I am looking to buy an inline muzzleloader for PA whitetails. I do not want to spend a fortune, but I do not want to buy garbage either. It will be used mostly on stand with some still-hunting. I have narrowed it to the CVA firebolt 209 ultra-magnum, CVA hunterbolt 209 magnum and the TC black diamond XR. I am leaning toward the 45. I appreciate all opinions on this topic. Thanks!

Hog Sniper,
heard lots of good things on the T/C black Diamond, don't think you can go wrong there.

I would reconsider the .45 caliber, I bought the Omega in .45 and have not been able to find a working load.
It was so bad that I sent it back to T/C. This poor performance was surprising to me because I had a T/C firehawk that would shoot 3/4" groups at 50 yards , the Omega could not hold 2 1/2" groups no matter how slow I made it go. I really think it has something to do with the length of the powder charge and when you put a magnum load in a .45, that is a long charge. PLus there is so much more in bullet availability for the .50 cal. Give it some thought, I don't see any advantage with .45 now.

Of the three rifles that you mentioned, I would go with the Black Diamond. I used to own one and the only negatives that I can think of are these:

The stock is too flimsy and there are only two screws that hold it on. There is a lot of flimsy stock between the front of the trigger guard and the sling swivel stud and that lets the ramrod rattle around in the thimbles. Im my opinion, the black diamond needs a third screw to hold the stock firmly on the gun.

The 209 primer nipple is kind of a rig. I have had a couple of occasions where the primer formed an hourglass shape around the spring wire retainer upon ignition. The spent primers were a bear to remove. I like the one piece breech plug, nipple combination of the Encore or Omega much better for this reason. It completely supports the primer.

I have owned the following T/C muzzleloaders : Thunderhawk, Black Diamond, Omega, and an Encore and as far as accuracy goes, they are all capable of about the same level. They are all capable of at least a 1 1/2" 3 shot group at 100 which is plenty good enough for the limited range of a muzzleloader.
HTH,
X

[ 08-07-2003, 21:42: Message edited by: x-caliber ]

I thought PA was flintlock only.

Hog Sniper,
FWIW, T/C sent me a replacement for the 45 cal Omega. It was, at my request a 50 cal, same gun. Right out of the box, 5 shot group at 50 yards, 1.2 inches with 4 of the 5 in one ragged hole . No tuning, 100 grains of 777 and the T/C 250 grain ballistic tip. Can't wait to get some time on this piece and fine tune, I expect clovers at 100

Smallfish.......the PGC has relaxed it's regs and gave us 1 whole week of doe only with inlines or flint.
I have an Omega 50. Easy to load.......easy to clean up with 777 powder. 100 grains FFF with a 240 grain powerbelt. I( have it scoped with a 3-9 Sightron SI. Works very well.

[ 08-04-2003, 00:29: Message edited by: lofter ]

Glad to hear it. Some of the PA guys didn't know what an inline is. I'm glad I hunt in MD(well,sort of)with an Encore. You will LOVE hunting with an inline. Congratulations guys.