Hey guys,what are your thoughts on the TC Black Diamond rifle? A local shop has a "New-Old Stock" leftover,stainless/synthetic for a screaming deal.I dont have too much experiance with them and before buying I thought I should ask some questions.First,since these dont have the break-open action,how hard are they to clean.Second,these do use the 209 primers not the discs correct? And third,is it worth it or should I buy a the Encore version? Any help will be appreciated.Thanks...............
My hunting partner has a Black Diamond, I asked him about cleaning it. You can clean it from the breech but since it has a striker you have the extra step of taking that out in addition to the breech plug. He says removing the striker is not a big deal, not a lot of moving parts, but it is an extra step.
He likes the rifle and it's accurate. I've seen some great deals on them too, around $200. If I was new to ML hunting I would consider getting one, that's a quality rifle for a great price.
I have an Encore and I really like it. To me, the biggest advantage of the break actions is that you don't have the length of the action or striker to deal with--you can get a rifle with the same length barrel in a shorter, handier overall length. That, and the action is more "weather-proof" but with a Black Diamond you can use a #11 cap, musket cap, or 209 primer so if you go with the 209s the weather is not that big an issue.
Whether it's worth it or not? I like the Encore and own 2, but that's a big price difference. If you know you'll use it year after year, I'd go for an Encore but if you're not sure, you won't be disappointed with a BD.
I have a Thompson woods rifle, which I think is a cheap version of the Black Diamond that Walmart sold. I love it. I have killed a lot of deer with it, one already this year. Removing the striker to clean is no problem. Unscrew a cap on the rear of the action and a spring and a small piece that fits in the spring and holds the cocking handle in, remove the handle and push the whole thing to the rear while holding the trigger back. I use the spring to push back with, but if your fingers are small you can use a finger. I use a deep barrel socket and extension and remove the nipple and the breech plug as a unit. I use musket caps but it will use shotgun primers or regular caps with the correct nipple. Mine shoots about an inch and half group at one hundered yards with the Barnes sabots and 100gr pyrodex. miles
I have one. Very accurate gun. Milespatton summed it up pretty well. You don't need a disc to use 209s. I just need to find a deer to give it a workout <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I should have added that on mine the rear stock screw contacts the cap on the rear that you remove to take out the striker. You can back it off a round or two to remove the cap but it is easier to just take the stock off (two screws). It gives you more finger room to work with. miles
A buddy at work has a Black Diamond. He likes it so much he just sold a T/C Omega that his father got him for X-Mas! I think you'll be happy with it.
Mike
The only complaint I have with my Black Diamond is the primer nipple for the 209 primers do not last very long. Maybe they have improved I have not used the gun in a few.
But 8 or ten shots was about all I could get before the the coil holding the primer blew off. I bought a barrel for my Encore.
-Doc-
Thanks for all the info.I went back to the shop yesterday and low and behold...........it was sold.You snooze you lose I guess.I will just have to ask Santa for an Encore for X-Mas.Thanks again for all the info.
I have one that is for sale in the Classifieds section if anyone is interested. I hunted with my 209 nipple for 4 years before having to replace it and just replaced it this year. It had 40 or so shots on that nipple.
i sure like mine. got last winter in an after-Christmas sale at w-mart: $145 or so.
it loves shockwave/sst 250s, rs and winnie primers. came with no. 11 and musket nipples, too.