders the same ?

I think they are pretty close.

No optics and exposed percussion caps are the main criteria I believe.
Not sure if all allow sabot. WA does.

Oregon still requires lead and loose powder if you are legal in Oregon you got it made

With documentation from an eye doctor you can get a permit to use a 1X scope in Idaho.

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/cva-optima-v2-pr2024s.html

This should be a good little rifle. Easy to pack, and easy to maintain. Easily scoped also if that would be desired at some point.