1st Flintlock

[Flounder]

I have been hunting with a cap rifle for years, but I want to try shooting a flintlock. Not wanting to jump into the deep end with a custom rifle just yet, I was looking at a few common rifles and thought that I might gain from your experiences.

At a local shop there is a used Pedersoli .50 frontier rifle for $550, and also a used .50 cal T/C Hawken for $400. As far as new rifles, I was considering a Lyman GPR in .50 or .54 which would run nearly $600.

What do ya'll think?

 

[bowkill]

i would save a little longer, shoot the 45 you bought for awhile and put that extra cash toward a tvm or something..

 

[Spikebuck]

At a local shop there is a used Pedersoli .50 frontier rifle for $550,

Too much for a used Frontier. I had a Frontier in percussion and it's a great shooting rifle. Can't vouch for the quality of the lock in the Flintlock version. Frontier's do have very heavy trigger pulls unless using the set trigger.

A semi-custom with a top-quality lock will be double in cost, but unless you're in a big hurry, it might bring more long-term satisfaction than a complete production flinter.

 

[Carl Fowler III]

I would go with the T/C hawkin, although I would dicker them down in price...never pay the asking price! It's a good shooter, decent lock and nice triggers...and since they are no longer made the price of a T/C keeps going up, ye can always use it to get your feet wet and if you don't like it sell it for what you payed or even get a profit from it! In the mean time you are shoot'n a flinter and learning from it. :v

 

[Snakebite]

Have you thought about a GPR kit? TOW has them for $480.

 

[Paul_R]

Hard to go wrong with a Lyman GPR and D&R sports has 'em for $469 brand spankin' new.
Link

 

[Rusty_Nail]

TC over Frontier... I am a fan of the Pedersoli Frontier, but if it's got a walnut stock, I agree the price is too high. The Frontier, used, with a walnut stock, in excellent shape, runs @$400.00+/- $50.00. Now if it is the fancy maple stock with patchbox and nosecap, your are talking twice that for excellent shape. I would snatch one of them up for $500.00 if'n I had to rent out a Yard Ape to pay for it! :haha:

 

[MFordney]

I have a GPR flintlock in .54, and it's a good first flintlock. The gun shoots great. Only thing I've had to do is drill out the touch hole a little bit, and file down the front sight.

 

[Flounder]

Thanks for the replies. Ok, so the Frontier is out.

I'll see if I can get the TC for cheap, but if he is stuck on $400, then I'll probably go with the GPR from D&R. From what I've read, GPR is made by Investarms(true?), which I've fired a cap model. Seems like great quality.

Paul R, thanks for the tip on the low price from D&R!

Lawman, that .45 is gonna be my young apprentice's rifle

Still gonna stash away a few Pesos for a custom rifle, but I wanna have a flintlock that I know intimately before deer season.

I appreciate all your opinions and advice!

 

[AZbpBurner]

I've fired percussion rifle & pistol for many decades, and all my flint experience had been with everyone elses' mostly custom guns.

My very own first flint is a Lefthand Lyman GPR in .50 cal. My next flint will be in .54 cal.

You can't go wrong with the GPR. It takes very little tuning to make it your own, and .50 vs .54 cal is largely a personal choice.

You can always save for your dream rifle while you are out at the range gaining practical experience with the GPR. That price makes me want to go get one in .54 cal if they have a lefty in stock.

 

[lhw123]

I'm kinda in the same boat you are. I've shot percussion for years and I've been bit with a flintlock bug too :thumbsup:

 

[AZbpBurner]

Do you have a link to D&R?

I found some goofball site in Kalamazoo filled with pretty pictures of their departments & links that lead to mainly fishin' stuff, some blackpowder accessories, & only shotguns in their gun section - gotta be the wrong place ...

 

[AZbpBurner]

...Nevermind ...

DNRsports.com is the place & looks like they've got a good selection!

 

[Paul_R]

You have to be patient with DnR, you might get lucky but they often don't have stuff in stock. They'll get it in good time if they don't have something and at their prices it's worth waiting for.

 

[Flounder]

Yep. I figure that I could spend all summer trying to catch fish OR I could learn how to shoot a flintlock...something that I've wanted to do for 20 years or more.

 

[will5a1]

FWIW - You may want to consider a Lyman Trade Rifle, I found one used two weeks ago in nice, clean shape, came out of an estate with balls, extra flints, short starter, and a shooting bag, $300. Watch Gunbroker and Armslist along with the classifieds on this forum.