I have not hunted with a muzzle loader for a few years now but the last time I did I was using a bolt action. In my opinion I would not get one unless you can really check it out as the bolt system in mine was clumsy and slow for getting another cap on, there was just not enough room in there. Without the use of a capping tool to reach in for you it was almost impossible to get a cap on at all. It was quick with a capper but if you lost or broke it you would have a rough time. The break open seems like a much easier option to deal with for me.

Mine was a CVA firebolt by the way and I have no experience with the ones you mentioned.

Good point. I went and checked each model out at the local gun dealer yesterday and I will have to side with you... the rear-break would be much easier to put a cap on without a cap-tool. There seems to be more room to get your fingers in there vs the small area of a bolt action.

The both actions felt good. Like you said, I could see how, if you were in a hurry the bolt might be an area of concern.

Another question I though of is barrel twist. One of the T/C has a barrel twist of 1:48 and the others all have a twist of 1:28. I will primarily be hunting Elk and possibly using it to hunt deer in a short-range hunt. For my purpose should I be concerned about barrel twist?

The slower rate of twist of 1:28 would be best for shooting sabbated loads.  Where you are at I believe that you need to shoot pure lead bullets so a 1:48 would be best for you.  In all reality with the restrictions that are put on your hunting season I would just go with what you are familiar with and use your traditional ML, it will work quite fine for elk or deer.  The only real pluss that I have seen with a inline vrs a traditional is weight.  I personally killed 3 elk and 5 deer with a T/C Renegade and open sights over the years.  You also talk about speed in placing a new cap onto the nipple, one thing about using black powder in a ML is that they are slow to reload.  With quite a bit of practice I was able to get off 3 shots in a minute with good accuracy when I first started to ML hunt years ago but that was with speed loaders sitting right in front of me with everything ready to go. 

Would the 1:48 ROT shoot the sabbated loads as well and still provide decent range/accuracy?

You are correct, I have to use lead bullets in a Muzzle-loader only hunts.

One of the main reasons for wanting to upgrade to something modern is the gun could be used in one of my short-range weapons hunts. I have a Model 870 and with #00 that I currently use in the S.R. hunt, but I'm limited to about 50yards. I can use the #209 primer, along with a scope as well as Sabot rounds and get a increase in range.

I agree, it's going to take some figuring out which load and bullet work for me as well as practice to get a decent chance at a second shot. I def like the speed loaders thou. 

that's kind of dissapointing, as the rifle I really liked (T/C Northwest Explorer for design and budget) has the 1:48 ROT.

thanks everyone for the insight on the ROT.