What's the word on the AGC Diablo?

The company that makes the Diablo also makes an 11 inch barrel model called the Desperado, so clearly those responding are clinging to wood furniture and traditional looks for the sake of wood and traditional looks.

Nothing wrong with that, I appreciate the input, but I didn't make this topic to hear how people prefer traditional black powder muzzleloaders over modern ones. The focus was on the AGC Diablo on its own, is it a product worth the money?

 

They were a lot cheaper at Cabela's before the Bass Pro buyout.

I think I'd have rather gone with a Howdah because a detachable shoulder stock was an option and to be able to go from pistol to shotgun would have been nice.

But those days are gone.

 

"Is it worth the money?"

Nope.

 

Care to go into detail beyond cuz plastic grips?

 

You don't seem to be happy with the details but there are plenty.
It's not a traditional historic firearm so it's market (and value) is limited.
It's not an improvement on a much lower cost modern shotgun.
It's not an improvement on traditional BP pistols or revolvers.
It's way over priced for something with cheap plastic grips.
It's impractical for anything other than a novelty at the range.
A Pedersoli howdah isn't especially practical either, but much more so than the Diablo and the Howdah is more bang for the buck.
There are plenty of BP firearms that can be a fun novelty at the range and also suitable for hunting deer, hogs, rabbits, etc. The Diablo isn't one of them.
If you wan't one go for it.

 

I pre-ordered one prior to production with a coupon, they were a lot cheaper 3 years ago, $366 delivered to my door. It’s a fun gun that can be loaded from mild to wild with everything from #9 shot to 550gr .715” lead pumpkin balls or 12ga slugs in a sabot & charges up to as much as your willing to go. Hell, you could fill it with rock salt or finish nails if you wanted to. There’s a guy on YouTube that’s chronographed loads up to 120gr fff- a bit much for me. Recoil with 60gr of Pyrodex P or 777 is very comfortable, more of a push. They are very well made & nicely blued, yes they have plastic furniture but it’s given me no problems. I’ve hit clays out of the air with it but not with any consistency-very challenging & I’m sure a shot cup would help patterns & saw a wild turkey taken with one.The pumpkin balls pack a hell of a wallop. Can’t say if they’re worth the going price but I was curious & wasn’t disappointed.

 

Thanks for the pictures. I was going to look this thing up just to see what it was. Put me in the absolutely no interest camp. I have seen what it is and that's enough for me.

 

Don't worry about what we say. Buy one and shoot it alongside your inline rifles and post your results here but don't be surprised if you don't get many comments on it. Most of us here are only interested in traditional guns. I doubt many of us own Glocks either.

 

If goofy Gabby Giffords and her hubby Mark Kelly's anti-gun bunch get their way muzzloaders and BP will soon be regulated as explosive bomb making material and assault weapons.

 

If I were interested in a shotgun, I would buy a shotgun.

I would disagree as the design allows for easier and better cleaning of the bore and currently with percussion caps being unavailable, but 209 primers being available means that I can shoot the Diablo more than the Howdah, which would end up becoming a nice looking paperweight.

Again with the focus on plastic.

I agree, the price is steep, but not compared to current Howdah prices and the various barrel length options.

Same could be said about other single shot or double barrel black powder pistols and those too end up just being range toys.

How so?

Hunting isn't the focus or intended use for the Diablo and not what I would be buying it for. You do realize some people do buy black powder firearms simply for fun, right?

 

I intended to buy a diablo as soon as I saw one; but after researching them I found out they tend to shoot in the six hundreds Foot per second which would
be fun with ball but less so with shot (IMO).

 

Well it ought to be pretty obvious by now you're not finding much interest or support for them here. Why not just buy the dang thing if you're so impressed by it?

 

Just order the thing already, it sounds likely you will think it's better than Wonder Bread when you get your hands on it.

 

I don't automatically think that, I see some positive aspects to the design, but I wanted to ask what others have experienced or heard about them before giving them more serious consideration. Instead most just want to respond and complain about plastic furniture and non traditional designs.

This wasn't a question of how people feel about non historically based black powder firearms, it's what their knowledge and gut instinct tell them.

 

Well said sir! My gut tells me not to buy one. I have plenty of shotguns, revolvers and one smooth bore rocklock as well as numerous black powder and smokeless long guns. Besides, that thing looks a bit nasty to shoot. While it might have some appeal as a home defense thing I just don't want one.

 

You got that, didn't seem to like that, and that's fine.
Just not sure why you're complaining about other folks opinions after you asked for them.

If you want to take a supplier seriously after they advertise Brazilian Rosewood finished plastic grips that's fine too.

 

Sorry, there are no positive aspects to the design. It looks like a piece of s!!!!. Period, and not from someone who likes historical looking weapons. I own more new weapons. Second, it would hurt to shoot it, so what good is it ? Third, what useful purpose does it serve ? So my knowledge and gut instinct of shooting BP firearms for over 50 years says not to buy one.

 

I could see it as a home defense weapon IF you couldn't own a modern firearm. IMO it's not a good defense weapon. Two shots and you're done. One advantage might be is with the room full of smoke it might enable you to get away. A disadvantage would be the excessive amount of burning powder coming out the muzzle. If fired over a bed or next to curtains it will start a fire. As a range toy I don't see it as a fun thing to play with. Once the novelty wore off it would probably never be fired again.

 

I learned a valuable lesson with this topic and that is don't ask about black powder handguns that aren't replicas of historical firearms or antiques.

Mods, you can lock this topic. I'm done.

 

.........or that you just didn't get the answer you wanted. It's your money, spend it like you want.

 

That's it right there.