The extra barrel length allows a magnum powder charge to burn completely in the barrel, which helps maximize propellant's performance. The .40 caliber versions have a 1:20 rifling twist while the .45 caliber and .50 caliber versions use a 1:22 rifling twist rate. Even the Triple 7 powder left a cloud, although not as thick or smelly as the rotten egg black powder cloud. Customize your rifle by bluing the barrel and finishing the stock as desired. From 25 yards, we had no trouble. JavaScript is disabled. Super lightweight and offering extra safety features, this muzzleloader is a still-hunter's dream. All Rights Reserved. Basically, CVA designed the Accura LR-X muzzleloader to incorporate many of the great features of the CVA Paramount, but still use a standard 209 ignition with a regular magnum (instead of super magnum) powder charge. And the lightweight stock has an adjustable comb for perfect eye-to-optic alignment. Traditions Performance Firearms Ph. The development of the percussion cap is arguably the biggest invention in the firearms industry. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Muzzle-Loaders.com has taken the Vortek LDR muzzleloader through an extensive day at the range to test different black powder combinations to achieve the best velocity. The Remington Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader was designed to use 250 grain Barnes Premier muzzleloader bullets that have a special sabot designed to handle those exceptionally large powder charges. The example they sent us for review is one that comes with a premounted scope. With a hunt looming, I mounted a clear Nikon 3-9X 40mm scope sporting the company's Ballistic Drop Compensating (BDC) reticle calibrated for muzzleloader trajectories and went to work sighting-in. Traditions VORTEK StrikerFire Muzzleloader By Dr. Jim and Mary Clary Illustration courtesy of Traditions PerformanceFirearms. Your email address will not be published. So, no. I tested four loads; the gun loved three saboted bullets and hated a lead conical bullet. The design of the breech ensures consistent ignition, keeping your primer and powder safe from moisture. Black Powder Rifles, Current production Paramounts also have a threaded muzzle and can use a muzzle brake to reduce felt recoil. They block a lot of the view of the target and make trying to hold on a 1" spot pretty much a guessing game. Traditions offers a Hornady-built proprietary saboted muzzleloader bullet dubbed the "Smackdown." The VAPR model also features a 1:24" fast twist barrel. Why It Made the CutWith no breech plug, this muzzleloader provides a fast, accurate, and consistent shooting system that is easy to maintain. Even though it breaks open, it is still a muzzleloader. It is going to wreck some whitetail. Randy D. Smith with buck and Traditions Vortek. Getting close for a one-shot kill has always been the challenge. Now that weve got that out of the way, lets get started. For those reasons, this is a very flexible muzzleloader that will work great for deer hunting east of the Mississippi as well as game like mule deer, elk, and pronghorn out west where ranges can be a little longer. Traditions Performance Firearms was the first company to improve the velocity, downrange energy, and effective range of a muzzleloader by going to a 30-inch barrel on its Vortek Ultralight LDR (Long Distance Rifle). That alone makes for a slow ignition or a hang fire. The CVA Paramount long range muzzleloaders also made cut for my holiday gift recommendations. LHR Sporting Arms Redemption RifleLHR Sporting Arms LLC introduced its first rifle, Redemption, in 2013. There are six options: percussion models in Kentucky, Deerhunter, Crockett, Hawken Woodsman, and Frontier. Well under minute of deer kill zone. Bottom line, take it out ans shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. I'm a traditional muzzleloader guy at heart, but this time I was glad the smokepole in the stand with me was as modern and cutting-edge as they come. In Minnesota I also use my scoped muzzleloader for hunting in the shotgun zone (about half the state) during the normal deer hunting gun season. No external hammer offers faster lock time and a more silent operation. While the Paramount might have an edge at longer range, the Remington 700 UML is no slouch either. I currently plan on using 100gr. Muzzleloaders with a specific powder requirement can create challenges for finding the exact products. This has been a welcome feature for Paramount shooters and has been so well received that current production Paramount models also have a threaded muzzle. Sighting it in is a royal pain in the ass, if only because of the time it takes to clean and load. Muzzle-Loaders.com used the full five pellet load as per manufacturer recommendation and achieved great results. With all that in mind, the CVA Paramount Pro is certainly one of the best (if not the best) of the long range muzzleloaders currently available for hunters with a variety of needs and desires. Muzzleloader Review: Traditions Vortek UltraLight. Each click is inch at 100 yards. The Big Game Hunting Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, and other Amazon stores worldwide. Ease of CleaningNot all muzzleloaders are the same when it comes to cleaning. 860-388-4657 Email: [email protected] The 13" Ultralight Tapered Barrel has a premium Cerakote finish and 1:28 twist rifling. There is no external hammer, and the rifle is cocked with a Stealth Striker system that slides forward till it locks in the ready-to-shoot position. The back of the sabot forms a nice seal in the barrel, and helps with accuracy. Your main decision comes down to whether you want convenience or performance beyond traditional inline muzzleloaders. I had to screw out the breech plug (easily done, thankfully), dump the powder from the bore, and pound the SST out from the breech. The smaller diameter bullet has an even faster barrel twist at 1:20 inches for better bullet stability and long-range accuracy. The hammerless cocking system minimizes lock time while the 30-inch barrel design improves downrange performance. This is especially important for a long shot. Technical Specifications: It comes in 10 configurations of finishes and optic options. The group sizes varied from shooter to shooter, but with sound fundamentals it will shoot around 1-inch groups. The trigger is reasonably good, making it easy to shoot the rifle accurately. Ran a couple of patches every five shots. For instance, a hunter looking for the best long range muzzleloader for use in states like Colorado that require a .50 caliber muzzleloader for hunting certain animals and/or prohibit the use of a scope should buy a .50 caliber CVA Paramount Pro. Once I finally got the Vortek sighted in, it turned out a great performance. The Traditions Vortek StrikerFire LDR could be the most stylish modern in-line .50 caliber muzzleloading rifle on the market, but it is hampered by excessive recoil. You can alternate between shooting & cleaning. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The results of my endeavors may be seen in the accompanying chart. That's the only time I ran into trouble with the rifle. That makes cleaning a lot easier than the muzzleloaders of yore. $449.00 - $515.00. My older Vortek, at 7 pounds, is a very stable rifle and easy to hold on target for long range shots. The trigger is smooth and crisp. Well talk about the CVA Paramount HTR and CVA Paramount Pro in more detail in a minute. This rifle is accurate to 200 yards and beyond with blackpowder substitutes like Pyrodex. The whole rifle is coated in RealTree Xtra CeraKote that is applied very well. Most states now have a muzzle loading deer season on the books, and more and more hunters are taking advantage of this extra opportunity to get into the woods. The sun had set and darkness was creeping in from the horizon when a good buck cautiously poked his head from the saplings fringing the thicket below me. Traditions Vortek StrikerFire VAPR Muzzleloader - .50 Cal Black & SS - R56110460. Even though the rifle comes in zeroed, Id suggest doing it yourself before you put it in the field. Especially with the .50 caliber LR-X, its important to use a full magnum charge (120gr of Blackhorn 209 or 3x 50gr 777 pellets) to get best accuracy with the PowerBelt ELR. Guns, The Traditions Vortek LDR was cleaned after every shot to maintain consistency with velocity testing. Lighter and tougher and more precise than ever, it's the perfect back country hunting rifle. The firearm was the first of its kind. The Pursuit XT is the newest rendition with upgrades that make this muzzleloader the best bang for your buck. Traditions Vortek StrikerFire VAPR .45 Caliber, Traditions Smackdown Carnivore 250-grain bullet, Bullet shelf in the barrel means proper seating for every shot, Some jurisdictions question the NitroFires validity as a muzzleloader, Twist: 1:20-inch (.40 cal) 1:22-inch (.45), Advises Blackhorn 209 powders for best results, Ignition uses a large rifle primer instead of a 209 primer, Many states do not allow big game hunting with a .40 caliber, Length of pull (14 inches) is not adjustable, Shorter barrels can cause muzzle jump with magnum loads, Ignition and breech plug cleaning are time-consuming, Better bullet stability means long-range accuracy, Breech and ignition maintenance isnt efficient, Plastic disk holds 209 primers for loading. All models are old-style guns with hardwood stocks, steel barrels, and brass components. It isn't the best hunting shot I've made with a muzzleloader, but it was a good one and bullet placement was perfect. It has an MSRP of $650, but sells for significantly less. It also uses the same .40 and .45 caliber PowerBelt ELR bullets as Paramount and Paramount Pro muzzleloaders of the same caliber. No more hammers sticking off the sides of guns. It features a 25-inch Bergara barrel with a 1:28 twist rifling. It is called a muzzleloader for a reason, and that is a requirement for the special hunting season. Avoid two- and four-petal versions. I have shot deer and black bears with the Pursuit XT and was impressed with the performance and reliability of the rifle and components. Traditions newest offering, the .45 caliber, offers long-range shooters ballistic and barrel technical advantages. This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. Copyright 2023 Muzzle-Loaders.com. 1235 ft./lbs. of Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News. 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