I had the pleasure of handling one of these yesterday, and for the most part I was impressed by the overall quality of the rifle, especially at the $250 price point for a stainless/synthetic model. Very light rifle that was well balanced, fluted barrel with the lined ramrod ferrules like the Apex. The stock fit is WAY better than the old dog leg style stock IMO. The QR breech plug is very nice as was the Apex's, but they still have that huge oval slot cut in the face of the plug.
The only things I don't care for are the molded in swivel studs, and the lever in the front of the trigger guard. But then again, I didn't like the old one at the rear of the trigger guard either.
The biggest shocker came when I was invited to remove the breech plug to look down the barrel. The plug came out very easily, as expected, but when I looked in the bore, I seen something that I have never seen in a muzzleloader before. The lands were not your run-of-the-mill rifle lands, they were more of a polygon, very much like the Ultragon? Rifling that H&R , and now Remington uses in their newer slug guns. The lands actually had a groove, or trough that ran down the full length of the bore.
MY QUESTION: Do all the new 2010 Optima's use this type of rifling, was this a fluke, or am I seeing an optical illusion? I haven't read anything about a new type of rifling, but I am sure what I saw was similar to the Ultragon? Rifling. Please tell me I am not going crazy, or need to go see the eye doctor! :shock:
The only things I don't care for are the molded in swivel studs, and the lever in the front of the trigger guard. But then again, I didn't like the old one at the rear of the trigger guard either.
The biggest shocker came when I was invited to remove the breech plug to look down the barrel. The plug came out very easily, as expected, but when I looked in the bore, I seen something that I have never seen in a muzzleloader before. The lands were not your run-of-the-mill rifle lands, they were more of a polygon, very much like the Ultragon? Rifling that H&R , and now Remington uses in their newer slug guns. The lands actually had a groove, or trough that ran down the full length of the bore.
MY QUESTION: Do all the new 2010 Optima's use this type of rifling, was this a fluke, or am I seeing an optical illusion? I haven't read anything about a new type of rifling, but I am sure what I saw was similar to the Ultragon? Rifling. Please tell me I am not going crazy, or need to go see the eye doctor! :shock: