Pretty interesting topic. I have not been on the forum for many many moons. Bought a little piece of heaven, got a grandson, and was just tied up!
I work for a firearms distributor so I'm in contact w/many manufactures products and dealers 40hrs a week plus attending LE/Commerical shows like the Shot Show in January. While I agree w/what most have said, design changes is what pushes the "market" otherwise we all would be still shooting flint or hammers and would never try anything new.I personally have never had the pleasure to sight in a flinter. My first BP rifle was a TC Hawkenwhich my son used to kill his first deer. My first inline was in 2000and purchased a used TC thunderhawk shadow that I convered to 209. I great shooter. I just sold it last week end to a new shooter for his son. I loved the design of the pull back and turn down the bolt/striker that also was the safety. The blk diamond added the saftey lever. What I didn't like and still do not like on any BP rifle is a turn bolt. The blk diamond and the Thunderhawk smoke your scopes and you also gain an extra 4-5" for the turn bolt w/ the striker. Like mentioned above it is just an opinion. The yr the Omega came outI jumped on one. A 28" rifle that was the same length was my 24" Thunderhawk! I got the SS/Syn 8924 and unfortnatually its design was not novel. Before the Civil War a german designer tried to get the Union to produce a similar design as the Omega as their duty rifle but to no avail.It's basic designlooked similar to the Omega. I personally like the simple barrel design w/ the low comb for rifle sights even though my eyes can't use them anymore. I always thought Knight was one of the best but never liked the "Disc" system only because if the companywent under the rifle would be obsolete. While some claim the Omega's is easy to clean it is only on the fact the breech plug comes out but to really clean it takes plenty of time w/ a SS dental pick to really get the threads clean otherwise you will get corrusion. I have looked over the Triumph pretty well and while the breech plug is a thumb turner it does have moving parts that some day will have to replace including O rings. Hey it is something you MUST repalce on a regular basis. The Omega breech plug should last longer than many of us. They are way cheaper to buy a spare too.
So my point is while technology has some merit when you pull the trigger if you can't hit what you aim @ whether it a fea market special, a custom or production rifle a miss is still a miss. What ever design you favor is just that.
I hurt my left arm recently and have not been able too lift much. After carring my Omega for hours @ a time I need a lighter rifle. So now I just added a new requirement..... and have just started looking. Darn I wishI hadn't sold that ultra light Thunderhawk!!!!!!!
Hope you all had a great season.
Steve in NY