Good, traditional, starter muzzleloader

[lucznik]

I need some help finding a good, starter muzzleloader. I've never shot a black powder rifle so; I don't want to get too crazy on costs until I figure out how much I'm going to like it.

I would like to stick with a traditional, sidelock model.

Any suggestions?

 

[mykeal]

Lyman Great Plains Rifle (or Great Plains Hunter), or Thompson Center Hawken.

 

[Perfesser]

+1...but a TC Hawken won't be cheap; however you can't beat the quality. I found a .45 at a gun show about 10 years ago for $200. Didn't realize what a deal I'd gotten until later. That caliber seems to be rare in the traditional style. And it is FUN to shoot! I get great accuracy using .452 cast lead from my .45ACP stock.

 

[shiftyer1]

GREAT post. I've also been eyeing bp guns, but i'm not sure whats all involved. I think I need to find someone who shoots black powder and learn the basics. My interests lean toward older time periods, one of which lean toward mountain man times the other is more cowboy times. Once you give it a try please share your experiance and opinions on the sport.

 

[mykeal]

I suggest you read te thread Black Powder Essentials at the top of this forum. Excellent series of posts there that will teach you the basics without any investment except for time.

 

[madcratebuilder]

The Lyman GPR is one of the most authentic on the market. There are a lot of T/C Hawken rifles on Gunbroker.com. Many sell for under $200. A low cost way to get started.
I have a T/C Hawken and it's been an excellent rifle. I plan on a Lyman GPR flintlock next.

 

[Macmac]

shiftyer1 , For you it would be best to choose a gun that is or lends itself to fixed sights. Most primitive events do not allow shooting with more modern adjustable sights.

The idea is to be as close as we can to what it was like back then.

I am not sure what offerings come this way as 'starters guns', so about all I can help with is this one thing.

Some events will allow you to shoot side by side with others, and some will not, but at any rate with adjustable sights you can only shoot for your own fun and may not compete for any prizes what so ever.

It is still possible to adjust fixed sights, with a hammer and a drift, but it won't be readily changed on the line.

Recently I have learned the L&R lock company makes a drop in flint lock for the Lyman guns as well.

I am not sure if this is an idea to make a Lyman gun a better flintlock, or a way to conver with fair ease a Lyman cap lock gun to be a flint gun.

I don't know if any such thing is made for TC guns or not.

At one time I had 4 TC guns, but that was better than 25 years ago now. At that time the TC flintlocks, locks were not all that good. But 25+ years is a long time to get it fixed.