There is much good advice on here, but not knowing if I really would do much with a flint lock and being already 65 years old I bought a Lyman and it worked pretty good, but had some problems that I was able to figure out and make work better. Then I bought another percussion that I probably use more than the flint lock. All I know is if it would have cost much more than what I paid I never would have tried it so I'm not sorry for the one I bought. By that time in life, and that's been over 20 years ago I was done doing my heavy hunting so I didn't need something to kill elephants. I actually bought a nice light percussion when I turned 80 so that I could shoot it off hand. At my age, strength is not as good as it was.