Help with Buying a Traditional Percussion Rifle

[CrackStock]

All you Lyman promoters are right, they are a good gun, but you're forgetting that he said he wants to be able to shoot both balls and conicals. This is where the TC guns would be better, or as was mentioned, the Lyman Trade Rifle I think it was, that has the 1 in 48 twist.

Nothing against T/C, but the Lyman GPR will do both.

Having said that , I would also look at Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading and think about raising my gun budget just a bit.

Or I might go with a GPR or T/C and then use the rest for lots of shooting practice

or use that left over money to build up for the day when I decided to get a flinter!

The best part is that you have lots of good options!

CS

 

[flaming canvas]

Since I didn't see anyone else mention it, for $800 you can get a Lyman Great Plains Rifle and an extra barrel. That would give you their 1:60 (or it may be 1:66, don't remember for sure) for round ball and a 1:32 for conicals.

 

[windwalker_au]

Since I didn't see anyone else mention it, for $800 you can get a Lyman Great Plains Rifle and an extra barrel. That would give you their 1:60 (or it may be 1:66, don't remember for sure) for round ball and a 1:32 for conicals.

+1 on that and he would have money left over.
Bernie :thumbsup:

 

[preston cook]

did you check the classifieds here . i see several that meet you wants all with very reasonable prices. :thumbsup:

 

[tg]

Personaly I would not waste money on a barrel for modern bullets as the PRB will do anything one need do in the world of hunting in America and with traditional projectiles as well.I do not know anyone who has let go of the percieved need for a long bullet for hunting to be dissaspointed

 

[August West]

I agree, except for long range stuff, a big ole round ball works just fine. Chris

 

[hounddog]

Paul54. Tere are a couple of questions that you need to answer for your self. 1 do you plan to hunt with this gun 2 do you plan to shoot a lot of targets and plinking. The answer to these questions should influence your choice...Now my thoughts.. you are left handed, get a left handed gun to start with, if target shooting is your main intrest get a 45 cal they tend to be more auccrate tan a 50 or 54. Note I have seen good shooters and bad shooters in all of the 3 cals mentioned. If you plan to hunt much a 50 or 54 would be a better choice, 45 is adequate but 50 is better and 54 is best. There is no animal in N america that you cannot hunt safely with a 54. that 54 definately has whompibility! Your most important choice and best choise is to use round balls, If you shoot much at all maxi s and sabots will break you. you get more bangs for you buck with RB go round. as for bbl twist rate, a 1 in 48 twist is a good compromise most guns in this twist rate will shoot RB and conical decent. I own about 20 or so ML guns 6 of them are tack drivers every one of the 6 have 1 in 48 twist enough said HU. One more thing decide whether you want a plains style rifle or a kentucy style rifle your choice, My self I am a kentucky man though I do have some plains rifles. What ever you decide have fun. stay in touch there is always someone out here to help you along. yours hounddog

 

[ebiggs1]

Get a brand new left handed Lyman of your choice in 54. Dump the idea of anything but round balls. Use the rest of your money to buy equipment and shooting supplies. Go shoot,a lot of shooting. That is good!

 

[tg]

"I agree, except for long range stuff, a big ole round ball works just fine."

True but usually with primitive traditional sights the practcal range limit is within the effective range of a .50 or larger ball, like with archery "close" is always better and is part of the challenge of stepping back in time to an earlier technology.To me something is lost if I can still shoot out to 200 yds or more using modern sights and bullets with the only difference being the gun loading from the front and being a single shot, but that is just part of an odd desire I have to try and do things as closely as I can to the way it was done in the 18th century, I find it a lot more fun and challenging/satisfying, but I know not everyone has this level of interest in the sport, but I like to mention it so to hopefully light the spark in a few people.

 

[August West]

Sorry, I just got an original printing of "The Muzzleloading Cap Lock Rifle" by Ned Roberts and it kind of has me fired up about shooting some paper patched bullets. I haven't fired anything but round balls in years but I might have to set me up a rifle with a peep, fast twist, shallow rifling and start chunking some slugs. :grin: Chris

 

[tg]

I think it would be nice if someone made the same type of peeps and bullets that were used in the past that would add a lot to the "traditional" aspect of shooting with peeps and bullets.A lot of people like to hunt with conicals and peeps it would be nice if they had something that would provide a traditional experience with period accesories but the performance might not be suitable to the task, depending on what bullest and what guns they were using, probably why no one trys much to find period peeps and bullest now and just go with the modern stuff.

 

[paul54]

Thank you all very much for the advice and ideas. I am leaning towards a Lyman GPR .54 percussion and shooting round balls to start. Later I may get a faster twist barrel.

My computer got hit by a virus. I just got back in the game.

Thanks again for the help!


Paul