The Black Diamond is a great rifle. I would say it ishard to find a rifle that will shoot better. It shoots about anything you want to shove down it, from conicals to sabots. In fact I talked to a T/C Tech once aboutrifles, and when I brought up the Black Diamond he laughed and said, hard to out shoot one of them. They are balanced, the barrel is free floating, and two lug locks. But the trigger also does not come off, so you have to clean it on the rifle. Also the breech plug wrench they send with the gun is second rate. But asocket with an extension will bring the breech plug right out.

BUT!!! they are a filthy rifle to shoot and clean. At the end of the range day, there will be powder all over the scope and breech area. Because of the breech design which includes a breech plug and into that goes a nipple, whether it is #11, musket, or 209 and the open faced breech, there is a lot of blow back out of them. Also the 209 nipple is spring loaded, so do not use hot 209 primers as it will blow the springs off them after a while. And they do not sell just a spring.

If you have a scope on them, use a scope bikini because it will eat that scope. Also QR mounts will be a blessing at the end of the day come cleaning time. At the end of the day, you will be cleaning it and find the breech takes a little time to do so. But if you have a few more minutes, it is well worth it.

The barrels are top of the line Thompson Center barrels. Their finish is beautiful. Their plastic stocks are nothing fancy but they do work. Wal mart used to sell them on their clearance for $100.00 for the shorter model. So is $200.00 a good deal, that depends on how much you want the rifle.

With the hammer striker design, I have had to pull the hammer when shooting a lot in a long day on the range. Clean it with windex and it is ready to shoot again. Also for some reason, the breech plug likes to tighten up. So after ten shots, give it a twist back and fourth to make sure it is still loose. But this rifle will shoot and go off just about all the time. Its a good rifle.