Reasonably priced traditional Muzzleloading rifle

[ThomasT]

Ah but don't fret...., you can get a new, Lyman, Trade Rifle, for under $500 in .54 caliber from Dixie Gun Works https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...duct_name/PR0653+Lyman+Trade+Rifle+-+.54+Perc. You should find it easy to carry and handle in the woods, accurate, and with lots of knock-down power.

My link in post #16 says you can get them for $401 from a dealer on GB. I looked up the shipping to my house here in TX and the amount was just under $420 total.

 

[Ironhand54]

I absolutely agree that the Lyman is the best option.

I would disagree with Ratshooter regarding set triggers. Traditional BP actions have much longer lock times than modern actions. They also tend to have heavy trigger pulls. The set trigger helps to minimize these factors and increase accuracy. While the single trigger may be better for snap shooting, the set trigger is better for deliberate aimed fire.

It just depends on how you hunt and what you like.

IronHand

 

[ThomasT]

I would disagree with Ratshooter regarding set triggers. Traditional BP actions have much longer lock times than modern actions. They also tend to have heavy trigger pulls. The set trigger helps to minimize these factors and increase accuracy. While the single trigger may be better for snap shooting, the set trigger is better for deliberate aimed fire.

Well thats pretty much what I said. The set trigger is better for target shooting and the single trigger is all you need for hunting where shots may come fast.

 

[entropy]

Well thats pretty much what I said. The set trigger is better for target shooting and the single trigger is all you need for hunting where shots may come fast.

It's also useful for hunting when you have time to use it; it worked for me on a doe at 125 yards.Using the front trigger only might have still gotten me that doe, but I sure appreciated the set trigger.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I like the set triggers on my muzzle loaders and almost always use them when hunting.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Don t know why one would put up with a heavy trigger pull. Tune the lock and make a reasonable single trigger into a 4 lb pull. It is not that difficult.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I have bought most of my muzzle stuffers from Dixie and they were mostly Pedersoli rifles and pistols, both in caps and flint. If you are handy with woodworking tools buy a kit and personalize it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Sometimes it's more than tuning the lock. Where the gunstocker places the trigger with relation to the sear arm influences the trigger pull.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

How very true, l guess it depends on how the trigger is pinned, l have seen some cheap guns that did not use a trigger plate and had the trigger pinned into the wood.

 

[ThomasT]

I wonder if the OP ever found a gun?

 

[rodwha]

I have a Lyman Deerstalker. Figured my first rifle should be something handy-sized and light enough that I could carry it all day on an extended weekend hunt.

Granted with the recoil pad and fiber optic sights it’s not all that traditional. But a 320 grn Lee REAL pushed my 75 grns of 3F Triple 7 has been a pussycat.

As I assume you’ll mostly hunt in dense woods a handier barrel length seems a good option. 24” on the Deerstalker and 28” on the Trade Rifle. 32” and 9.5 lbs for the Great Plains just seems a bit much, though I’m considering one for still hunting fields and such, where the length and weight are fine.

Another handy option is the Pedersoli Country Hunter.

 

[ThomasT]

I have a Thompson Center renegade 50 caliber coming my way I bought off GB a few days ago and wanted it for the same reasons you just mentioned. I like the shorter 26" barrel on these rifles. I wanted a 54 caliber but the price was right on this gun at $191+$30 for shipping. It was a kit gun that I will most likely refinish the wood and brown the furniture. I have owned three of these in the past and don't remember why I sold any of them.

I had to look up the Country Hunter. I have a similar rifle with the Traditions Springfield Hawken. Same 28" barrel but with a lighter, slimmer stock that keeps the weight down. I killed my only BP deer with that rifle. I used a RB and 75grs of 2F for a quick humane kill on a decent buck. And lost only a small amount of meat on that 13 yard shot.