I know I'm gonna catch a lotta "heck" with this post, but this is my experience and if the ol' budget is not big enough to get a custom-made rifle, then maybe this will do ya until you've got more "bucks"!
My first flinter was a new production rifle made by Traditions... a some what shorter "Pennsylvania" type rifle Traditions calls a "Shenandoah".
It has a 33½ inch barrel (1:66 twist) and is very accurate, even using my old eyes with iron sights. At 50 yards, it will put Hornady swagged .50 caliber patched, round balls in elongated "clover-leafs" shot-after-shot using FFFg Swiss or Goex.
I've never had any trouble with the double-set triggers or the flint lock although the spring on the lock is far too strong.
It is a nice looking rifle with a brass patch-box and muzzle cap together with a few other decorative "thingies" in the wood along the barrel.
New they cost around $500, but if you could find a used one, I'd bet you could pick it up for under $300... and maybe somewhat less which would hopefully fit your meager budget (and I surely know what that is!!!).
That's the "good part". Here's the "bad part"...
For some reason, Traditons puts a "Roman nose" stock on this rifle just as they do on their standard "Pennsylvania Long Rifle". Several different experienced black powder shooters tried to shoot my Shenandoah and found the high comb on the stock made it impossible to get one's face "down" on the stock far enough to properly and comfortably aim the iron sighted rifle.
My "solution" was to take a rasp and some sandpaper and lower that "Roman nose" comb down to the point which made the stock decent looking and comfortable to aim and shoot.
It actually didn't take all that much time or effort, but matching the stock's stain and color was a lot more difficult since I didn't remove and refinish the whole rifle, but only that part I sanded down. It would look a lot better if I did the whole rifle, but I was "hot" to shoot it, not sand and refinish it!
The Shenandoah is now a decent looking rifle that shoots very well at the range and it is short enough to comfortably carry easily & well in the woods for deer hunting.
I've read more than a few complaints by others about their Traditions traditional black powder rifles, but I've never had a single problem with mine... other that that crazy "Roman nose" stock. And at $300 or less along with a little work cutting down that high combed stock, you could have a pretty nice flintlock rifle that looks good and shoots real good with it's "Made-in-Spain" barrel.
Oh... one other thing. I think the Traditon's Shenandoah only comes in .50 caliber, but if you're hunting deer only, .50 caliber works just fine. For elk or larger, a .54 or even a .58 would be better.
Ok... that's it. Now I'll get ready to get told I'm "nuts" and that Tradition's rifles are "junk"... but that hasn't been my experience with 'em and I know how you feel about wanting to get into a decent flinter at a "reasonable" price. But the prices for custom-made Long Rifles isn't anything close to a "decent price"... they're lovely and expensive... unfortunately.
Like most of the others, I wanted a custom-made Long Rifle, too... and then I went to Friendship and nothing I saw under $2500 in a custom-made Long Rifle pleased me.
And so, I've had to "make-do" with my Shenandoah, but I'm havin' a bunch-of-fun shooting 500 to 600 rounds a year and watchin' those "clover-leafs" appear in the center of the target's bullseyes at 50 yards when shooting off of the bench-rest!
My only "wish" is that I wish I would have looked around more and found a used one like the one I've recommended to you. Other than that, I'm happy with the Shenandoah, but eventually, I'd love to have a custom-made Long Rifle.
Hope you find one that you like and can afford... :thumbsup:
Strength & Honor... :wink:
Ron T.
