I Find It Strange

[Runner]

I wanted a flintlock to challenge myself to shoot well with and hunt successfully with. I would have preffered a 54 caliber semi-custom long rifle with a swamped barrel. I bought two Tradition's Deerhunters from Sport's Authority when they sold their inventory during the Wakeman scare. I bought them because they were on the shelf locally so I could go pick them up to see how they handled, and because they were marked down to 50$ each. The one I kept for me has been an enjoyable hunting companion. It was never ment to be anything but an inexpensive way to find out if I like flinters.
Lots of folks with multiple cap guns feel the same way so they want to cheaply convert a gun they already own. As far as period correct goes, that first flinter buck never knew what the rifle looked like. The bullet that hit right where I aimed at 60 yards is a tribute the the fact that it is a fully operational flinter capable of fine accuracy. Nothing else is needed unless your primary purpose is 1790 on back encampments. In that case, the flinter halfstocks are a concession to the numbers needed to make a go of any activity.

The flint GPR is a fine rifle and maybe the best buy in muzzleloading right now. If the Crockett was flint, you could not keep them in stock. The CVA Mountain rifle in flint is a joy to shoot once the bugs are worked out. The TC, and I don't like and refuse to do business with the company, is a fine shooting gun. Every one of the 50 caliber Tradition's Kentucky rifles I have seen were scary accurate, and the ignition was pretty quick. So don't think you have to spend a fortune on your first gun to learn to shoot a flinter.
Maybe the harder question is why doesn't everyone convert all their guns to flint, no matter what they look like?

 

[cable]

When I bought a GPR, it was simply because it was the only factory (ie. inexpensive) model flint-lock available in a lefty version that I could find. With a choice between the GPR or nothing, the perceived authenticity of the design didn't factor in at all.

The fact that the GPR may have some PC issues has not stopped me from having a great deal of fun shooting it.

Sorry, you only THOUGHT you were having fun....it was NOT authentic fun
[just funning of course, authentically funning as i have a wheelock so i can do it right, er was that fanning or ....whatever]

 

[Halftail]

I bought two Tradition's Deerhunters from Sport's Authority when they sold their inventory during the Wakeman scare.

What was the Wakeman Scare?

 

[Swampman]

I believe that's when Randy Wakeman reported that Spanish made guns are not proofed properly, and the price dropped off rather sharply.

I didn't say I thought there was anything wrong with the practice of making percussion guns into flintlocks, I was simply hoping to gain some insight which I did.

Cheap guns are where most of us started. I owned a CVA Kentucky and a T/C Renegade back in the 1970s. My desire to be historically correct pushed me further into the hobby, and I've been having fun ever since.

I have 8 boxes of percussion cap sitting here and I guess I'll try to find a cheap percussion gun to use them on. The Lyman GPR will probably be my choice. They are nice looking.

No harm, no foul.... :surrender:

 

[Fullstock58]

Cheap guns got many of us started, My first one was a spanish fullstock flinter in 45cal, I bought it at a spring shoot at Friendship in the early seventies,used for $25.00 and I paid $2.00 for some metric replacement screws that one of the smiths there made for me. I was 14 at the time. Even though it was a cheapie it shot very well and that cheap rifle started a flame that is still burning bright.

Food for thought on hawken flint guns, Fredrick Remingtons drawing "I took ye fer an injun" shows what appers to be a Hawken in flint.

 

[Leatherbark]

We are all "pretending" anyway. Those fellows with the T.C and GPR flinters can pretend that they were 1800's shooting enthusiasts that actually made their guns look like they do. I'll pretend my Blue Ridge flintlock is something Davy Crockett would pack. At the same time I"ll pretend I'm good looking and smart and a good injun fighter.........................Bob

 

[Trkdriver99]

I think that having "fun" is what it is all about. We are not going to the woods for food to keep our family from starving or at reenactments shooting indians or "bad guys" for real. It is all pretend, albeit expensive pretend (the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys) and I have yet to go the custom gun route although I have a pistol at the gun makers as we speak. We it stops being fun I will quit and find some more fun. :surrender: :yakyak:

Ronnie

 

All of these type discussions end the same way--separate camps apparently unable to see the other's viewpoint. There is nothing wrong with owning a TC Hawken/GPR flintlock, enjoying it, shooting it, and so on. The point being made was that IF someone wants to be historically correct as in living history/reenacting events/hobby [and not everyone does]then such a gun should not be chosen. The "flintlock experience" can certainly be had with the TC/GPR type rifles. But they are out of place in most pre 1840 events. They certainly do not belong in "flintlock era" historic events. It is that simple. IF someone is looking for a flintlock to participate in 18th or early 19th cent events, that person should look elsewhere. The TC/GPR flintlocks were never intended by their makers to fill that niche--they filled a demand for flintlock versions by shooters and hunters. IF you are a shooter/hunter not interested in the historic accuracy of your arm, then the TC/GPR guns are fine shooters and reasonably priced. No, you don't have to be historically inclined to enjoy shooting a flintlock, though many get into it that way. If you are historically inclined, chances are you have done at least a little research [reading]and know what a proper period gun looks like. It ain't rocket science.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

There ya go Mike. It's all in how you see your level of involvement in the sport.

 

[Mike Brooks]

All of this over "Hawkins" rifles? :rotf: :surrender:

 

[DanChamberlain]

"And the sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside!"

Dan

 

[wildeagle]

Mike, I noticed a John Brooks listed in Harrisburg tax records about 1815 ( gunsmith ). Just curious if it might be part ot your bloodline??

 

[Mike Brooks]

Mike, I noticed a John Brooks listed in Harrisburg tax records about 1815 ( gunsmith ). Just curious if it might be part ot your bloodline??

I don't know. Nobody has ever researched my Dad's side of the Family.

 

[Seafarer12]

"...I find it strange..."


There is something strange all right.

It is strange that certain posters never make proactive positive contributions.

It is strange that certain poster's contributions can only be measured in degrees of negativity.

It is strange that certain posters attack other's choices;

It is strange that certain posters put down forms of muzzleloaders unless it's their chosen type;

Yeah...It is strange all right.



Trolls.... :shake: :shake: :shake:

So how is what I said negative?

 

[Rebel]

I think you were just the poster before him and not the one he was refering to.

 

[Jumpshot]

So how is what I said negative?

I think he was responding to Mark Lewis' question. He just clicked on the last post in the thread (which happened to be yours) to make his reply. The tip-off should have been that the line he quoted wasn't from your post.

 

[Old Charlie]

OK on this PC stuff. If you are shooting a flintlock, you are using the technology of the time. The GPR flintlock don't look like one that someone made one hundred and fifty years ago. So what? Almost none of the so called custom guns are exact copies either. So guess what they are not PC . I think most of this PC stuff is just to sell guns , guns that are no more PC than that GPR. I think if you are shooting flint you are in the spirit of the old days and that should be good enough.
Old Charlie

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Now that is just plain wrong headed, Charlie!!!

 

[cowpoke1955]

AMEN :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

 

[Seafarer12]

What a novel concept.