PA Flintlock

[nuguy]

I am new to the site and to Flintlocks, I have been researching the different options for flintlock hunting the late PA deer season. I have been looking at the Lyman rifles and need some help. I see that guys get pretty good groups at 100 yds shooting rifles with the 1:60 twist shooting PRB. Has anyone shot the GPR hunter with the 1:32 twist, shooting sabots/conicals? I am looking for some info on how well they group at different distances. I completely understand and appreciate the sentiment of those who are purists and only shoot PRB. I am looking for information so that I can make the best move as a hunter.

Thanks!

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

It's not always the leading authority, but YouTube is chock-ful of videos on anything muzzleloading/black powder.

The best ones are produced by our own Mike B. AKA "duelist 1954". He is the Firearms Editor(?) of the "Guns Of The Old West" magazine.

Another is "capandball", but his French accent makes it a little hard to follow along. Both gentlemen do a thorough job on research.

As to barrel twist, "You can kill a deer with a pickup truck or you can kill a deer with a Mack truck." One just kills him harder than the other one. The round ball is coveted by the stalking hunter or the tree stand hunter looking at an average field of fire under 100 yards. IMHO.

The round ball has killed thousands (millions?) of game animals befor the conical came on the scene. What's important is shot placement. A conical can shoot further than a round ball and deliver more energy for the kill if that's your circumstance.

 

[snidervolley]

d buck is right Mike Belvedere's videos are great info

 

[AJumbo]

Are slugs permissible during the PA flinter season? I thought it was limited to PRB, though I could be wrong... I do that a lot.

 

[nuguy]

Are slugs permissible during the PA flinter season? I thought it was limited to PRB, though I could be wrong... I do that a lot.

Yes AJumbo they are, the regs say it has to be a flintlock ignition system but any single projectile is legal.

 

[nuguy]

Thanks for the direction guys! There are a lot of youtube vids under his username so I have some more homework to do!!

 

[Crawdad1]

I must know at least a dozen hunters who all use Lyman flintlock rifles, so I called them, but not one has a fast twist barrel. The fast twist will give you more versatility shooting a conical, in case in the future you want to go out west with it.

But that being said and the only thing to remember is, Lyman sells one heck of a rifle, no question about that.

 

[Pete D.]

The Lyman GPR is the "best buy" in production flintlocks. It can be
made even better by the addition of a Davis "Deerslayer" trigger. It is, essentially, a drop in which is an improvement of the Lyman set trigger (which is pretty nice in any case).
Pete

 

[noelf2]

d buck is right Mike Belvedere's videos are great info

Beliveau

 

[nuguy]

I have heard that the Lyman's are top notch and thanks for trying guys! I have also heard of a mod ppl make to the small hole that carries the spark from the pan to the barrel using a wider one, sorry for the lack of technical terms I'm still learning! Thanks again

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Check out Dixie Gun Works, they have a flint Lyman Plains rifle available for under $600.

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Also check Track Of The Wolf's website at http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Index.aspx/ Click at left on "Guns". They list both new and used guns.

They carry the Lyman flintlock w/ 1:32" twist barrel for same price as the 1:60" twist barrel in both .50 & .54 calibers for around $600.