GW
Member
Looking for something decent & inexpensive to try out for flintlock shooting
Thanks
Thanks
Whats a good entry level flintlock rifle?
- Thread starter GW
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The Deer Hunter
Member
do you want percussion or are you sure about flintlock?
what do you consider inexpensive? I would get a pedersoli, thompson center, lyman, for a first time flintlock. you pretty much get what you pay for in a flintlock. I have a friend who mentioned today while we were shooting how he was thinking about selling his pedersoli .50 cal. flintlock. He is into building his guns now and would use the cash for gun parts. chuck-ia
GW
Member
I've shot percussion for awhile and decided I'd like to give flintlocks a try
I just saw a Traditions model called the Deerhunter that seems reasonable at under $200 with a synthetic stock.
I figure that if I like it, I can get something more authentic, but before I shell out the $$ I want to see if I like it or not
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GW, I'd suggest hooking up with a blackpowder club and trying the rifles of the members. Most BP folks are happy to share but you should bring your own powder and some lead bars (exchange for casted balls). Learn what you like by trying it and then decide what to buy. BTW, as a starter, if someone weren't to take my advice on joining a club or there was no club to join, I'd go with the Lyman Great Plains Rifle.
GW
Member
Not aware of any black powder clubs in my area (SF Bay area)
Any fellow High-Roaders know of such?
Any fellow High-Roaders know of such?
Loyalist Dave
Member
I have been disappointed with Traditions locks on their flintlocks. Sorry too fragile. Try a Lyman in flint, or a Cabella's Blue Ridge Hunter (made for them by Pedersoli). Otherwise you're throwing your money away [imho]. NOT all Pedersoli flintlocks are the same, so go with the BRH, as it has a robust lock, that is well made. The Dixie Tennesee Mountain Rifle is also pretty good, but I don't know if they still offer it in flintlock. I'm not real impressed with the T/C rifles in flintlock, unless the lock was upgraded to an aftermarket "drop-in" brand.
LD
LD
Thefabulousfink
Member
The most important think in a flintlock is the quality of the lock itself. It doesn't matter how accurate the barrel is, if the lock is slow or unreliable you might as well be throwing the bullets down range. You want a sturdy lock and a properly tempered frizzen to throw enough sparks. I would not buy anything cheeper than Lymman or Pedersoli.
If you are handy, some good quality kits can be found at Dixie Gun Works or Track Of The Wolf in the $450-$700 range. Most of these have quality furniture and wood and can be turned into excellent guns if you have the skill. Slightly less work is to buy a gun and upgrade the lock, but neither of these options should be attempted unless you are famillier or willing to learn about wood working and the workings of BP long guns.
If you are handy, some good quality kits can be found at Dixie Gun Works or Track Of The Wolf in the $450-$700 range. Most of these have quality furniture and wood and can be turned into excellent guns if you have the skill. Slightly less work is to buy a gun and upgrade the lock, but neither of these options should be attempted unless you are famillier or willing to learn about wood working and the workings of BP long guns.
Blacklabman
Member
I have a Davide Pedersoli Kentucky Standard Flintlock.
After trying the Kentucky Long Rifle and the Flintlock, I'll never go back to inlines.
The flintlock provides a million more times more fun.
Long term durablity is up in the air. I purchased the rifles last years several months before deer season. Then during our muzzleloader season, I took two deer with it. I could not be happier, with the rifle.
Price was $475.
After trying the Kentucky Long Rifle and the Flintlock, I'll never go back to inlines.
The flintlock provides a million more times more fun.
Long term durablity is up in the air. I purchased the rifles last years several months before deer season. Then during our muzzleloader season, I took two deer with it. I could not be happier, with the rifle.
Price was $475.
JN01
Member
As has been mentioned, the problem with buying something cheap is that the flintlocks often perform so poorly.
One option between struggling to get a POS flintlock to work properly and spending $600+ on a kit or semi-custom gun is to buy a CVA, Traditions, TC, or Lyman gun and replace the lock with a drop-in replacement from L&R lock company. The replacement fllint lock will cost you $130, but will be of high quality and reliable.
http://www.lr-rpl.com/tabcon.htm
One option between struggling to get a POS flintlock to work properly and spending $600+ on a kit or semi-custom gun is to buy a CVA, Traditions, TC, or Lyman gun and replace the lock with a drop-in replacement from L&R lock company. The replacement fllint lock will cost you $130, but will be of high quality and reliable.
http://www.lr-rpl.com/tabcon.htm
1911 guy
Member
I've got a pedersoli. Love it.
I shoot a .36 cal pedersoli "Frontier" model for squirrels. Sold by Cabela's as the Blue Ridge rifle. Good lock, very nice trigger (if you like set triggers) and really fine sights. With 40gr FFFg and a .350 ball it's a one holer at 25 yards. For just fun plinking or small game, the .32 or .36 would be great choices. It's also offered in .45 and .50 for deer, etc.
The Lyman Great Plains rifle has been getting consistently good reviews by those who shoot them, also.
I shoot a .36 cal pedersoli "Frontier" model for squirrels. Sold by Cabela's as the Blue Ridge rifle. Good lock, very nice trigger (if you like set triggers) and really fine sights. With 40gr FFFg and a .350 ball it's a one holer at 25 yards. For just fun plinking or small game, the .32 or .36 would be great choices. It's also offered in .45 and .50 for deer, etc.
The Lyman Great Plains rifle has been getting consistently good reviews by those who shoot them, also.
GW
Member
What is the difference between the Lyman Great Plains flintlock and the Lyman Trade flint? (other than barrel twist)
Is the lock the same and the Trade just isn't as pretty?
Is the lock the same and the Trade just isn't as pretty?
Mr. Tettnanger
Member
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- Dec 23, 2004
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- 232
Lyman Great Plains. In my opinion, the best flinter for the money. Mine is a lefty. I shoot .50 w/70 gr Goex FF, .020 patch, .490 round ball. Quality firearm, well worth the investment
Mr. Tettnanger
Mr. Tettnanger
Thebees
Member
Lyman Plains Rifle
The Lyman Trade Rifle looks like a trade rifle. The were mostly smoothbores and made to be bartered to the indians. The traditional look is cheap plain and a large hoop trigger guard.
The Lyman Plains Rifle is a fairly good takeoff of a halfstock Hawken. Looks way more like a real Hawken that a TC or CVA does.
Also it has a good price to buy new and has the added advantage of being able to install TC triggers when the cheap italian ones break. Same for the lockwork.
Lyman Plains Rifles are usually quite accurate with ball (if ya got the round ball barrel)
I don't have any personal experience with Lyman or TC flinlocks so I can't comment except to say that TC has always sood behind their products and should make it work.
The Lyman Trade Rifle looks like a trade rifle. The were mostly smoothbores and made to be bartered to the indians. The traditional look is cheap plain and a large hoop trigger guard.
The Lyman Plains Rifle is a fairly good takeoff of a halfstock Hawken. Looks way more like a real Hawken that a TC or CVA does.
Also it has a good price to buy new and has the added advantage of being able to install TC triggers when the cheap italian ones break. Same for the lockwork.
Lyman Plains Rifles are usually quite accurate with ball (if ya got the round ball barrel)
I don't have any personal experience with Lyman or TC flinlocks so I can't comment except to say that TC has always sood behind their products and should make it work.
Mr_Pale_Horse
Member
+1 Cabella's Blue Ridge aka Pedersoli Frontier
PRM
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There are some good starter guns out there - My personal experience from close to 35 years of shooting firelocks is buy the best you can afford. Flintlocks are not as forgiving as caplocks. You can always harden a soft frizzen. But a good lock is essential. In addition to getting a good spark, they should not shatter your flints. You will get some flaking, but as a rule you should get a minimum of 50 shots off of a flint. I average considerably more on my TVA and Pedersoli. You can always resharpen the flints edge by knapping it back.
Flints are another area that you don't want to scrimp on cost. The black English Flints throw a more consistent spark and last longer. Dixie Gun Works and other vendors generally keep them in stock.
Another thing a lot of new flintlock shooters do is over charge the pan. It does not take a lot to get ignition.
Its habit forming - I will pick up one of my flintlocks regularly over one of my caplocks.
Flints are another area that you don't want to scrimp on cost. The black English Flints throw a more consistent spark and last longer. Dixie Gun Works and other vendors generally keep them in stock.
Another thing a lot of new flintlock shooters do is over charge the pan. It does not take a lot to get ignition.
Its habit forming - I will pick up one of my flintlocks regularly over one of my caplocks.
All good advice - especially the part about spending as much as you can afford for a flintlock rifle. It will pay off on a flintlock more than on any other purchase - you get what you pay for.
Having said that, a rifle is a very personal gun. You really need to try them out to see what length of pull, drop at comb and heel cast off and balance fit you best. I found the Lyman Great Plains rifle, which is available in .50 and .54 calibers, percussion and flintlock, and kit or factory built, fit me very well. That overruled a more expensive and higher quality gun that just didn't feel right.
Having said that, a rifle is a very personal gun. You really need to try them out to see what length of pull, drop at comb and heel cast off and balance fit you best. I found the Lyman Great Plains rifle, which is available in .50 and .54 calibers, percussion and flintlock, and kit or factory built, fit me very well. That overruled a more expensive and higher quality gun that just didn't feel right.
peacemaker45
Member
Occurs to me that if you buy a cheap flinter, you are practically assured not to like it.
~~~Mat
~~~Mat
brotherlloyd
Member
lyman gpr in .54 is the best all around for low priced good quality rifle. its a good game killer. just need to shoot a couple hundred rounds through it to break the barrel in and learn what load it likes.
Smokin_Gun
Member
Gunbroker.com or AuctionArms .com get one with a 3 day inspection period.
kentucky bucky
Member
The trouble is that "inexpensive" and "flintlock" are two words that don't go together well. Many cheaper flintlocks are so tempermental (and/or unshootable) they turn off many new flint shooters from the start and causes confusion about flintlocks in general. It might be best to hold off until you learn as much as you can and maybe shoot a few good rifles first.
arcticap
Member
Here's ~1 minute video of someone shooting their Traditions .50 Kentucky:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZISW2DF6Ga0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZISW2DF6Ga0
Ginormous
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