Help me choose a rifle!

[Bob J]

IF I was to have another rifle built (Mind you, I love the Tennessee .54 and have no legitimate excuse :shake: :grin: ) it would probably be something that is:
1. flintlock, of course!!
2. shorter barrel for thick woods/tree stands
3. heavy caliber for bear, hog, elk
4. and stock profile suitable for heavier
recoil of, say, .58 or .62 caliber

Three rifles come to mind:

a. Jaeger, American - style
b. British sporting fullstock 1750 -1780 era
c. British gentleman's halfstock,late flint
era

Which would be best? Most comfortable shooting roundball and 100 -120 grain charges?

Which style really "holds" well for offhand shooting?

 

[tg]

I did not see one there that tickled my fancy, I would go for a .58 or .62 in maybe an early Virginia with a 42" rilfled barrel if I were going for some longer range shooting, I have never found the long barrels to be an issue in a tree crotch or in the bush, probably a clone of the smoothrifle I have but with rifleing for addded range..if I could see well enough for the long shots.

 

[shortstring]

I vote for the late English half stock. They fit like a glove. They handle like a squirrel rifle, even in larger calibers. And sweet to the eye.

Paul

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'd go with the "gentleman's sporting rifle if you want a handy short barrel. The Jägers are short but heavy; but then that weight takes up some of the recoil.

American style Jäger? Like those from the early Moravian Bethlehem/Nazareth Christian Spring product? Have an image of one in mind? :wink:

A hunting rifle should kick. If it's heavy enough not to it's no fun to lug around. For tree-stands it doesn't matter.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Having made and owned my Fruwirth style jeager for twelve years and having shot heavy .54 loads and heavy .60 loads, and heavy .62 smoothie loads in it (three different barrels), I must recommend the jeager. It is the sweetest pointing gonne I ever owned. It also delivers the recoil so that it is the least punishing it can be. The early Germanic lock from Chambers is so reliabe and fast I would have no other on the jeager.
volatpluvia

 

[MikeChapin]

Probably because I live in the Rockies, I went with a fullstock flint Hawken when I decided to build a larger bore rifle. It's a .58 with a 36" by 1" GM barrel. It weighs 10.5 lbs and is no problem with 90 grains of 3F. My older .58 would punch all the way through an elk's chest at 70 yards with 90 grains of 3F.

It's the bottom rifle on the rack.

 

[Bob J]

Having made and owned my Fruwirth style jeager for twelve years and having shot heavy .54 loads and heavy .60 loads, and heavy .62 smoothie loads in it (three different barrels), I must recommend the jeager. It is the sweetest pointing gonne I ever owned. It also delivers the recoil so that it is the least punishing it can be. The early Germanic lock from Chambers is so reliabe and fast I would have no other on the jeager.
volatpluvia

Sure would like to see some photos

Anyone see the halfstock "English Gentleman's Rifle" on Track of the Wolf, page 2 or 3?

 

[Allan Gray]

All of the criteria you've mentioned says JAEGER! :thumbsup: I'd go with .62 cal,(own one myself). They do shoulder quickly and the recoil is not as bad as you'd think.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Dixie Flinter,
Okay, These don't show as much detail as I would lik but they will give you the stock lines.

volatpluvia

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I bought a .54 English sporting rifle from a freind last year and it is great carring or stand hunting. The wide butt will spread whatever load you would use. 90 grs. 2ff .530 ball with pillow tick is the current load and it doesn't kick much at all. More like a big push. It has a Getz 31 inch swamped barrel. I like it but pick what suits your fancy!

 

[tsmgguy]

I have been extremely pleased with my Rifle Shoppe Baker Rifle. In .62, it meets all of your listed criteria.

It wasn't cheap, and I had to wait for it for a while, but the quality of it is just amazing. Jess can really build a rifle.

All of the original proofs and marks are present.

I find the rifle to be extremely handy. It's a natural pointer and very accurate.

I ordered two upgrades with it: an English walnut stock, and browned barrel.

After a year or so, I ordered the matching sword bayonet, which only just arrived. It, too, has all marks, including "OSBORNE & GUNBY", and the broad arrow. Quality is again wonderful. The blade rings when you tap it.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I've got a .62 caliber Jaeger that is a lovely rifle to shoot and carry. It's a Wender type or swivel breech with 24" swamped barrels. Recoil is not an issue and it is very accurate.

 

[Bob J]

Volatpluvia and Mike 2005, thanks for posting the photos :thumbsup: Not really leaning towards Hawkens, as the narrow buttplate is very similar to the southern rifles. But there's definitely a lot of Jaeger fans here! :hmm: and thank you to everyone who has replied....what a great place The Muzzleloading Forum is :hatsoff:

 

[tsmgguy]

Photos of my LH Baker rifle. Note that the butt plate is well rounded. I find the rifle to be comfortable to shoot.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/tsmgguy_photos/Baker9.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/tsmgguy_photos/Baker8.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/tsmgguy_photos/Baker7.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/tsmgguy_photos/Baker5.jpg