About to buy my 1st bp rifle

[Coyote Rider]

I'm about to buy my first black powder rifle with some of my income tax return, if my wife doesn't scuttle the attempt. I can only afford about $250 for the rifle, because I'll also have to buy accessories, powder, balls, etc. My choices seem to be the Lyman Trade Rifle, the Lyman Deerstalker, and the Traditions Kentucky Rifle. I've heard that Lymans are better made than Traditions, but the Trad. Kentucky has the longer barrel and 1:66 twist while the only Lymans I can afford have 24-28" barrels & 1:48, and I plan to only shoot ball & patch. Any advice?

 

[Niner]

The tradtions 1:66 twist is, in theory, better for round ball. And I would imagine the longer barrel length on the Kentucky would give you a better sight picture. But.. 1:48 can handle round patched ball pretty well and be a pretty good one twist fits more kinds of projectiles twist if you should want to shoot something else for ammo.

I don't see my Traditions guns being particularly lessor quality then my Lyman rifle. I wouldn't let the brand or the twist, as mentioned, be the major deciding factors. And length of barrel has nothing to do with accuracy once the projectile has been stabilized as it moves through the barrel, so a 24 inch barrel isn't of itself a draw back. Which one do you like best otherwise?

 

[Tbu61]

Rider...
If you have someone knowledgeable to tag along, check out the local Pawn shops. There are deals out there, (especially this time of year). Make sure you bring a bore light, (cheap at any decent gun store). Having a savvy 3rd party along to also take a gander at the gun is an important element.

I just brought home a SWEET T/C Hawken .50 for $140 last week. Lets see...
With a $250 dollar budget, I could have gotten LOTS of accessories to go with it AND taken the lady out to dinner.....

 

[arcticap]

The choice hinges on which rifle style that you prefer the most.
The Traditions guns perform great, and their Kentucky rifle is very accurate. I have several of their models without any complaints.
But every model has features and drawbacks that require scrutinizing to be confident in one's decision.
I personally like rifles that are faster & easier to handle and load, and the full stock and longer barrel length of the Kentucky hinders that to an extent. It doesn't have a hooked breech for easier barrel take down and cleaning, and the longer barrels do collect a little more fouling in the breech which makes loading more difficult during routine shooting unless the shooter swabs more often. The patch lub doesn't always reach the breech, and ramming also requires a longer stroke, so easier loading is an issue.
The Kentucky's trigger, trigger guard and wrist area aren't as ergonomic, and the longer barrel is more unwieldy. The shorter length of pull, which helps hold the longer barrel could be a comfort issue for some.
While it does have more long range accuracy potential and is more forgiving to sighting errors, in reality an inch or two at 50 yards isn't a major factor considering the negatives.
Looking up the Trade rifle, it's 14 inch length of pull might be a plus for some, and it appears to have a more ergonomic wrist, trigger and trigger guard. The 28 inch barrel is about the maximum length for a faster handling rifle to have, and it's a Hawken type design with a single trigger. It appears to have a hooked breech barrel for easier take down and cleaning which is a plus. If the rifle isn't being lugged through the woods, then it should get the nod over the Deerstalker due to barrel length. Lastly, the 1 in 48" twist does have more versatility, and even the Pedersoli Kentucky has the 1 in 48" twist and shoots patched ball just fine.
If there's a rifle style that's preferred, then choose that model.
But if you're open to any of the models mentioned, then the Lyman Trade Rifle may ultimately be the better choice.

 

[Plink]

Generally, the Lyman guns are a little better built than the Traditions guns. I own both and the Traditions holds their own when it comes to accuracy. Lyman also makes 1/66 twists in their Great Plains Rifle. You might do as TBU suggested and poke around pawn shops to see if you can find one cheaper. Both are common brands and you shouldn't have problems finding used ones for less money. Go with whichever one appeals to you the most and enjoy making smoke!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Sorry to disagree, but the Traditions lock on their flintlocks is sorry, and a good example of what happens when you skimp of materials, craftsmanship, and durability. I understand they have better success with their caplocks and they should have stuck with that ignition system, but from what I have seen of their flintocks, as well as the finish on their long rifle, the Lyman is a good deal beyond a Traditions longrifle (imho).

LD

 

[Plink]

I haven't tried any of the Traditions flinters. I have heard some complaints about them though. Their percussion guns are a pretty good value for the money though. I wish Lyman imported a wider variety. I like the Investarms made guns, but the only ones I see are the Hawkens and the Lyman guns. Not much to choose from.

 

[Coyote Rider]

Thanks for the info

Knowledgeable and Esteemed Members of the Black Powder Forum,
Thank you for your information and advice. After reading your posts and giving the matter some thought I went ahead and ordered the rifle I'd been leaning towards all along, the Lyman Trade Rifle. I'll be using it mainly for target shooting and plinking, and have decided I'd like to have the versatility of being able to experiment with maxis for longer range targets. Also, even though I'm getting a caplock, I'm still a little wary of getting a Traditions rifle, as enticing as the $250 Kentucky Rifle might be ($250 on sale at arms2armor.com right now).
Thanks again,
C. Rider