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Hunting Oklahoma's Muzzleloader Season Is Now the Best Tradition

Traditions Performance Firearms' new FireStick-capable bolt-action NitroBolt muzzleloader is a game changer.

Hunting Oklahoma's Muzzleloader Season Is Now the Best Tradition
Traditions Performance Firearms NitroBolt FireStick-capable bolt action rifle is a game-changer. (Darren Choate photo)

I made my first trip to hunt deer in Oklahoma in 2013. I passed a borderline shooter late in the hunt, but ultimately, I left the Sooner State empty-handed. On my inaugural trip and a follow-up a few years later, where I bagged my first Oklahoma buck, I bowhunted. Since then, I have been back to Oklahoma four times, twice for both the gun and muzzleloader seasons.

On my most recent trip, I was among the chosen few invited by Traditions Performance Firearms to hunt White-tailed deer with Todd Rogers, owner of Rut & Strut Guide Service in western Oklahoma, and to test the first FireStick-capable bolt-action muzzleloader.

FireStick-Capable Bolt-Action Muzzleloader

Backed by nearly 40 years of industry knowledge, Traditions Performance Firearms' experts continue to offer quality products that meet customers' needs. In January 2025, Traditions introduced the first FireStick-capable bolt-action muzzleloader, the NitroBolt. Adding the NitroBolt to its lineup ensures continued safer muzzleloading practices and fulfills a growing need within the muzzleloading community: long-range accuracy.

The NitroBolt’s foundation is a synthetic pillar-bedded stock and bolt-action designed exclusively for the FireStick ignition system. The action combines a free-floating 24” Chromoly steel fluted and tapered barrel with a 1:24” VAPR Twist. An adjustable cheekpiece and length of pull (13.75” to 14.5”) allow NitroBolt shooters to customize the firearm to match their stature and preferences.

NITROBOLT

BOLT-ACTION, FIRESTICK-CAPABLE MUZZLELOADER

“Traditions is excited to introduce the NitroBolt bolt-action muzzleloader. We are dedicated to leading the muzzleloading industry and creating new products that hunters want in their hands. FireStick technology allows muzzleloading to be safer, easier, and more consistent; creating a bolt-action platform was the next step. The NitroBolt is feature-packed with a free-floating barrel, 3-position safety, a 1:24 twist, and a threaded barrel, to name a few. Anyone shooting it will be impressed by its accuracy.” -Alison Hall, Marketing Manager.

Traditions bolt-action muzzleloader and logos.
The NitroBolt comprises an adjustable, pillar-bedded synthetic stock, FireStick-capable bolt-action, and a 24” Chromoly steel tapered and fluted barrel.

FEATURES

  • Cocking indicator
  • 3 locking lugs
  • Adjustable cheekpiece
  • Adjustable length of pull (13.75" to 14.5")
  • Pillar-bedded stock
  • Free-floating barrel
  • Easily dissembled bolt

SPECS

  • CALIBER: 50
  • FINISH: Black/Cerakote
  • BARREL: 24" fluted, tapered, and threaded (3/4-24) chromoly steel
  • TWIST: 1:24" VAPR Twist 3/4-24 
  • WEIGHT: 7.75 lbs (firearm only)
  • SAFETY: 3-Position Safety
    • Position 1 locks the bolt into safe mode
    • Position 2 allows bolt operation in safe mode for loading and unloading
    • Position 3 is the ready-to-fire position
  • BOLT HANDLE: 5/16-24 threaded with patented extractor designed exclusively for use with the FireStick 
  • MSRP: $995
  • CONTACT: traditionsfirearms.com

The NitroBolt in Action

I arrived in Oklahoma the afternoon before the muzzleloader season opener. Soon after, our entire party was in camp, and it was time to sight our NitroBolt rifles and familiarize ourselves with their operation for the upcoming hunt.

Each NitroBolt rifle was topped with a Burris Veracity PH 3-15x44 riflescope and propelled a 340-grain Smackdown ELD-X bullet. It took two shots for me to be dialed in at 100 yards and comfortable with the rifle. As with all muzzleloaders, the projectile is loaded through the barrel. The NitroBolt features a small lip at the bottom of the barrel used as a resting point for consistent bullet seating. Its bolt-action allows shooters to use ingrained muscle memory to open or cycle spent FireStick cases out, load or reload a live FireStick, and close the bolt, priming the muzzleloader for a shot.

A bolt-action muzzleloader with Burris riflescope.
Coupled with a matching riflescope and projectile, the NitroBolt answers the call for a long-range capable muzzleloader. (Darren Choate photo)

Loading Steps

  1. Ensure the muzzleloader is unloaded and in a safe mode. The 3-position safety can be set to position 2, allowing the bolt to operate but not allowing the trigger to fire.
  2. Load a projectile from the barrel, seating it on the lip at the bottom of the barrel. Note: there is no need to add extra compaction when loading; adding a score line (with a seated projectile) on your ramrod ensures a fully seated bullet on every shot.
  3. Open the bolt, load a live (with primer installed) FireStick, and close the bolt.
  4. To maximize safety, set the safety mechanism to position 1, which additionally locks the bolt handle.
  5. To fire, safely acquire the target, move the safety mechanism to position 3, and fire when sure of the target and backstop.

Performing a cleaning cycle of wet and dry patches every 2-5 shots is recommended and will enhance accuracy. However, the NitroBolt will perform adequately in the field even after several shots have been fired. 

Muzzleloader Season Begins

With several shots under my belt, I was excited to hunt with the NitroBolt. A glance at the weather suggested opening day would be the best day during our five-day hunt. After that, both the heat and the wind would rise significantly. Unfortunately, opening morning yielded zero deer. Sitting in a different blind that afternoon, I spotted a mature 6-point buck approaching my location as sunset neared. Hoping to do better, I elected to pass.

On the second morning, I returned to the blind where I had sat the evening before. I saw several deer, including a wide 10-point buck. Unfortunately, it was over 600 yards away on a neighboring property, and we did not have access to hunt. Late in the morning, the buck bedded in the shadows of a cedar tree. I returned that afternoon, hoping the buck would leave its bed and head my way. However, when the buck stood from its bed, it simply reversed its morning course and remained on the neighbor’s property.

OKLAHOMA

MUZZLELOADER SEASON

Oklahoma’s muzzleloader season opens on the fourth Saturday in October and runs nine days through Sunday. The Oklahoma Wildlife Department sets all hunting seasons, which are subject to change. For more information regarding the state’s regulations, such as bag limits, legal methods of take, and exact season dates, visit wildlifedepartment.com.

I hoped to have another chance at the big Oklahoma buck, but the weather, especially the wind direction, eliminated any chance on the third day. Over the next three days, sustained winds reached 30 mph, with 50 mph gusts, and I only saw two deer over that span. On the afternoon of the fourth day, the wind remained at gale force, so I sat in a hard-sided blind in a wooded bottom, protected from the high winds. With only the evening and one more morning hunt remaining, my window to put the NitroBolt to the test was closing.

Recommended


Late in the afternoon, the wind subsided significantly, and a few does began to appear, followed by a spike buck. Finally, with mere minutes of legal shooting light left, I caught a glimpse of movement to my right. It was a racked buck. I grabbed and steadied the NitroBolt for a shot. As the buck turned broadside, I flipped the safety to fire, aimed, and pulled the trigger; the buck dropped in its tracks. It was my sixth Oklahoma buck, all taken on afternoon sets.

A hunter with his harvested whitetail buck taken in muzzleloader season.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, the author took his sixth Oklahoma whitetail buck with the Traditions NitroBolt. (Photo courtesy of Darren Choate)

Final Thoughts

For me, hunting in Oklahoma has become a tradition. As a holdout for OTC tags for residents and non-residents alike and a booming whitetail population, it’s a great hunting destination. Its nine-day muzzleloader season during the pre-rut increases its value. Additionally, Oklahoma offers a long overall deer season for bowhunters and rifle hunters. Moreover, mixing and matching weapon types to take two bucks legally is possible in the two-buck state (refer to Oklahoma’s hunting regulations).

I was impressed by the ergonomics and performance of the NitroBolt bolt-action muzzleloader. Traditions Performance Firearms' utilization of the FireStick ignition system continues to make muzzleloading safer and more consistent. Adding the NitroBolt to its lineup answers the call from the muzzleloader community for accurate, long-range shooting options. Coupled with a matching riflescope and projectile, the NitroBolt is capable of taking big game species across the board.




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