Well, I am in the market for a new muzzleloader (I am already looking forward to next deer season ) I currently have an old CVA Staghorn but am looking for a new break action. I have seen the Traditions break action and am looking for feedback on them.
Don't know if you're a "traditionalist" or not, but I just bought a new CVA "Electra" this year.
The world's only "electric muzzleloader", and I got it through Sportsmans Guide cataloge for less than $250 delivered to my door.
Instantaneous ingintion, completely weather-proof breach, and it's wearing a Bergara barrel (guaranteed to hold 1MOA at 100yds or they'll replace the barrel).
No primers! Uses a 9volt battery for ignition. CVA says if you forget, and leave your ML "turned-on", the battery should last the entire hunting season. Up to 28 days! They also say their electronic ignition produces a spark 5 times hotter than a 209 shot-gun primer! It's supposed to provide 500 shots from a single 9v battery.
Field and Stream did a test of the TC Impact, CVA Optima, Traditions Pursuit, and Knight Staghorn I think. Of all those, the traditions was rated as having the worst trigger and accuracy at 3+ inches at 100 yards.
TC came in a close second in accuracy. I myself have been looking at a Tc Triumph for next year. Break open and removable breech plug.
I killed my first deer this season with the new Traditions my wife and kids bought for me last Christmas. So far im happy with it and accuracy has been good. The trigger is heavy and long, so far only negative Ive noted.
Go with a T/C and don't look back. I have had Traditions before and they are not bad guns. I bought a T/C a few years ago and it is a great gun for the money. I took an 8point and a doe this season with mine and it it was flawless. I get about 1 1/2" groups with it at 100 yds. With the Traditions I got about 2 1/2" at 100 yards.
Love my T/C pistol and if you want an Encore rifle for any of the other rounds it can shoot, adding a T/C or Bergara barrel would seem the way to go. For what it's worth, my old T/C Omega Z5 (T/C's previous "value" gun) would hold consistent 1-1.5" groups using 100gr Triple7 and the cheap 240gr T/C XTP sabots and I would expect their new Impact to deliver every bit as good of accuracy.