If and when you decide, check out Williams Gunsight's muzzleloader prices....They have the Black Diamond for $180!

http://www.williamsgunsight.com/documents/MuzzleloaderBlowout100504.htm

I shoot a Knight disc rifle currently. I've owned both Knights and T/C's. I've been pleased with both.



I don't have a problem with the discs. It is a good system. In fact, I prefer the disc. I do not have great finger dexterity and tend to drop the 209 primer when trying to reload quickly while using rifles that do not utilize this system.



I do not think you'll go wrong with either. That's like deciding between a couple of great brand name centerfire rifles. Most all these days are good.



Plus, the cheapest muzzleloaders today are, IMO, far better than those more expensive ones 10 years ago.



And remember, Jim Shockey uses Knight rifles, and he's real cool.

I'm a traditionalist for muzzleloading. I'm a flint shooter. With a little work you can make a T/C hawken or Renegade into one outstanding rifle. For deer sized game, I would go for the Renegade in 54 caliber. (Renegade's have 1" diameter across the flats, Hawken is 15/16" across the flats). A round ball .54 is 235 grains. In a slow twist barrel (1:66 to 72"), with 80+ grains of black powder, you have a potent load. I would go for the Green Mountain T/C Renegade drop in barrel, .54 cal slow twist (1-72"?). Then I would get a replacement frizzen from Golden Age Arms. If you have a caplock, no change is needed. You can buy a used Renegade for ~ $200-250 pending condition. A new Green Mountain drop in barrel is about $150. For well under $400, you have a first class, accurate, big game hunting outfit. You won't have to apologize to anyone for getting something "close, but not quite." All made in the USA too.

For the $700 range, you can get Brad Emig to build you a semi-custom flinter from Cabin Creek Muzzleloading with first quality parts (siler lock, green mountain barrel, davis trigger, good maple stock, and excellent workmanship.) I have one of his Yorktowne rifles, and it is a pleasure to shoot (50 cal). I just sold my Renegade outfit, that I was going to convert to exactly as I described above, but decided to sell it and keep shooting my Yorktowne. You can check out the "Track of the wolf" website. They have some used guns for sale there (some very nice custom guns too for the $5000+ range).