Any muzzleloaders in the house?

[TripleDigitRide]

A friend of mine wants to sell this Thompson Center Black Diamond, but neither of us know much of anything about these things.

It appears to be in good shape, with a few surface rust spots. It has a Simmons 3-9 x 50 scope.

Anyone have any idea what a fair price for this thing would be?

Thanks in advance.

[Rightwinger]

I would think he could get 150 for it. Used ones that are not Thompson Centers can be found for 50 to 75 about this time of year.

Here is a Black Diamond on Gunbroker, "gently used". $169.00

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121849683

[Westwindmike]

TDR,

Look it over carefully. A lot of folks don't clean them the way they should and things get frozen up on them.

I agree on the price. No more than $150 and that's because it looks like a good scope.

Mike

[Rightwinger]

Not familiar with that model TDR but the loading port looks like it would use standard caps and not 209s so that might drag it down a bit too. The newer muzzle loaders are all going to the larger 209 shotgun ignitors.

[TripleDigitRide]

I'm not sure what kind of ignitors it uses. I don't know a thing about muzzleloaders. I can look to see if I can figure it out.

[Rightwinger]

Its pretty simple. If it has a nipple at the rear of the chamber, that's for standard percussion caps to "slip" on over that hole. If it has a sunken cavity, about the size of a pea, that is for the 209 shotgun primer to be inserted in.

[memphismason]

Looks like it use the old caps.

$150, becuase of the scope.

[TripleDigitRide]

Here's a crappy picture.

[Rightwinger]

That would be a nipple. Standard caps. The move to 209s has really improved muzzle loading. Fewer misfires as your pumping a lot more energy through the flash hole with 209s than standard caps.

Maybe he might think about separating it into rifle and scope and posting them or asking around. He might get more for it. The scope is what is more valuable to a buyer now.

I know its easy to "give away" other peoples stuff, but you might talk to WestWindmike about the rifle and have your buddy get more satisfaction from a give away on the rifle and just sell the scope for financial.

I'll say now, I'll give him 25 for the rifle and just give it to WestWind for our young friend who is getting into shooting, should he decide to go that route.

Just tossing an idea around.

[TripleDigitRide]

$25? Man, he's going to be dissapointed. He took the gun as a trade (against his wifes wishes), and was hoping to get about $150 for the rifle and scope.

[Rightwinger]

Well now is not a good time to post it and get full value. If he can hold on to it till late summer when everyone starts getting the itch for upcoming season he may well get that much out of it. Gun shops, pawn shops, traders posts are all full of muzzle loaders and the older ones with the old caps technology just don't hold any value when you can get a brand new one at Academy or Bass Pro for that much or less on sale! Gonna be a rough road to hoe.

I got my son a 50 cal muzzle loader and a Bushnell Scope combo for under 200 last year and that was with the new 209 ignition chamber. Sorry to break the bad news to you and your friend TDR.

Here is a new Traditions muzzle loader similar to what I got last year on sale for 150

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_55486_425010001_425000000_425010000_425-10-1