CVA™ Accura LR vs Traditions™ Vortek LDR

The CVA Accura Long Range and the Traditions Vortek StrikerFire LDR are two of the most popular long-range muzzleloaders on the market today. We have many customers inquiring about the differences between these two guns and about which one would be the best choice for them. This article provides a comparison between these two great muzzleloader rifles. Not to spoil the ending, but the CVA Accura LR and Traditions Vortek StrikerFire LDR both end up winning, the choice simply depends on what you’re trying to get out of your muzzleloader.

CVA™ Accura Long Range

The CVA Accura LR is one of our top selling muzzleloaders. After holding and shooting this gun, it is easy to see why it is one of the most popular models. The fit and finish are superb, the Soft-Touch stock feels great in your hands, the Nitride barrel and Realtree Max 1 look amazing together, and the balance of the gun feels very neutral. Apart from the aesthetic, the gun is a flat-out shooter, featuring a 30” Bergara barrel that will produce groups under 1” at 100 yards with the right load combination. With velocities pushing 2200fps, this gun is clearly built to reach out!

Traditions™ Vortek Strikerfire LDR

The Vortek StrikerFire LDR is the top-of-the-line model from Traditions. While it may not share the same popularity as the Accura LR, the Vortek is an excellent muzzleloader. The fit and finish is excellent with this gun and provides a more traditional feel than the Accura. Traditions added Hogue™ rubber inlays to their stocks, which provides great grip as well as an ultra-sharp look. One option that we like in the Vortek LDR is the choice of camouflage patterns. The Vortek is available with a Realtree Xtra*,  and Kryptek Highlander, as well as the option to have a full-camo dipped scope combo where the rifle, scope, and rings are all camo-coated. Holding the gun feels incredibly natural, just like most bolt-action rifles that we have owned. The gun is noticeably lighter than it’s competitors with its Chromoly steel barrel, which is a huge benefit when packing it around all day in the field. With the 30” barrel, the gun produces comparable velocities to the Accura, as well as groups under 1” at 100 yards.

After comparing the highlights of each model, it is still a tough call to distinguish which gun is best for you and your hunting style. We have really broken it down to overall ergonomics and weight, as both guns will shoot amazing groupings.

The biggest difference between these guns is the noticeable change in rear stocks. The Accura LR offers an ambidextrous thumbhole design and the Vortek StrikerFire offers a standard raised-comb rifle stock. While there can certainly be benefits of each stock design, we have found that it truly comes down to personal preference between the two. We do like the fact that the Traditions Vortek comes with a removable butt pad and a hollowed stock to allow for storage; this is a feature that no other inline muzzleloader currently offers.

Another notable difference in the Accura and Vortek is the hammer designs. The Accura LR features a standard hammer, with an ambidextrous hammer spur. Traditions has added a StrikerFire hammer to their Vortek lineup, which is much easier to use while wearing gloves. Again, this has almost always come down to a split decision between our staff as to which one is better. While everyone can agree on the merits of the StrikerFire in cold weather, the standard hammer of the Accura LR is something that we are all more accustomed to.

The weight of your muzzleloader may not always be an issue, depending on where you hunt. For example, if you’re sitting in a tree stand or ground blind, you may not worry as much about a little extra weight on your gun. If anything, it may have the nice effect of reducing felt recoil. But, if you’re someone who tends to be on their feet and moving a reasonable amount throughout the day, you’ll find that every ounce of savings on your gun matters. This is where the Vortek LDR really shines, as it is almost a pound and a half lighter than the Accura LR.

While most hunters don’t worry too much about what camo pattern is on their gun, we do believe that every little bit of concealment matters. Thus, the camo patterns available on the Vortek are more suited to the Midwest and Eastern hunters, whereas the Accura LR’s Realtree Max 1 is certainly a more western-inspired camo pattern. While Max 1 may be a western camo pattern, it will definitely work in the hardwoods of the midwest and east coast. If customization is your thing, then being able to choose a different camo pattern than the rest of your hunting buddies, like the Kryptek Highlander, certainly carries a wow-factor.

Finally, the last thing that sets these two guns apart is the ease of cleaning. CVA has outfitted all of their current-model inlines with the QRBP (Quick-Release Breech Plug). This unique breech plug allows for removal without any tools required, which is a huge asset in the field. Also, the firing pin and bushing come out with just a screwdriver, which allows the whole gun to be disassembled in no time at all. Cleaning the Traditions Vortek StrikerFire is a bit more of a drawn-out task. While we really like the design of the Accelerator Breech Plug, which is removed quickly in 3 rotations, the process of cleaning the firing pin and StrikerFire mechanism is a tedious task that takes much more time than the CVA.

In the end, we can certainly say that no customer would be disappointed with either of these fine guns, however, the best choice for you will really come down to some personal preference and hunting style. The mobile hunters, or those wearing gloves the majority of the time, may like the Traditions more for the lighter weight and StrikerFire hammer design. The true long-range shooters and people looking for an easier muzzleloader to maintain will definitely like the CVA Accura LR. Both of these guns are going to be able to hold great groupings and will be handed down to the next generation and offer great durability and dependability.

 Both of these muzzleloaders are available as plain guns, factory scope combos, or can be built with any scope of your choosing on our custom packages page.

If you still can’t make up your mind as to which muzzleloader is best for you, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team by calling 1-855-236-5000 or by email at sales@muzzle-loaders.com and our knowledgeable and friendly muzzleloader experts will be happy to assist you.