Help from Flintlock hunting experts

[malfakir]

Hello everyone,

I could use your expert and amazing knowledge again. I decided after 25 years of hunting inlines, to move to a Flintlock. I knew very little about them, so I went to Cabelas and bought a Perdersoli Hawken. I tried it for one season and I hated it. Main reason is that despite the short barrel, it was super tip heavy (I will skip the ignition problems, probably user error). I sold it. My wife owns an old TC Hawken passed down to her by her great uncle, and it looks and feels awesome.

So in the market for a flintlock, and I see many folks recommend the GPR. I like the looks, but I have never handled one, and worried about the same thing happening: Buy it online and discover its also very tip heavy and hate it.

Now, muzzleloaders are tip heavy, and I know there is no way around that, but to a reason. My wifes Hawken is very manageable. So what are my options here?

I also know the GPR comes in both 60" and 32" twist barrels, for rounds and conicals. If a GPR is the way to go, what is the recommendation on either (from a hunting perspective). I will admit I am not a purist and will go for accuracy before anything else. I may even entertain buying both barrels and trying out to see which one I like better.

The key question I would like to ask: discounting the cheap "deer hunting" models out there, what other LIGHTWEIGHT QUALITY flintlock rifles out that should I consider for buying. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I have to carry it up a steep mountain in PA during the flintlock season.

 

[BrownBear]

So in the market for a flintlock, and I see many folks recommend the GPR. I like the looks, but I have never handled one, and worried about the same thing happening: Buy it online and discover its also very tip heavy and hate it.

The only sure way to decide if the balance is zackly right for you is to handle one. But I can offer this:

I handled both 50 and 54 cal GPR's before I bought my first, and the difference was notable. The 54 was lighter out front simply because it had less steel out there. I bought the 54.

But a couple of years later my wife bought me a GPR 50 cal kit for Christmas. I was kinda cornered because for my tastes and shooting, there is too much weight out there. Settled the "problem" by greatly slimming the forend on the 50 in the process of the build. Thankfully it was so much of an improvement I think about doing the same to the factory 54, but haven't quite had the time yet.

Short answer- Based on what you've said I bet you'll be happier with the 54 than the 50. And if that's too nose-heavy, you can remove wood up front for more help.

 

[Black Hand]

These rifles have a straight octagon barrel and will always be nose-heavy. That said, a .54 will be lighter than a .50 because the outside profile is the same but the hole is bigger.

You can improve by getting a rifle with a swamped barrel, but then you are into the semi-custom to custom realm. Still, well worth the investment.

 

[tenngun]

I have a .50 in a 7/8 barrel x 42. It’s more then enough medicine to turn deer French and is lighter then my NWG with a 36 inch barrel.

 

[malfakir]

I wish I could find a local place that carries the GPR. I live outside of DC, and our gun shops have long given way to designer food supermarkets.

 

[billraby]

Lightest weight is going to be a swamped octogon to round barrel. I got a fusil-de-chasse with a 44 inch 66 caliber barrel that weighs 6 1/2 pounds and is not muzzle heavy at all. Even an octogon swamped barrel with be a huge improvement if it is a well built gun with a quality lock. But pretty much the only way to get into this sort of thing is with a custom built gun that will cost a few thousand dollars.

 

[tenngun]

If, a big if for many, you are willing to fudge on HC, Track of the Wolf sells both the FDC and NWG and colonial era fowling guns with half round rifled barrels. Personally I like the big locks that were in vogue for such guns.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I suggest you find a club or group of traditional shooters in your area so you can handle and shoot some guns

 

[Vaino]

What's the max amount of dollars you're willing to spend....until this is answered, your inquiry can't be answered w/ an intelligent reply.....Fred

 

[malfakir]

Very good question. I was thinking the same thing. I would say, roughly around $1000. Been browsing "Track of the Wolf" and that may not get me what I am looking for.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

There is as you know the Lyman GPR in .54 with a 1:60 twist rate.

The Lyman Deer Stalker in .54 with a 1:48 twist rate.

Now I would suggest of the three, the GPR in .54

There is also the Cabela's Blue Ridge Hunter, available in .54 with a 1:65 twist.

Unless you wanted something akin to a long rifle, I'd still go with the GPR in .54 (imho)

LD

 

[Sparkitoff]

How traditional do you want to be and what are your goals? If you don't mind shooting conicals for hunting, or a lower power load the RMC Flintlock is well balanced and lighter than most. It is a laminate stock and 1:24" twist though. About $800 retail.

 

[malfakir]

Traditional is not a criteria. Lightweight, accurate, and looks good are the three criteria, in that order.

I do like the Fusil de Chasse (Type-C) on TotW site, but they list no weight information, neither does RMC. I definitely did not imagine getting weight info on flintlocks to be so difficult.

Thanks everyone.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Now, muzzleloaders are tip heavy

I actually like a muzzle heavy gun, but that's me.

A real easy way to balance a Hawken is to shorten the barrel.

 

[Sparkitoff]

Our RMC balances nicely and the scale says 7 pounds 9 ounces.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Let's be honest.....The RMC is really a modern muzzleloader that someone stuck a L&R lock on.

Nice sales pitch though.... :haha:

 

[Sgiles]

Why not search around for a used TC flinter?

 

[malfakir]

Any places you recommend for that other than gun broker? That seems to be the only place I know.

 

[54ball]

I would look strongly at one of Jim Kiblers Colonial Rifles. If you have a desire to put one together.
Long barrel....Yes, but nothing handles like a fine longrifle.
Even the straight barreled Pedersoli and Blue Ridge rifles are good handling guns.....(with some weight up front that hangs on the target)
A well built long rifle makes any Plains/Modern Hawken type gun feel clunky in my opinion.
Too.....
the better quality rifle...the better the parts.

 

[Old Wyatt]

I personally own a gpr flint in .54 cal cant say their all like mine but it was ruff on flints an L&R lock cured that problem I stripped the blueing and rust browned barrel and hardware sharp looking rifle I killed two buckswith it and retired it.
Broken Rod