Brand new

[Colonialnerd]

Ok, so I’m brand new to muzzle loading. I’m getting into it to participate in Primitive Biathlon. Given that I’m new to the sport, I don’t want to spend a grand on a hobby that I may not get further into, and I certainly don’t want to booger up a high price kit.

All of that jabbering out of the way…. Traditions Kentucky Flintlock seems like a pretty good starter. Low price, less risk if I booger it up or don’t get super into the hobby.

I’ve read sometimes there are frizzen issues, but that aside what is the common opinion?

Decent starter or jump directly to a more expensive Indian made English Trade Gun?

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I wouldn't go with any of those options. If you're going to do the flintlock thing you need a quality lock. You're offered choices are junk.

 

[Colonialnerd]

So any better suggestions for the budget noob?

 

[rafterob]

The Traditions will be a fine starting rifle, you can always upgrade once you get hooked. I would suggest a percussion over the Flintlock on the Traditions, but seeing how caps are hard to come by, a flintlock is a good choice.

 

[x_count]

First of all, welcome!
I would say go for maybe a Pedersoli AT LEAST. Or peruse the for sale section of this site for a good used rifle.

 

[Colonialnerd]

First of all, welcome!
I would say go for maybe a Pedersoli AT LEAST. Or peruse the for sale section of this site for a good used rifle.

$800-$900 is more than I’m willing to spend on a lark, so a Pendersoli is out for a starter musket.

 

[Campbell]

May I suggest going out to shoot some blackpowder muzzleloaders with a knowledgeable friend, or maybe visit a blackpowder club shoot first to see if you like it?

 

[Colonialnerd]

May I suggest going out to shoot some blackpowder muzzleloaders with a knowledgeable friend, or maybe visit a blackpowder club shoot first to see if you like it?

Not an unreasonable suggestion

 

[Daveboone]

Yep. I think the same...you are new to it, go out with friend to a range and see what they are shooting. I shoot in a weekly league, and by far the "budget" guns are the most common. And if you are allowed percussion...# 11 caps are tough to find, but musket caps are readily available online, best bet is to buy by the thousand. I converted both my percussions to muskets caps....only a musket nipple is needed, and they are available for most any percussions I have seen...Lymans, T/c, Traditions, etc. The new nipple simply threads in and out like the old, you will just need to pick up a musket nipple wrench.

 

[user 49399]

If you are completely new to muzzleloaders, I would suggest finding some experienced shooters in your area and try to learn as much as possible before buying. Hopefully, you could find some folks who would let you try different muzzleloaders to see how they operate and maybe determine what you like. Then maybe try to find a used muzzleloader that someone in that group has for sale, one that is proven to be reliable. And a muzzleloader doesn’t have to be expensive to be reliable.

The Traditions and India made flintlock muzzleloaders can be good guns, but more often than not they need some adjustments that a novice usually isn’t able to make.

There are many knowledgeable folks here who can answer questions, but in person mentoring is better.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Sometimes it's best not to cheap out on things and unfortunately when it comes to muzzleloading it isn't a low cost hobby. If you expect to stick with the sport you're going to have to shell out some dough. You could always sell the gun if you try it and don't like it.

 

[MountainSmoke]

Not everyone can afford to or wants to spend thousands of dollars just to try muzzleloading,and you don't have to.I started out with a traditions flintlock and it worked just fine. It didn't ruin my muzzleloading experience, it was the foundation that brought me to where I am at today. If not for that traditions rifle I would never have experienced the smell of burnt black powder, how to load a patched round ball and how different ball sizes, patch thicknesses and powder charges can affect accuracy. I would have never learned how to prime the pan of a flintlock and how to position the flint for the best ignition. That was 25 years ago and I'm still in to muzzleloading, more than ever.Every now and then I get that old traditions flintlock out and fire off a few shots and you know what, it's still fun! Go check out " I love Muzzleloading" and "Black Powder Maniac Shooter" on YouTube or just search " traditions flintlock" and you will see plenty of folks doing just fine and having a good old time enjoying muzzleloading.

 

[kyron4]

I built a Traditions Kentucky rifle from a kit and I'm very pleased with it for what it is. There was a bit of a learning curve, the biggest was keeping the patent breach clean and free of oil. Only rarely do I have a failure to fire and I can shoot 2" groups at 50 yds. . I harvested a doe with it this past season. It won't win a beauty contest and no bragging rights , but it gets the job done and is a ton of fun for under $500.

 

[Tenring]

I wouldn’t mind buying a Lyman Deer Stalker 50 cal. Flintter with fiber optics sights that I take out when the weather is truly miserable seem like regular iron sights in crummy weather have been playing tricks with my 58 year old eyes when the barrel and sights are wet it’s like some sort of a mirage Blending together I think the Later would help maybe.

 

[64Springer]

OP.

You'll buy a $6,000.00 custom flintlock long rifle and you'll like it.

And if you don't enjoy your flintlock experience, you can sell your 6K rifle for 4K.

You'll only be out 2K, but you'll have bought what other people think you need and that's what's important.

Now get out there and sell your car, put your daughter on the street and start saving for that custom flintlock you never wanted.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

OP.

You'll buy a $6,000.00 custom flintlock long rifle and you'll like it.

And if you don't enjoy your flintlock experience, you can sell your 6K rifle for 4K.

You'll only be out 2K, but you'll have bought what other people think you need and that's what's important.

Now get out there and sell your car, put your daughter on the street and start saving for that custom flintlock you never wanted.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Ok, so I’m brand new to muzzle loading. I’m getting into it to participate in Primitive Biathlon. Given that I’m new to the sport, I don’t want to spend a grand on a hobby that I may not get further into, and I certainly don’t want to booger up a high price kit.

All of that jabbering out of the way…. Traditions Kentucky Flintlock seems like a pretty good starter. Low price, less risk if I booger it up or don’t get super into the hobby.

I’ve read sometimes there are frizzen issues, but that aside what is the common opinion?

Decent starter or jump directly to a more expensive Indian made English Trade Gun?

Welcome to Traditional Muzzleloading. I hope that @rich pierce spots this thread and jumps in to tell us about what rifles he has seen at the Primitive Biathlons in which he has participated.

What you need is an accurate on target rifle that is relatively light in weight with a large enough caliber that will be easy to load while getting exhausted trampling the course on snowshoes. The alternative choice is a small caliber, squirrel rifle using a loading block to ease the loading process. I'm not sure what rifles are allowed by the competition rules. To that end, as a new to primitive biathlons, I would look for a used Lyman Great Plains rifle in 54 caliber or a CVA Big Bore Mountain rifle in 54 caliber. Since the scoring is done by number of hits, a 36 caliber Traditions squirrel rifle would work too. I would avoid any of the smooth bored trade guns as the accuracy would not be competitive. The Traditions might well be acceptable with a good lock tuning. But I sure wouldn't want to overlook the used rifle market.

I found the website for the Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club's Primitive Biathlon. Pretty much any type of Traditional muzzleloader (rifled and smooth bored) and some non-traditional categories can compete.
https://www.lvfgc.com/muzzle
So, get the muzzleloader you want and get ready to compete next year.

 

[Colonialnerd]

OP.

You'll buy a $6,000.00 custom flintlock long rifle and you'll like it.

And if you don't enjoy your flintlock experience, you can sell your 6K rifle for 4K.

You'll only be out 2K, but you'll have bought what other people think you need and that's what's important.

Now get out there and sell your car, put your daughter on the street and start saving for that custom flintlock you never wanted.

Holy manure dude! You’re hilarious! Hahaha

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

OP.

You'll buy a $6,000.00 custom flintlock long rifle and you'll like it.

And if you don't enjoy your flintlock experience, you can sell your 6K rifle for 4K.

You'll only be out 2K, but you'll have bought what other people think you need and that's what's important.

Now get out there and sell your car, put your daughter on the street and start saving for that custom flintlock you never wanted.

I started out with a TC. First shoot I went to I saw how awful that gun was. So, I learned how to make them and did it professionally for a good portion of my life. You can get into a good hand made used flint rifle for about $1500 these days. If you save your money you'll have a good start.

 

[64Springer]

The Traditions will be a fine starting rifle, you can always upgrade once you get hooked. I would suggest a percussion over the Flintlock on the Traditions, but seeing how caps are hard to come by, a flintlock is a good choice.

How many tens of thousands of people got their feet wet with a Traditions Kentuckyish rifle?

It would be a fantastic starting point for the OP.

With him being a total Noob, I'd point him toward the percussion version. But a flintlock would be fine too. If he had the real desire to dig deep and figure it all out.

Only he can answer that question. And he can answer it for less than 500 bucks. Muzzle-Loaders.com has .45 and .50 in stock.



I'd buy that .45 flinter today, but I'm worn out looking at wood rasps and sandpaper right now. I should buy it for a future project.