Lyman trade rifle?

[Texan Scott]

Funny... a year ago this wouldn't have crossed my mind; but I've been playing with and looking at other people's 'toys', and have decided my meager collection will never be complete without black powder firearms, at least one.

Trouble is, I'm not one of those people that can drop hundreds of dollars on a whim. That's not fun, but good in that it causes me to do a LOT of thinking and research before I buy.

It also means that even my fun guns need to be practical. A lot of really cool historical reproductions are functional (mainly for shooting reenactor powder and wads of cotton cloth), and a lot of black powder muzzle loaders for hunting are modern art ugly.

Can anybody give me the honest scoop on Lyman's flintlock trade rifle? Is it accurate to 50 yards? Is the lock tight enough to carry afield and reliable? General fit & finish?

Anyone with experience want to throw in their opinion or alternative suggestions before I commit hard -earned cash?

 

[BHP FAN]

A buddy of mine has one, and other than an ASM '51 .36 Navy I gave him, it's the only gun he owns. He shoots it from the bench over a sandbag, and never misses at the 25 yard, or the fifty yard, and seldom misses at the hundred. You could do a lot worse, than picking up a Lyman.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I have the percussion version, and once I mapped out the correct patch/ball/charge combo, it is a tack-driver.
I'm well pleased with it.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

They are good shooters and a handy size for hunting. Made by Invest arms as I recall...?
Cabela's used to sell a version, under the Cabela's name, made by the same outfit. It had set triggers instead of the single trigger on the Lyman version.

 

[bpshooter13]

I'd also take a look at the Lyman Plains rifle. The 1 in 60" twist is better suited to patched round ball than the 1 in 48" twist on the trade rifle. Lots of people shoot patched round ball with the 1 in 48" twist and do just fine but the slower twist on the Plains rifle might be the better choice for patched round ball. I have the Lyman plains rifle in percussion fitted with the Lyman #57 peep sight and it's extremely accurate. I'm very happy with it.

 

[CraigC]

...it causes me to do a LOT of thinking and research before I buy.

This is wise no matter how much one has to spend.

We bought Dad a .54cal percussion version of the Trade Rifle. It's a fine shooter. Not quite as accurate as my GPR with PRB but plenty accurate for hunting out to 100yds. It's a lot of rifle for its modest price.

 

[snakeman]

I can't comment on the lyman, but I do have a tc hawken and it's a sollid shooter. I put two .490 roundballs in about 2 inches at 100 yards with it. That may be luck or it may just be the gun's that accurate.

 

[BCRider]

I can't comment on the 1:48 twist of the Trade Rifle but my Lyman Great Plains Rifle flinter is darn accurate even at 100 and beyond.

Because of my "old guy eyes" the best I can manage at 100 with ANY rifle that has plain notched iron sights is about 4 inches. My GPR has no problem at all keeping them at or a hair under (likely good luck on my part ) my regular "plain irons" 4 inch performance.

You're in for a treat if you have not shot flintlocks. The big POOF! of smoke and sparks right in your face sure does liven up the day....

 

[Texan Scott]

I have wondered about the GPR's slower twist, but everything I've read about its dual set trigger has been ... unimpressive, mediocre? The concern being it might not be worth the money or particularly desirable for other than bench shooting. I'm torn between the longer, slower barrel and the lighter rifle with a simpler single set trigger ...

Don't suppose anyone has an opinion either way?

 

[bothenook]

I have wondered about the GPR's slower twist, but everything I've read about its dual set trigger has been ... unimpressive, mediocre? The concern being it might not be worth the money or particularly desirable for other than bench shooting. I'm torn between the longer, slower barrel and the lighter rifle with a simpler single set trigger ...

Don't suppose anyone has an opinion either way?

i have one of each in 50 cal caplock. i love the GPR, and the trigger is downright excellent. the Trade Rifle is smaller, lighter, bit faster twist rate at 1:48 vs. 1:60 for the GPR. Both shoot well, and when I'm doing my part, damned accurate. A little stone work on the sear and hammer works wonders for the Trade Rifle.

 

[mykeal]

everything I've read about its dual set trigger has been ... unimpressive, mediocre? The concern being it might not be worth the money or particularly desirable for other than bench shooting. I'm torn between the longer, slower barrel and the lighter rifle with a simpler single set trigger

Huh?
What's complicated about a dual set trigger?

I have two .54 GPRs, one caplock and one flintlock. I changed the trigger on the flintlock, installing the Davis Deerslayer and found that, while it's a superb trigger, I actually still prefer the original Lyman trigger. Just slightly, mind you, not enough to take the trouble to change it back, but I haven't taken the trouble to install the Davis in the caplock either.

Comments like "unimpresssive" and "not worth the money" cannot be responded to as they're subjective - there's no substance or data associated with them. But then, triggers are very subjective items....

I've found both the Lyman and Davis triggers on my guns to be smooth and consistent with respect to let off. They are controllable and very reliable. Unimpressive? Well, no, I don't think so.

 

[Texan Scott]

Mykeal, I'll gladly accept the subjective, but clear and unequivocated, answer of an experienced owner and shooter! Having no experience myself, your opinion carries more weight in my mind than my own idle conjecture.