Help me choose my first muzzle-loading pistol

[DeoreDX]

After playing with my BP revolver and reading a lot of the blackpowder forums I now have this desire to get a muzzle loading pistol. I'm the type that loves to tinker and build on stuff. What first drew my attention was seeing a ~$200 Traditions Kentucky pistol kit. After doing some research on it I decided that wasn't the one for me. I really want something with a wedge. I've not read a lot of positive comments on the overall quality of the Traditions kits and I would spend a little more if I can get something of better quality. I've made a list of wants for whatever pistol I get.

-Wedge
-50 cal. Prefer 50 because that is what is readily available locally
-Shoots fine with BP substitute since that is what is available locally
-Would like a kit but I also don't want to have to put 40+ hours doing wood and metal work just to get parts to fit together.

Then there are things I have no idea if I want or not since I've never used it like the Double Set trigger. Flintlock v. Percussion. I think I would rather have a flintlock but I don't know if it will shoot fine with BP substitute? Is a Flintlock kit a good choice for a novice with little to know knowledge of how the action should properly operate? Barrel twist rate? Seems like a lot of variance between 1-20 and up to 1-30.

I'd say the top 3 on my short list right with a budget of ~$250 are:

-Lyman Plains Pistol Kit .50 Caliber Percussion (1 In 30" Twist)
People seem to like the Lyman stuff from what I've read. I like the way it looks and it shaped. 50 cal. Seems to check off all the right boxes.

-Traditions Trapper Percussion pistol kit
One of the first I picked out because I liked the way it looks. Seems to have more bells and whistles. Double set trigger. Extra finger do-dad hanging off the bottom of the trigger guard. Is the rear sight adjustable for elevation? Maybe a little too many bells and whistles? Worry about the quality.

-CVA American pistol kit.
Only $169 at Deer Creek makes this the cheapest by far. Doesn't list any specs. Looks short to me think I would rather have something with a longer barrel. Price makes it a really attractive option.

Anything else I should consider? I don't know much about the CVA except I found it on a web page and it was cheap. I'm leaning more towards the Lyman over the Trapper, but I don't know if the extra features on the trapper would be good to have?

One other one I've considered is the Pedersoli Kentucky Flint Pistol Kit which is only $250 at Dixie. No Wedge. .45 cal. But it's is the only option I've seen in a flintlock in my price range. I think I want a Flinklock Iv'e read a lot of people saying you need real black powder for a flint.

 

[rodwha]

The only way to get a substitute powder to work in a flintlock is with a starter charge of real black powder along with BP in the pan.

I'm not familiar with the kits but would recommend the Lyman. I like my rifle quite a bit.

 

[Crawdad1]

I second Rodwha post. Lyman is quality from the getgo. Always have been.

 

[44 Dave]

I built a CVA flinter but had to harden the frizzen but other than that the lock and barrel were fine.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I built a Pedersoli Kentucky percussion pistol in .45 from a kit and really like it. It uses two screws to mount the barrel, one on the breech strap and one beneath the front brass casing. It took a bit of time (it was my first kit) but I enjoyed every minute of it, especially when I have it out shooting.

 

[BCRider]

If you can find a new or used Pedersoli you won't be dissapointed regardless of flint or percussion. Lovely pistols.

If you will be shooting classic bullseye style shooting a double set really sharpens up the trigger to a hair trigger like release. But if you're shooting more for giggles then I'd say it's entirely optional. Besides, if you're willing to tinker you can lighten and crispen up a regular trigger to be pretty good. Not double set good as that would make it almost an accidental discharge looking for a place to occur. But pretty nice nonetheless.

Flint or percussion? If you're looking for something really different from your other percussion revolver I'd say go flint. Nothing matches the look and feel of that big PHOOF! of flash and smoke that wraps around your gun and shooting hand.

I'd say that there is more to learn with a flint. But I started out with my first BP long gun being a flinter and did just fine. And there's lots of help to be found here in the BP forum. And lots of helpful videos on how to set the flint on You Tube. Learning this stuff is no where near the long drawn out experience it was 20 or 30 years ago. So dive on into the deeper end of the pool. We'll hand you the floatie to keep your head above water.... Get the most variation from what you already know for your buck.

Clearly from your user name you're another bicycle nut. I used to have enough to almost have one per day of the week. But I'm down to 4 at the moment but with a couple of nice road frames sitting in the wings waiting for some time. The "rider" part isn't just for motorcycles.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

If you go with the Flintlock, then be sure to also get Real Black Powder.
If you are going to stick with Pyrodex due to availability, then get a percussion cap pistol for now until the effort of acquiring Real Black Powder is worth it to you.

Be aware when comparing prices, the CVA and Traditions pistols are not even in the same class as Pedersoli, or the Lyman Plains Pistol. I would put a value ratio of about 2 to 1 on them.

 

[Harleytoo]

I have a .50 I no longer shoot I would be willing to sell you. I will have to check the maker, cant remember and I am not home at the moment.

Drop me a line if you are interested.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'd go with the Lyman Plains Pistol over the Trapper.

The brass trigger guard and other brass parts on the Trapper are magneticable (no such word, but we use it at TSJC) and will stick to a magnet.

Even when professionally assembled, the architecture just isn't right with the Trapper.

 

[44 Dave]

I like the Planes with the hooked breach and the barrel wedge for ease of cleaning.

 

[BCRider]

I must admit that I prefer the flat keys or wedges (they don't really look like wedges but if that's what they are called then great) for their ease of use. But it's not that much more trouble to live with pins and a pin punch for such guns. If I liked the rest of the pistol or rifle I sure wouldn't let that one option ruin a purchase if it's a good price.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I will have to say OP, that I enjoy shooting single-shot pistols more than percussion revolvers.

Sure, you only get one shot vs the six in most cap and ball revolvers... but reloading takes just 1/6th of time! You also don't have to worry about cap jams, bound up cylinders, etc. They are more forgiving for the novice, and one can keep up a steady rate of fire with one and they are a joy to shoot. The are also far easier and faster to clean vs a revolver, the barrel and chamber is all on thing that cleans up fast in a sink full of hot dish water and you only have to clean one nipple.

I wish more people would give single shot muzzleloading pistols a chance instead of ignoring them in favor of the temperamental percussion revolver. Good on you for wanting to try them, they are great fun!

 

[DeoreDX]

.
. The are also far easier and faster to clean vs a revolver, the barrel and chamber is all on thing that cleans up fast in a sink full of hot dish water and you only have to clean one nipple.

I wish more people would give single shot muzzleloading pistols a chance instead of ignoring them in favor of the temperamental percussion revolver. Good on you for wanting to try them, they are great fun!

Cleaning is exactly the reason I wanted to get a single shot caplock. Breaking the 1851 down while easy was time consuming. Not having to worry about chain fires was the other big bonus.

 

[midland man]

I use cornmeal as a filler and it acts as a wall of protection and it would be hard pressed to get fire thru 32 1/2grs of cornmeal to reach the 20grs of powder to have a chain fire! and I get very accurate groups with these loads!!

 

[Panzerschwein]

True, a chain fire isn't a good reason to not shoot percussion revolvers.

But with a good single shot pistol, you eliminate many of the other problems associated with them. For me personally, these black powder weapons are for fun only. I would never really on one in self defense, so who really cares if one has more firepower over the other? I have found, from my experience, that I have far fewer issues in general with my single shot pistols, and like I said cleaning is a snap. I have just as much fun if not more so with the steady pace of fire with them as well.

So for this old hand, make mine a single.

 

[midland man]

well I have a singleshot now its a Kentucky pistol in percussion 50c and I just orderd a 51' colt navy in 44c but I want to build a flintlock pistol in 45c I bet that will be fun!

 

[Blackpowdershooter44]

I've been kicking myself for passing up a flint pistol that was a outstanding deal recently, it looked a lot like the pistol 1957shep used in his video, idk if any of you have seen that.

 

[DeoreDX]

I'm going back and forth between a Pedersoli 45 Flinter from Dixie or a Lyman GPP. Might settle on a good deal on a completed pistol so I've been looking at Armslist and Gunbroker for used ones as well.

 

[44 Dave]

Chain fires are mostly a messy nuance with smoke and fouling allover the out side not really dangerous!

 

[Panzerschwein]

OP, don't pass up the smoothbore pistols if you find one you like. This is my Pedersoli made M1805 Harpers Ferry military pistol in .54 caliber:



Despite it's smooth bore, it can shoot ragged holes all day long at 10 yards:



Whichever pistol you choose, you will have great fun shooting and finding what load it likes best. I sure love single shot pistols!!

 

[Crawdad1]

As long as we are comparing, I use my revolver as a home defense weapon all the time. Shoot black powder than clean and slip in the conversion cylinder and it goes right next to the bed. Five 230 grain 45 Schofields will do the job.

I've been looking at the Lyman pistol on some auction sites since reading this post and even though there is a bunch of them all have some steep prices on them also.

 

[Panzerschwein]

As long as we are comparing, I use my revolver as a home defense weapon all the time. Shoot black powder than clean and slip in the conversion cylinder and it goes right next to the bed. Five 230 grain 45 Schofields will do the job.

I've been looking at the Lyman pistol on some auction sites since reading this post and even though there is a bunch of them all have some steep prices on them also.

THAT is smart. I love the .45 Schofield round.

But a percussion revolver it is not.

 

[Crawdad1]

My 1860 Army repro likes the 45 Schofield a lot better than the 45 long Colt.


Cooldill you haven't bought a conversion cylinder for your 51 Navy yet?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Study the Harper's Ferry pistol Cooldill posted. Note how little space there is between the bottom of the lockplate and the trigger. That's the way a pistol is supposed to look. Now look at the Traditions Trapper. Good Gawd but there's over 1/4" of wood between the lock and the trigger. It is so out of proportion with a real muzzle loading pistol. This is why I hated it and because of the location of the ramrod hole/channel, there's not much you can do to slim down the bottom of the stock. The Harper's Ferry pistol is much more elegant than the Trapper.

The Trapper above has a slight suggestion of a shadow line around the lock, but it is still fat beneath the lock.

 

[rodwha]

How does the more diagonal grip work vs the more vertical grip of the Lyman?