Traditions Pennsylvania?

I'm more confident in the Pedersoli Blue Ridge, better lock and a very good barrel,

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Pedersoli-Blue-Ridge-Flintlock-Rifles/1608552.uts

Just for fun.....check your options on "Track of the wolf"
And Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading, www.avsia.com/tvm www.MuzzleloaderBuildersSupply.com
www.jimkibler.net

These will be much more authentic rifles. If you get more involved, you will appreciate it.

This rifle was built for about the same money that you are looking to spend on the traditions rifle.

kbbailey said:

Just for fun.....check your options on "Track of the wolf"
And Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading, www.avsia.com/tvm www.MuzzleloaderBuildersSupply.com
www.jimkibler.net

These will be much more authentic rifles. If you get more involved, you will appreciate it.
View attachment 229634 View attachment 229631 View attachment 229632View attachment 229635
This rifle was built for about the same money that you are looking to spend on the traditions rifle.

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only thing about these muzzleloaders do you have to drill and tap the holes for the screws etc?

midland man said:

only thing about these muzzleloaders do you have to drill and tap the holes for the screws etc?

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Nope the locks are drilled and tapped.

kbbailey said:

Nope the locks are drilled and tapped.

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nice I like the pics of some of their stuff!

Haha understood.
I am lucky, I have a friend who builds rifles for fun. He is retired, and a driving force at our bp club.
My rifle was his 62nd build.
He built it, I finished the wood and metal. I also tried my hand at a bit of engraving.

Fwiw, I have seen some nice finished rifles on gunbroker.

Nothing wrong with the traditions either.

that's good cooldill I do like doing the kits and I built the traditions Kentucky rifle in 45c flintlock and its been good for me I like it so that finished one should be nice to own!! I bet you'll like it! that's a pretty rifle! p.s. mine has a 1-66 twist for roundballs and I cast my own roundballs for it!

Great!
The main thing is to get that rifle in your hands.
And the powder horn.
And knife.
And 'hawk
And bag.
And flint n steel

Cooldill said:

think I want to purchase

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...and a priming horn....
...and

I think I paid ~$550 for my Traditions Shenandoah about 2 years ago from Muzzleloading Emporium. My first flintlock.

It has been a good rifle. I learned on it so experienced some issues at first which were my fault and now I had it down pretty well. It looks like it is essentially a shorter/smaller version of the Pennsylvania. You will enjoy it.

You can occasionally find a used custom rifle for sale in the same price range as the Pennsylvania rifle and it will be "better" because of the lock & barrel and possibly the stock too. But you need to devote time to research and find them. I've got about 11 flintlocks now that I've picked up the last 2 years.

Cooldill said:

Thanks Mid, do you have the flintlock version? Does it have a good lock and is it reliable?

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yes this one is a flintlock and it works just fine! it likes small 3/4in flints for mine. I look forward to hearing how you like yours and what size flints it likes?

I've owned and hunted with a couple of Traditions rifles but they were percussion. Pedersoli is a bit nicer but usually a bit more costly. Traditions barrels are very good barrels and accuracy is not a problem. The only problem you may experience is with the flint lock that comes mounted on them. Usually the lock works well but sometimes it does not. If it were me, I'd check the forum adds. Often, full custom used rifles are for sale for not much more than a new Traditions; and they will be more authentic than a Traditions. Second, I'd talk with Matt Avance at TVM(uzzleloading). I have several rifles built by him and they are great in every way. Plus TVM stands behind their builds and will go beyond what's expected just to make sure the customer is satisfied. TVM can build you a pretty authentic poorboy Southern Mountain Rifle in any barrel length, caliber and with any grade of maple and any lock you request. Plus it will be custom made to your length of pull. They cost only somewhat more than the Pedersoli and will be custom heirlooms. Tip Curtis sells completed rifles, or did, for around the same price point.

The DPS offerings such as the Blue Ridge are off springs of the now defunct Hatfield Muzzle Loaders of St. Joe. Mo. The first 200 Hatfields wore Green River barrels and standard flat face bolsters.
Hatfield to keep up with orders bought DPS barrels. The DPS barrels were lawyer proofed with long bolsters and "Anti-Chambers". The Anti-Chamber is not flat faced and requires a .22 caliber bronze brush to clean it down to the vent. It has been the experience of many flint shooters that the Anti-Chambers are slower and very unreliable. The standard flat faced bolster has worked for over 400 years.

I caught the Blue Ridge on sale 499.99 on the 8th of December for the percussion at Cabela's. High marks to Pedersoli, the rifle is of good quality and shoots great out of the box. Very little cleaning. Shot a little low and to the left at 50 yards. Took a little adjusting but was able to improve the POI. Will try to dial it in at 100 yards. The load that works best so far is 70 grains 2f patched round ball. It will shoot RB and the Thompson maxi-hunter 275 grain pre lubed with natural lube 1000 plus bore butter. Will try to upload target later.

Cooldill, have you considered the Pedersoli Kentucky Rifle? Cabelas had them on sale in the $600 ish range recently. http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...hotguns/_/N-1115738/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104641380

The quality of the flint lock frizzens is an important consideration. If you are buying a production perc cap rifle it will likely provide for your needs. I have never known anyone who owned a custom Flinter to be concerned about damaging or not using these rifles.

That's a beauty. it would go well with the harper's ferry pistol. I like your D guard or a nice Tomahawk with that rifle.

I owned a Traditions Pennsylvania rifle in 36 caliber with a percussion lock. It was a good rifle that I bought used for around $300. The quality is OK but the Pedersoli guns that were recommended are much better rifles. Traditions and CVA used to be reasonable on their prices and I don't really see their guns being worth what they are asking for them. The locks as far as I know are the same locks CVA has used for years and you used to be able to buy them from Dixie for less than $50.

I want just one more BP rifle. And that is a Pedersoli Scout percussion with a 28" barrel .45 caliber. Thats my favorite caliber to shoot. I doubt many would consider this gun authentic. Do I care? Nope. When those guns were all that people had they kept them and made changes and repairs as needed. Barrels were rebored or sometimes bored out to smooth bores. Barrels were shortened, replaced if needed. IIRC Sam and Jake modified more guns for western travel than they built new. And I got to handle one old original half stock rifle once. I bet it weighed well over 13 pounds and would not be something I would want to drag around through the woods. If you really want a true to the original gun you will just about have to build it or buy a custom made rifle.

Here is the rifle I would like to buy. http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sch...r_96/rifles-scout-scout-percussion-model.html

OK I saw in your other thread that you bought the Lyman GPR flintlock. You're gonna like that rifle. I have the caplock version 50 caliber and it shoots darn well with round balls. I even get good accuracy with Lee R.E.A.L conicals out of it. More than good enough to hunt deer at 100 yards.

Make sure you get the stock seated in your shoulder properly. That gun has the "Butt Plate From Hell" on it. It will bruise the crap out of you if not properly shouldered.