Talk me out of a Knight Ultra Lite

[Justabirdwatcher]

Well it's that time of year again, the time of year I always get interested in buying a new hunting rifle. This year I've decided I just have never been happy with my CVA Optima V2 or at least, not as happy with it as I was my Ruger 77/50 (never, ever should have sold that gun). But there were a few things I didn't like about the Ruger too, so I've been perusing the ML's and came across the Knight Ultra Lite. I love light, accurate rifles, and this one can be set up to shoot percussion caps pretty easily. Plus it is not a break action cocker, which I think is what I'm just so tired of with my CVA. Those break action cockers just reek of cheap.

All that said, the idea of spending $1500 on a ML, even if it's one of the best ML's on the planet, seems steep to me. I can afford it, but will I be happy with this gun? I'd love to hear from those of you who own a Knight Ultra Lite. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tikka06]

The knight rifles HQ are local to me so I am kind of biased. I don’t have an ultra light but do have a mountaineer. Actually one of the first ones produced. It is a flat out nail driver. I can get a 3-4 inch 3 shot group at 200. That’s with 110gr BH209 and a Barnes 290 TMZ. They are well built guns but if you are recoil shy you may want to look elsewhere. I’m guessing that ultra light will have a pretty stout recoil.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

The knight rifles HQ are local to me so I am kind of biased. I don’t have an ultra light but do have a mountaineer. Actually one of the first ones produced. It is a flat out nail driver. I can get a 3-4 inch 3 shot group at 200. That’s with 110gr BH209 and a Barnes 290 TMZ. They are well built guns but if you are recoil shy you may want to look elsewhere. I’m guessing that ultra light will have a pretty stout recoil.

Thanks for the reply. I don't load my ML's very heavy, so I'm not too worried about recoil. Mostly looking for something to pair with a 45-70 (another gun I'm interested in adding to my collection) so I can load the same bullets in both, probably around the same velocity. Right now I shoot 70 grains (volume) of BH209 or 90 grains of Triple Seven. Had great luck on deer with those charges, out to 140 yards, so no reason to change IMO. If I ever chase elk with it, I'll bump up, but deer aren't hard to kill.

 

[cgasner1]

The plunger style gun doesn’t work well with bh 209 you’ll wanna stick with the 777

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I have been shooting a Knight Ultralight for 7-8 years now, and I love it. I bought it because I wanted something lighter, and can swap out to a #10 cap if I draw a tag somewhere that requires it. I shoot 100gr 777 behind a Knight Bloodline bullet (Lehigh Defense lathe turned bullet that is designed to break into 6 flachettes; they do some wicked damage....). I get ~1" groups with it at 100, and with the combo can hold a group for 3 shots before they start they start climbing up towards the 1 o'clock.

In the 100grn of powder range, I don't think the recoil is bad. Prior to this gun I was shooting a TC Encore and the difference is negligable to me. That said, I only bought mine because a guy had traded it in because it bucked too hard, but I am guessing he was shooting 150grns or something. I didn't even know they existed except the guy had traded it in at my uncle's store and he thoguth I might be interested. Never knew they existed, and would probably still be shooting the TC, had my uncle not called me.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

The plunger style gun doesn’t work well with bh 209 you’ll wanna stick with the 777

I'm on my last 1/4 can of BH209. Going back to caps and 777. Used it for years with zero issues and I think the cleanup is easier. And I refuse to pay BH209 prices.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I have been shooting a Knight Ultralight for 7-8 years now, and I love it. I bought it because I wanted something lighter, and can swap out to a #10 cap if I draw a tag somewhere that requires it. I shoot 100gr 777 behind a Knight Bloodline bullet (Lehigh Defense lathe turned bullet that is designed to break into 6 flachettes; they do some wicked damage....). I get ~1" groups with it at 100, and with the combo can hold a group for 3 shots before they start they start climbing up towards the 1 o'clock.

In the 100grn of powder range, I don't think the recoil is bad. Prior to this gun I was shooting a TC Encore and the difference is negligable to me. That said, I only bought mine because a guy had traded it in because it bucked too hard, but I am guessing he was shooting 150grns or something. I didn't even know they existed except the guy had traded it in at my uncle's store and he thoguth I might be interested. Never knew they existed, and would probably still be shooting the TC, had my uncle not called me.

Thanks. I've read a lot of good reviews on the Ultra lite. Seems people who have them really like them. I plan to use caps and Triple 7 and will probably end up around 90 grains of powder for deer behind a 250 grain 45 cal bullet with a sabot. I'd like to be able to shoot the same monoflex or ftx bullets in both the ML and a 45-70.

 

[jt13]

I have an old Knight Disc .50 cal. I don't like the extra parts, pieces, and tools required but it's very reliable and the stainless barrel cleans up extremely easy compared to my CVA Accura MR. The CVA wins in simplicity and accuracy, but the Knight is higher quality fit and finish for sure.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Was hoping Midway would put them on sale for Black Friday Week, but no dice. I'm not willing to pay $1600 for a muzzleloader so I guess I'll be on the lookout for a used one. Anyone has a stainless Ultra Lite with the green stock they are willing to part with, let me know.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

Was hoping Midway would put them on sale for Black Friday Week, but no dice. I'm not willing to pay $1600 for a muzzleloader so I guess I'll be on the lookout for a used one. Anyone has a stainless Ultra Lite with the green stock they are willing to part with, let me know.

I get emails from Knight occasionally and they have sales, you may want to get on their email list. I got mine used for about $600, but at the time Knight was selling them for 1200. Not sure what a used one would go for these days.

 

[noharleyyet]

They are great looking ML's...owned a used one a couple of years but never shot it. Sold it back to previous owner.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I went the Knight UL route years back. Giant PITA to clean. Get you a CVA MR Nitride and be done with it. I would NEVER go back to one.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I went the Knight UL route years back. Giant PITA to clean. Get you a CVA MR Nitride and be done with it. I would NEVER go back to one.

What makes it harder? Removing the breach plug?

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I get emails from Knight occasionally and they have sales, you may want to get on their email list. I got mine used for about $600, but at the time Knight was selling them for 1200. Not sure what a used one would go for these days.

Will do. Thank you!

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

What makes it harder? Removing the breach plug?

I have the same question. I cleaned a Ruger 77/50 shooting #11 caps and Triple7 for many years and didn't think it was that bad at all.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I have the same question. I cleaned a Ruger 77/50 shooting #11 caps and Triple7 for many years and didn't think it was that bad at all.

A CVA is just a lot faster to clean and I don't have to carry a tool with me in the field to fix a problem.

My knight shot fine and was light weight and looked good, but I spent 2-3X the amount of time cleaning the thing.

 

[Sheltowee]

Price is roughly the same ballpark, why not go for a Remington 700 Ultimate and a superior priming system?

 

[Tikka06]

I shoot 777 and #11’s in all my traditional guns (3). Cleanup is easy and ignition is not a problem. I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a knight with that system.

 

[BrentD]

Well it's that time of year again, the time of year I always get interested in buying a new hunting rifle. This year I've decided I just have never been happy with my CVA Optima V2 or at least, not as happy with it as I was my Ruger 77/50 (never, ever should have sold that gun). But there were a few things I didn't like about the Ruger too, so I've been perusing the ML's and came across the Knight Ultra Lite. I love light, accurate rifles, and this one can be set up to shoot percussion caps pretty easily. Plus it is not a break action cocker, which I think is what I'm just so tired of with my CVA. Those break action cockers just reek of cheap.

All that said, the idea of spending $1500 on a ML, even if it's one of the best ML's on the planet, seems steep to me. I can afford it, but will I be happy with this gun? I'd love to hear from those of you who own a Knight Ultra Lite. Thanks in advance!

Well, you asked to be talked out of it, so I'll suggest, as usual, the less trod patch.

Build one. Make it whatever you want. A nice sidelock plains rifle can be very light (my wife's for example), or maybe a long range bullet rifle with an underhammer action, or even a flintlock (while percussion caps can be hard to find, and worse to make from scratch, rocks are here to stay, and cheap at twice the price).

Best of all, it will be yours from beginning to end.

Your deer will never taste better than when you have shot it with a rifle you built yourself.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Price is roughly the same ballpark, why not go for a Remington 700 Ultimate and a superior priming system?

Because not all states allow it in their ML seasons, including where I am now.