Hi All, new member here hoping to get a little advice. I am looking to buy a new muzzleloader. Our season here in South AR has been cut to just a few days so can't see investing big bucks in a fancy rifle. I am looking at the Traditions Pursuit LT or the Black Diamond express. I have read about the spanish barrels in the Pursuit LT and the trigger issues. However I really like the way this gun feels and also like the breakover stylefor ease of cleaning. I can get the Pursuit for about $225/ camo and the express kit for about $250. Any suggestions pro/con on either of these rifles? Thanks and look forward to your opinions.

GHog

The Black Diamond Express? Do you by chance mean the Thompson Center Black Diamond XR or is it the standard Black Diamond with the 22" barrel? I have not heard of a Black Diamond Express. As for the Pursuit LT, they are I am sure a good rifle. I would rather have a Pursuit Pro but the LT would probably do all right.

If you're looking for a break open design and want to save money at the same time, you want American Steel Barrels, and American break open actiontechnology, then look at a NEF Sidekick. I think they sell for around $159.00 at Cabela's on line. They are break open. The parent company is H&R which has been making break open rifles for many years. Also their out of the box accuracy is exceptional from all reports. Their one draw back is their ramrod. So purchase a range rod and keep the one with the rifle for hunting only. Other then that they are said to be excellent shooting rifles.

That would be the direction I would go if I wanted a quality rifle and did not want to invest a lot of money into the sport.

cayugad, well after posting this I can't find any info in a BD express. What I was looking at was a Wal-Mart It had Black Diamond and then had the word express.by it. I assume now that it is just a BD. It was one of those package guns that had the gun some cleaner a few bullets and cleaning pads etc. It sold for around $249.00 By bad on getting the names confused. Also thanks for the other info!!

GHog

That's whatI figured, it was a Thompson Center Black Diamond with the 22" barrel and the black laminate stock. They are a nice rifle. I have a Black Diamond XR which is the same rifle with a longer barrel. Great shooting rifles without a doubt. They are able to use the 209, musket cap or #11 ignition system. They barrel is free floating for improved accuracy, and the side safety is well located and easy to use.

Some of the draw backs of the rifle are, they do fowl bad. Since it is a spring striker bar ignition, that area will get full of fowling. If you scope it, the bottom of the scope will also get full of fowling. Most of this is blow back from the 209 ignition. It also wipe right back off with a solvent patch so it is not a big deal.

The rifle is not as easy to clean as the break open type I am guessing, but if it takes me 10 even 20 minutes longer to clean my rifle I do not see that as a big deal. This is when I usually reflect on my days shooting, wonder what I could do better, or marvel at how well I did. I have a cup of coffee, turn on the radio and clean my rifle.

I would bet that the Black Diamond 22" barrel is a great shooter like my XR model. They will shoot sabots excellent and concial bullets as well with extreme accuracy. If the fact that they take longer to clean is not important, then you are getting an excellent rifle there.

Some of the things I do to keep the rifle shooting well is I check the breech plug ever 10 shots to make sure it is not seizing, and when I swab... every so often I take a Q-tip and clean out the striker area of the rifle.

It is a great rifle and has a great warranty. With the short barrel it would make an excellent brush rifle. It also comes with some very impressive fiber optic sights....

GHog - I have two stainless T/C Black Diamonds - a 26" XR and a 22" standard. Despite some of the drawbacks Cayugad pointed out, these are great guns and shoot really well. There is no crud ring like the Omega, and these guns arelight weight with very comfortable stocks. They also shoot every bit as well as my Omega or Knight Disc rifle. I replaced thered fiber optic rod on the front sight with a green one; and replaced the open rear sight with a Williams peep sight. My only reservation with the Black Diamond would be hunting in very wet weather, which so far I have avoided during the September elk seasons. Good luck. Roscoe

To give you an idea of the Black Diamond XR and what it can do, I was playing with loads yesterday. I was shooting 110 grains of Swiss 3f Black Powder and a 375 grain pure lead Buffalo Bullet SSB off the bench rest. Needless to say, I think that load has all the power anyone would need to shoot anything in North America. It really snorted.

I then tried some of the 240 grain T/C Mag Express XTP's with 110 grains of Triple Se7en FFg. I usually shoot them with 100 grains of Goex 2f. I was surprised at how much higher they hit on the target then with the Goex 2f. Also I think the strong wind gust were playing tricks on them more then I thought.

So we loaded some of the 375 grain SSB with 110 grains of Triple Se7en FFg. I know for a fact that this is an elk load. A poster last year showed me proof postitive of them being an elk load out of his Black Diamond XR. I was impressed with the accuracy. Also it should be noted that the Black Diamond XR I shoot has a inexpensive 1.5-4.5 x32mm Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn Scope on it with simple weaver mounts. An animal out at 100 yards is going to be for a rather bad day should they cross my path. Although the wind was real strong and gusting. That was one reason I wanted to shoot in it.

I then broke out a flintlock and was shooting roundball at that distance with open sights. Now that was real fun...

Take a look at the Pursuit Pro (not the LT version). I've been hearing very good things about this rifle. The Pursuit Pro balance is excellent.

Ifwanting tochoose the Pursuit Pro and the T/C Black Diamond, I would have to seriously conisder the Pursuit Pro. Not taking anything away from the T/C of which I am a fan, but he Pursuit Pro really looks and balances much better.

Tahquamenon - I think I recall in one of your earlier posts somewhere, that you said the Pursuit LT was a bit too light for your liking. Is this the only reason you would not recommend it, or is there more you may have heard about?
P.S. I am a LT owner - just getting my feet wet but the gun seems very nice.

Correct on the lighter LT version. I've not heard anything about the LT version only the Pro. For me the LT seemed a bit lightweight, but that's me. I also understand that the LT was not designed for heavier loads.

Please post your feedback with the Pursuit LT.

My friends Tradition's Pursuit Pro was very well balanced even with the scope, and the trigger I found actually very good. So the trigger problem was fixed. They are a nice handling rifle.