cant seem to find a *&^% Flintlock

[LtGeorge]

Hey yall,
Ive been lurking and not joining for a while trying to decide what kind of black powder weapon I wanted to purchase. Ive been fascinated with them from a young age and after filling my safe with a bunch of modern guns, I want to go back to what I consider the basics.

Ive scoured the internet and all the gun shops and most of the pawn shops in SC and seem to only find percussion cap rifles, no one has any flints.

Wheres a recommended places to find good used rifles? Im not really picky on what I get as long as its flint and shoots strait, I would prefer something in a .50 or .54. Right now im hunting in SC so I get the shorter shots presented to me, but I PCS in a couple of months to NM so I figure ill prolly need something that can shoot around 100yrds??

Im not looking, nor can I spend a fortune but any help or direction is greatly appreciated!

Josh

 

[yakimaman]

Have you looked at the flint Lyman Great Plains rifle?

 

[rf50cal]

Try "Track of the Wolf" or watch the classifieds on this site

 

[LtGeorge]

Thanks for the info!
Ive been checking around for a while and seen some but just nothing that I can afford. Im gonna get burned for this but bring it, I would like something a little on the inexpensive side for my first rifle while I get into the sport, then after my move and hopeful promotion get a nicer custom built rifle and pass the other off to a young gun just starting out

 

[lewinskics]

You could do what I did when I started looking for my first flinter. I became a member of our state's muzzleloading association, and reached out to the membership chair, asking if he knew of anyone who might have a flintlock rifle for sale. Within 2 days, I had a name and a phone number, and three days after that, I was the proud owner of a like-new Lyman Great Plains flintlock in .54. I saved a fair chunk of change buying it used, and made a new acquaintance in the process. Check out your local club- might be surprised what you find.

 

[LtGeorge]

Thats awesome! ill have to check into that, I was kinda hoping there might be someone on the forum that was upgrading as well, im just trying to cover all my bases and find one as soon as I can

 

[SgtSchutzen]

Around here percussion guns outnumber flintlocks by about 100 to 1 at the gunshops I go in. Since I`ve been looking I can remember seeing a total of 3 used flintlocks in the racks. In my area if a guy wants a flintlock your either going to be buying it off pictures on the internet or from a muzzleloading specific type of gunshow. We`ve got a couple of good shows a year around hear where most of the vendors and folks are dressed in period garb and stuff. Lots of guns there.

 

[Billnpatti]

You might check with these folks:
www.sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com

 

[Spikebuck]

Ive been checking around for a while and seen some but just nothing that I can afford. I would like something a little on the inexpensive side

Do you mind giving us a price range you are looking for?

Someone mentioned the Lyman Great Plains, which can be had for $500 or so new. Midsouth Shooters Supply is showing the kit in Flint for $420. You might find it for even less shopping the internet. A little elbow grease and you'd have a new flint rifle. That's pretty low cost. And don't forget you will need a few accessories to start out.

 

[Many Klatch]

You might check out Smoke and Fire News. http://www.smoke-fire.com/ They list all local events in the US and a lot of gun builders and companies that sell flinters advertise in there as well. That could be handy if you move around a lot.

Many Klatch

 

[MSW]

i'll throw in my two cents worth and agree that you do a lot worse thana Lyman GPR in .54 ... keep an eye on the classified section on this site (i wouldn't hesitate to buy angun from any member of this forum - no guarantee, just my opinion)

if you have the time and inclination, a kit will save you money, but only if you'll end up building more than one (ayup - he'll end up building more than one) ... also be careful that you don't have six hundred dollars worth of parts turning into a rifle worth two hundred bucks ... the GPR is a good way to avoid this.

by way of warning, (and to paraphrase the little green Jedi): once rocks banged have you, forever will they dominate your trigget time.

good luck, and make good smoke!

 

[LtGeorge]

Thanks all!! im still looking hard
My range right now is between 2-3 no more than 4 like I said this will simply be my first flint and im already pretty sure in the future I will have a custom made rifle, once I get re settled and such

 

[F.G. Ford]

The only reasonable traditional flintlock that you will find will be a Lyman GPR .54
Just about everything else is heartache and junk.
And most of all will discourage you from a great pastime.
Be careful of a "pawn shop" deal the barrel most often is ruined from poor attention.
A new Lyman barrel is about $350.
If that happens.......not much of a deal there.
Fred

 

[LtGeorge]

Very true very true,

What caliber would everyone recommend? I hunt deer and feral pigs mostly but will be hunting possibly bigger animals in NM

 

[jdkerstetter]

The Lyman GPR can only be had in .50 and .54 and I recommend the .54, hands down. Enjoy, J.D.

 

[LtGeorge]

Checking on a .50 GPR with everything needed to start shooting BP, looking into that and trying to find one at another shop. I really appreciate all the help. Hopefully soon I'll go from asking about rifles to talking about them

 

[George T.]

You can sure do worse than the GPR. Mine is a cap lock but the over all look is pleasing and they shoot pretty darn good as well. New there prices are fare but I got mine off of Gun Broker for $300 new in the box a couple of years ago. If they were browned rather than blued would be great! Geo. T.

 

[hobowonkanobe]

Dixie Gun Works carries an 1803 Harpers Ferry flinter in .54. It's $1000, but...

 

[Many Klatch]

If that is a Pedersoli 1803 Harper's Ferry be aware that many of the frizzens for that model need to be re-hardened after very few shots.

Many Klatch

 

[LtGeorge]

Interesting, thanks all!
How hard would it be to strip the blue and brown it?