Still in my shopping state of mind and I have found a Black Diamond with starter kit with realtree hardwoods stock, blued finish for $200, and I can get a T/C Omega thumbhole black/blue for $250. How does the Diamond stack up to the Omega?

I would guess, they are going to shoot equally about the same. Both are going to be great shooters. The difference will come in the cleaning of the rifles. The Black Diamond with an open breech, will fowl the scope if you use one. Not that you can not clean a Black Diamond but the Omega would clean much easier.

One advantage of the Black Diamond is there are three different ignition systems for the rifle, it is open breech if that is a required part of a State hunting law, and the stock and barrel is floated. So as long as you rest the rifle on the stock, the barrel is always in the same position. I do not think the Omega is free floated in the barrel.

I have a Black Diamond XR and it is a great rifle. If you don't mind spending an extra five minutes when you clean the rifle, it would be hard to beat this rifle....

The Omega is a newer style with longer barrel for the overall length of the rifle. If the choice were mine I would go for the Omega. Somewhat easier to clean also.

only thing i hate is its in the pack and i cant actually shoulder the diamond. if its the same stock as the regular omega then i'm good to go. I thought of the wolf too but honestly from experience with them i'm sold on T/C. My only thought about the Omega that I dont like is that it seems abit barrel heavy. And I believe it is the Z5 version or whatever. It has some kind ofZ something on it where it says omega on the barrel if that makes alot of difference.

Right the Omega Z5 is their generic line of Omega's. They have other Omega's with better sights, and stocks, but the Omega Z I am sure would be a good shooter. The Black Diamond on the other hand should be a real good shooter as well. I load 100 grains of Triple Se7en 2f and a 250 grain Shockwave. Also whether the BD you would purchase would be the same, mine will shoot conicals as well. It actually shoots about anything you want to put down it..

The Black Diamond is a great rifle, but it has a few problems. The open bolt design allows twigs and pine needles to fall into the ejection port if you carry the gun cocked, with the safety on, and a primer on the nipple. If this happens, the rifle will likely mis-fire. Notto mention the possiblity of the cap falling off the nipple with nothing much to hold it in there.

If you carry it "hot" with the bolt in the forward position, there is a possibility of bumping the little handle on the bolt - which could cause an accidental discharge. The only safe way to carry this rifle in the field, IMO, is to not put a cap on it until you are ready to shoot.

I have had two accidental discharges with mine. Neither were the result of carelesness. But, nonetheless, I still hunt with it. We mainly hunt from "stands" and this allows me to not cap the nipple until in position at the stand. But walking through the woods with this gun with a cap on the nipple scares me . . . .

Get the Omega.

I'm leaning alot towards the diamond right now, how much better is it that saya cva buckskin or one of the more budget oriented models? I originally went to look for a CVA wolf but they where sold out and would have to be ordered.

I think the biggest thing the Black Diamond has going for it is that the barrel is the same high quality T/C barrel you will find on an Omega or Encore. Stock is also pretty good, in terms of fit and recoil control. And both of mine have excellent triggers.

If mine didn't shoot so well, I would have sold both of them by now.

Roskoe - if you want to carry the Black Diamond primed but breech closed, all you need do is take a tire valve stem cap and put it over the primer, cap, what ever, and close the action. Leave the safety off. The cap will seal right under the lip of the hammer striker and also help water proof the breech for you. When you're ready to shoot, a simple pull back on the cocking lever and tip the rifle to the side, the valve cap will fall out and your ready to shoot.

In fact if you take fishing line and feed it through the cap side, you can tie that to the trigger guard. Then when you tip the rifle or flick the string to pull it,youdon't even loose the cap. I have a mechanic friend that saves all the old tire valve stem covers for me, so I have no need to save them. Give it a try sometime...

Good idea. Solves two problems at once. Thanks, Dave