Thompson/Center's Omega muzzleloader is proof that it's often the simplest things in life that are most pleasing. Last fall I had the chance to put the rifle through its paces at the range and in the field, and I came away thinking it was one of the most coolest muzzleloaders I've ever had the privilege of handling.

The heart of the system is the swinging-block, lever-action design. To open the action, just push forward on a spur that protrudes from the trigger guard. As the trigger guard swings forward, the breech block drops away, revealing the 209 primer pocket. To close the breech, return the trigger guard to its original position; you'll feel it lock home after some resistance.

The hammer/trigger mechanism permits the exposed hammer to strike the primer only with the hammer cocked and the trigger is fully pulled rearward. There are no other safeties; the setup is fast, simple and safe.

With the breech block in the locked position, the primer is protected from rain and snow, and the design also permits easy access to the primer pocket. Capping and decapping is a cinch and can be accomplished with the fingers if necessary.

The Omega's design probably makes it the easiest-to-clean muzzleloader on the market. For routine cleaning, just drop the breech block, unscrew the breech plug and clean. That's it. The company does recommend periodic cleaning of the trigger assembly, a simple task that requires removing the two barrel screws and pulling the barrel/trigger assembly from the stock.

The Omega features a 28-inch barrel, following the trend toward longer tubes that promise to wring out every last bit of velocity possible in a muzzleloader. Its twist is one turn in 28 inches, a rate that accommodates both sabots and conicals.

Using two Pyrodex pellets (100 grains total) and with a Nikon Monarch 1.5-4X scope mounted atop it, I fired several different types of sabots (250 grains or heavier) at 100 yards through an Omega in preparation for an elk hunt. All the sabots shot groups between two and three inches; the 300-grain Barnes MZ Expanders I eventually chose averaged 2.7 inches for three five-shot groups, for instance.

Nothing wrong with that, but I expect additional experimentation would turn up better-performing bullets/loads. In the 100 or so rounds I put through the rifle, there wasn't a single misfire. The Omega's specially designed breech plug is intended to prevent the shooter from crushing a Pyrodex pellet, which can lead to ignition problems.

The T/C Omega is advanced in its simplicity. Pushing forward on a spur on the trigger guard drops the breech block—permitting easy access to the primer pocket for capping and making breech plug removal a snap.

At first glance, the composite stock on the test rifle I received was unremarkable. Once I got my cheek on it, though, I realized my head was in perfect position and my eye was properly aligned with the scope--neither of which is typical for me with most rifle stocks. The stock isn't a Monte Carlo--there's no rollover to it--but the comb is slightly higher than a typical straight stock. Still, the stock's got minimal drop, so in firing the recoil drives the gun relatively straight back. Overall it's a very comfortable muzzleloader to shoot. The Omega is fitted with Tru-Glo fiber-optic open sights. The red front insert passes through four steel posts and proved sturdy--as did the click-adjustable rear with green insert. After five days of getting knocked around while chasing elk, both fiber-optic inserts were still intact.

Quick Release
My Omega sample was shipped with T/C's new Maxima one-piece base and quick-release rings and, man, are they the ticket for blackpowder hunters. Some states don't permit scoped muzzleloaders in some seasons, but that's no problem with quick-release rings --just whip off the scope, zero the irons if you haven't already done so, and go hunting. You can reinstall the scope in about 10 seconds, and the muzzleloader will shoot right where it did before you removed the sight.

I tested this aspect of the Omega and the Maxima system extensively. I pulled the scope off the rifle half a dozen times; point of impact never changed when I replaced it.

Thompson/Center Omega Caliber: .50, .45 Ignition: 209 primer Barrel (in.): 28 Twist (turns/per in.): 1:28 Overall Length (in.): 42 Weight (lb.): 7 Sights: Click adjustable rear w/Tru-Glo fiber-optic inserts; steel ramp front w/Tru-Glo; drilled and tapped for scope mounts Stock: Composite (black or Realtree Hardwoods) or gray laminate Metalwork: Blue or stainless Contact: Thompson/Center Arms, (603) 332-5133, www.tcarms.com

Back to the rifle. As mentioned, I had the chance to carry the Omega for a week in the elk woods--carry but, alas, not fire. It acquitted itself well over those five days of rough-and-tumble hunting. The muzzleloader's weight was fine, and the 28-inch barrel created a balance point that helped me build rock-solid unsupported kneeling and sitting positions in a hurry.

On the last day we scurried to get close enough for a shot at a bull that was bugling his head off, and we broke into clearing just in time to see him trotting toward the far side. The rifle moved from port arms to shoulder in one fluid motion, and the hammer came back without conscious thought. Had the bull turned to offer anything but a dead-going-away shot, I would've been more than ready.