concerns about fit and finish of new Lyman GPR

[Don B]

Greetings, all.

I have just taken delivery of a new Lyman .54 GPR. My only other hands on experience with muzzleloaders was with an Austin&Halleck percussion plains rifle that I owned for a month before I returned it because the drum threads were stripped.

Comparing the Lyman to the A&H, I have some questions/concerns about the Lyman. Both triggers seem heavy, although I have not attempted to adjust them. Is trigger pull force adjustable on the Lyman? And there is a lot of free play in the trigger when set. And the tang is inset ~1/8" deeper than flush with the stock. And the edges of the butt plate are still sharp (sharp enough to snag on my shirt).

Did I get a lemon that needs to be exchanged, or are these "problems" all typical of Lyman's rifles?

As always, thanks for your responses.

Don

 

[AZ-Robert]

I don't think yours is a lemon as far as the fit and finish goes. The ones I have seen and handled are just as you describe, with the possible exception of trigger pull. They might just need some tweaking -- I'm sure the forum's GPR owners will give you hints on how to deal with the trigger pull.

 

[MFP308]

Don check your Lyman manual on page 23 there is a discription of how to adjust your set trigger assembly. Haven't done it myself yet but it looks pretty straight forward.

Mike

 

[Rebel]

Turn the long screw between the trigger clockwise to lighten the trigger pull. Pull the rear trigger till it click into place then the front trigger is set. Don't dry fire it at half cock or you can damage the sear. Leave the hammer all the way down to test the pull.

 

[captgary]

If this is a completed gun and not a kit I would think 1/8 inch is a little much on the tang inset. On my kit it wasnt that low to start with.

 

[BrownBear]

Hey Don,

You'll quickly discover that the small adjustment screw between the two triggers is too short to do anything.

Take it out and go to a good hardware store with all those little bins of single screws, including the metric variety.

I don't remember the thread size on the screw, but try a few nuts on yours to learn which is right. I just pulled mine out and the right length to still give you a couple of turns once the trigger is adjusted is .250 along the threads or .300 overall. I buy ones that are closer to half inch and cut them down, because the next size down in our store is too short.

The little screw behind the set trigger is probably too short too, but I've never dinked with it. All I can tell you is that it falls out of engagement with the flat spring long before I see any change in the trigger.

Hope this helps. If you figure out how to get the plating off that little screw so it will accept bluing or browning, let me know!

 

[DanChamberlain]

What would be the price difference between the Lyman and the Austin? The Lyman is a mass produced muzzleloader and no, the fit and finish isn't up to Austin - H, but then, it does have some very fine features that make the price seem more than reasonable. The neat thing about it, is if you have a little sand paper and some time, you can smooth things out and give it a nicer stock finish in the mean time.

Dan

 

[Don B]

Mike, Rebel, and BrownBear:
Thanks for the advice about tuning the triggers. I should have RTFM before posting.

Captgary and Dan:
It's a finished gun. The prices of the Lyman and A&H are comparable ($450-550). Modifying the stock might be a good option. I wouldn't mind a nicer and lighter finish. I'll have to think hard about how the removed material would affect the lines and feel of the stock. Is there any reason to not shim up the tang to take up at least some of the gap? Would I have to worry about match up with the breech?

Regardless, I'm still not happy about spending $500 and then needing to modify stocks and go find my own screws.

Thanks for all your responses.

Don

 

[Rebel]

$500? Is it too late to return it to Spotsmans Warehouse and get a refund? You can order one from Midsouth for $357 and even with shipping save a lot of money.

 

[MFP308]

Picked mine up at Sportsmans Warehouse here in Tucson for $369.99 plus tax. I got handle to the rifle and compare to a second one. Both looked good but I liked the figuring on the stock on the one I picked up.

Mike

 

[Don B]

Rebel,

I paid $460 (inc tax) for it at Track of the Wolf. I live 30 minutes from them, and I try to buy locally, even if it costs more. I like to support local businesses and appreciate dealing with people face-to-face.

Don

 

[arcticap]

I once drove about 2 hours to Navy Arms in New Jersey for a ML and after I got it home and looked at the terrible barrel/stock fit, I sent it back and got a refund. So I know how you feel.
I'll bet they have more of your model in stock and maybe if you talk to someone and explain the issues, they'll just exchange it for you or else...you're going to blow the whistle on them right here on TMF! :grin:

 

[MFP308]

Don including tax you are only $60.00 over what I paid. If I had a chance buy from a local speciaslty shop I would be more than happy to. I own a small business myself. The convenience and price of Sportsmans was great though.

 

[Birddog6]

Hey ! Box that sucker up & take it right back to Tracks ! They should make good on it & let you pick from several of them they have.


Heck I go further than that for a good milkshake !

:thumbsup: :grin:

 

[Zonie]

With the rear trigger set, the front trigger should be very light to make the lock release.

The rear trigger that cocks the spring is very heavy on all of the GPRs and there is no simple adjustment that can be done that I know of to lighten it.

zonie

 

[Don B]

To their credit, Track of the Wolf is doing what they can to make me happy with my purchase. I'm going back today to look over their stock of Lyman rifles and either convince myself that mine is as good as they get, or return/exchange it. Can't expect more from them than that.

Thanks for you responses.
Don

 

[BrownBear]

Do yourself a favor while pawing through the kits: Try threading the forward tang bolt down into the knurled nut embedded into the lock inletting. My hunting pard and I got kits at the same time (serial numbers 4 digits apart), and there's a problem there in both of them. I managed to strip mine while turning the screw by hand. His wouldn't start either. I had knocked out the knurled nut and bedded in another to accept a new bolt before he discovered the same problem with his. He sent his back to Lyman, but is still waiting word.

Another thing to check: The primitive sights coming with the Lymans are consistently too small- by a whole bunch! May as well go ahead and replace it while you are there.

 

[captaincaveman]

I'm ordering a GPR next week. What size is the rear sight dovetail? Might as well go ahead and order it with the rifle

Josh

 

[playfarmers]

Go to the Lyman products web sight and have a look at the sights. I have the white bead and modern hunting rear on my Deerstalker and liked it so much that I ordered the same set up for my new Trade rifle.

 

[captaincaveman]

thanks but I really just want a fixed buckhorn that wont fall out

Josh