[kennyboy]

What are some suggestions for a good flintlock rifle? I will use it for whitetail deer hunting. The most important attributes are reliability and accuracy. Also, I intend to add a Leupold scope, probably a 3-9X40 VXII but I am open to other Leupold scope suggestions as well. Please let me know. Provide links if possible to your reccomendations if possible. Thanks.

[sixgun MAK]

I recommend Lyman, but if you don't mind me asking, why would you use a scope with a flintlock?

[Millwright]

A scope on a flinter ? !!! Now THAT'S American !!!!!

Unless you have a condition making a scope a neccessity, of course !

Seriously, you can get any sort of stock and lock you want from a variety of sources. Your best bet for a barrel - assuming you're going to shoot round ball - is a 60" twist SHALLOW cut groove. Most of the 'riginals' were cut around .005" -.008" deep. This allowed a very tight gas seal with cloth/leather patches with sufficient 'grab' to spin up the load, but not so hard as to cut the patch or permit gas leaks. 'Back in the day' when a rifle started to lose its accuracy the smith just 'sharpened it up' by recutting the rifling. Also note the grooves were very narrow by today's standards. Yeah, I know it looks like a buncha wires, but it works damn good - and has for over 300 years......

Or.....you can throw together a buncha modern parts and barrel with modern lands and grooves in a fast twist so you can use sabots and slugs and just 'lite the fire' with a flint.......

But it won't be historical.......or as accurate......or even as much fun as 'doin' it the right way' - and you'll be surprised at the accuracy, too !! >MW

[4v50 Gary]

A scope was mounted on a flintlock during the American Revolution. Despite the historical precedent, I can't see mounting one myself.

[Eric F]

Well by far the best rifles can be found at Track of the Wolf-they have a great web site. What makes them the best? You build your own rifle what could be better? I'm not sure on the scope option though.

[mykeal]

The American Revolution era scope was not a Leupold. If one wanted to mount an 18th century scope on a flintlock, I could go along with it. I would not, however, mount a Leupold on a flintlock.

[Macmac]

mykeal , Iffn' they had em they'd a used em.. Now I know you have heard that gag! LOL

Ken, Unless you have a medical condition, that type of scope is just a nasty idea. I know nothing of PA and hunting laws, so if you want a scope like that which will cost as much as the gun with mounts, perhaps a inline would be better suited.

It is possible to get repro scopes, but these dandies are a tad pricey as well and were far from common. Maybe if you do go with a flinter in a PA style and go with that type scope you should wear a brown hunting frock to match.

Of course this is America and you are free to choose, and do what ever you like, but if you hear laughing out hunting one day, you will know why.

I am not trying to rub anyone's nose in anything, but to me and probably other guys here this is like saying you want a rail to mount a flashlight, laser site, and also you wonder which pistol grips you should place on the forearm and back behind the trigger..

So now I wonder if I will be recieving a warning... So be it it had to be said.

[kennyboy]

OK. Enough with the scope idea. Please simply tell me what flintlock muzzleloader you recommend. Thanks.

[mykeal]

For a first flintlock rifle, I'd say the Lyman Great Plains Rifle. Not too expensive so that you're out a lot of money if you don't like it, and yet good enough to show how much fun it can be.

[4v50 Gary]

Lyman Great Plains in .54 cal. If you want range, see if you can get the barrel for the conical bullet. Looks like a flint, shoot like a minie. :)

[Pancho]

Kennyboy, thanks for taking the ribbing so well. Mykeal has it right with the Lyman but I'd add that you've got the rest of the year to shop for it and I'd consider buying used on the various gun auctions. Along with Lyman I'd consider Thompson Center as I understand it they've quit building traditional guns for the more popular inlines.
Remember I said this when it happens, when you take your first deer with a flinter no matter if its a big buck, a spike, or a doe you'll want to have a picture of you, your gun, and your deer and it will be the best deer you ever ate.

[Loyalist Dave]

I'd have to agree that if all you want is a flinter, that shoots well and isn't too expensive, the Lyman GPR is a great gun. If you want a long rifle (and I set a minimum barrel length for a long rifle at 38") then I'd say the Cabela's Blue Ridge in .54.

LD

[DuncanSA]

I am also considering a flintlock rifle - does anyone produce a good copy of the Baker rifle of Peninsula War fame? Google has turned up some interesting sites, but I would like comment from people who have used them rather than from those trying to sell them!

[sundance44s]

A scope on a flintlock would be like wearing flip flop shoes and a nice suit to church.

[Bad Flynch]

If one wants a decent, off-the-shelf flintlock, look no further than the aforementioned Lyman GPR and the 54 caliber is as good as any. The only real improvement that one could make is to use the English flints sold by Track of the Wolf; they just plain spark better. Mine shoots well as-is, but I bought an after-market L&R lock--just to try for the sake of curiosity. Track also sells an after-market set trigger that can me made to work on them and I will try that, too after some time.

I just had a custom Vincent-style 38 caliber rifle made by a local gunsmith who would rather build muzzleloaders than eat, sometimes. Of course, it is percussion, but that is still O.K. At least it is not an inline that shoots faux powder.

[Macmac]

Someone does make a Baker, but I forget where and how I know that. I believe these are sold out of a place in Charleston NH. I believe these are made in India, but are better than fair, and could be good.

I will have to think on this one a bit... sorry CRS ya know?

[Brillo]

I have a 50 cal Kentucky flintlock which is made by Pedersoli of Italy. It has a 1:48 twist barrel. It is an excellent, high quality rifle and shoots round balls and short conicals accurately out to 100 yards. If you want to hunt with round balls exclusively, I would get a 54 cal with a 1:60 twist barrel, and the Great Plains Hunter by Lyman comes to mind as has been suggested above. If you want to shoot conicals or sabot rounds the Great Plains Hunter also comes with a fast twist barrel, 1:32. I would get this in 50 cal. as there is a much greater selection of conicals in 50 cal. and it will shoot conicals and sabot rounds very accurately out to 150 yards. Check out the following sites.

http://www.cherrys.com/
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/

[Loyalist Dave]

You can get a Baker from Loyalist Arms in Canada or The Discriminating General. You will probably have to retro-fit the .62 caliber barrel, as both locations sell smoothbore versions for export to Continental Europe.

Loyalist Arms http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/bakerrifle.html (http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/bakerifle.html)

Discriminating General http://www.militaryheritage.com/baker.htm

LD

[arcticap]

Any TC flintlock will work just fine and carry a lifetime factory warranty for whoever buys it. There has been an upgraded hammer designed to provide better lock geometry (to help make flints last longer) and also with a newer vent design if you happen to buy an older model that pre-dates these improvements.
The barrels can always be replaced with GM drop in replacement barrels in a variety of calibers, lengths and twists, and the TC's will then shoot exceptionally well, and as good as many semi-custom made flintlocks if not better.
There's also scope mounting options for the TC's, including a non-permanant Quickee Mount offered by Dixie Gun Works. I'm not sure if the mount fits the non-percussion models or not, but if it doesn't maybe it could be adapted. You could always turn it into a "scout model" with the scope mounted forward of the lock using a LER pistol scope if you felt that you really needed the help of optics. I once had a lightweight percussion rifle set up with a 1X LER pistol scope mounted scout style just like this years ago when only 1X scopes were legal in my state, and it worked. Since then center fire scout style rifles have become much more of the norm with factory designed ones offered for big $$$$. :)