Lyman Deerstalker for beater gun?

[GregC]

Hello...

I have several custom guns including a Caywood, a TVM PA and a TVM Southern. These are very nice guns that I do hunt with. However, there are times like Monday when we push deer through some of the nastiest cover on earth. I find myself walking the paths instead of through this garbage because I don't want to subject my nice guns to undue abuse. If Im hunting on stand or still hunting, my TVMs get the nod. I want something that I can take through the multiflora rose and not worry about it. How is the lyman deerstalker? Looks nice and short but how reliable are they?

Thanks

 

[wvbuckbuster]

My nephew lives there in Pittsburg also and he bought his 2 sons Lyman Deerstalkers last year both of them flint. They are reliable and accurate. His youngest took a big doe this year during our muzzleloader season. His brother who lives here in WV has one that is cap and is just as good. They would do you well. :thumbsup:

 

[Zoar]

I would recommend instead the Lyman Trade rifle in flintlock and 54 caliber. It shoots a patched round ball extremely well. Anything within 60 yards is dead.

it is only a few bucks more than that stalker but in my humble opinion very worth it.

Yet it is cheap enough that it can be a woods gun and you will not cry when you scratch it up.

 

[BrownBear]

Kinda depends on your taste in choosing between the Deerstalker and Trade Rifle, but both are good candidates. My wife would flat kill me if I used her 54 cal Deerstalker as a beater or even called it a beater. It's scary accurate and reliable as can be.

 

[F_Thomas]

I have the Lyman Great Plains and like the fact that I change barrels on it from .54 to .50 and I have a TVM Early Virginia. All of my guns are used for hunting and the use - NOT ABUSE - just adds character to them in my opinion. Whichever Lyman you chose I am sure you will be pleased.

 

[Skylinewatcher]

Hoss, what you need is one of those fancy inline (wirty dord) jobs. Thats what they make those things for anyway. I wouldn't drag my purty wood like the deer stalker through the bush.

 

[nkbj]

2nd thumbs up on the Deer Hunter by Timex. You want an inexpensive light weight brush wading rock knocking ugly stick that always goes bang, man that's it. However, you will want to replace the sights as soon as you look at them (and cringe).
Got mine on a resale new in the box for $100.
Myself I think it would be even better with a little more barrel and smooth instead of rifled but that's for another day.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

I have a Lyman LH FL DeerStalker. And it is a great rifle. It shoots very well. And because of its length and weight it handles very well in the deer woods. Only problem I can see is that I would not call it a "beater". I think it is a really nice rifle. Maybe not as nice as a custom. But I can not see me handling it any different than I would handle a custom rifle. But then a scratch on one of my rifles is a major deal to me. I am highly protective of any of my rifles. But the shorter Deer Stalker would definitely be more handy in those tight areas. Tom.

 

[JelloStorm]

2nd thumbs up on the Deer Hunter by Timex. You want an inexpensive light weight brush wading rock knocking ugly stick that always goes bang, man that's it. However, you will want to replace the sights as soon as you look at them (and cringe).
Got mine on a resale new in the box for $100.
Myself I think it would be even better with a little more barrel and smooth instead of rifled but that's for another day.

I have a Lyman Deerstalker I bought over the summer and it came with the fiber optic sights, which are actually really very nice.

The quality on them are real good and they've never lost zero.

 

[brewyak]

I have the deerstalker, it shoots well and became my backup/beater after getting a custom gun. If I allready had customs and wanted to get a production beater it would be the lyman great plains rifle. it has a 1/66 twist and is available in 50 and 54 cals

 

[MSW]

they have a fine reputation for accuracy and reliability (assuming that their pet human does his or her part). wouldn't hesitate to take one into deep cover.

just one guy's free opinion, and no doubt worth every penny.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I had a '76 Bronco once that had a custom paint job. But I'm a hunter. Yes it hurt to put that first scratch in it while elk hunting, but after that the pain went away.
I use my guns no matter what the weather, or scrub I go through. That's what they are for.
To each his own. :v

 

[Skylinewatcher]

Yep, they're made for hunting. However, some of these Alabama thickets will not only chew your gun up and spit it out, but will keep it as a cud for a while. If I know I'm going to be in these thickets around here, I carry a synthetic non traditional firearm with me. If I HAD to use my good Lymans I would not hesitate, but I dont. I only have one of those new breed guns. I bought it off of a man who was hurting for cash, over paid for it, but it helped him out. The old fellar offered to pay me back and me still keep the gun. He didn't even want it back. I told him that was ok, we had a square deal. Thats all I use that gun for is thicket work. But your right thats what they're made for, just makes me a little sad to scratch one though.

 

[ryoung14]

The Lyman Deerstalker is a nice little rifle and would certainly do the job. You may have second thoughts about letting it become your beater, however. Some have really nice wood.

For a beater, I'd suggest any of TC's plastic stocked New Englanders or their variations. Probably the best is the stainless & plastic Greyhawk...one of the nicest guns to hunt rough stuff I've ever carried. Compact (24" bbl like the Deerstalker), great balance (in .50 anyways), reliable, good accuracy, not heavy, a trigger that gets nicer with use, and absolutely no worries in any conditions. I've got two, I like them so much.

You'll probably have to watch the auction sites to catch one, however. They do appear rather often.

 

[broknaero]

Hoss, what you need is one of those fancy inline (wirty dord) jobs. Thats what they make those things for anyway. I wouldn't drag my purty wood like the deer stalker through the bush.

Our late season Muzzleloader is flintlock only in Pa. Must be flint and steel, no caps or primers.

That said I am looking for a trade rifle in .54 for drives in the thick crap. If you like the shotgun butt of the deerstalker then it will work just as well. Better quality locks and triggers than Traditions beaters and not much more $.

Not sure what terrain your driving down at your end of the state, but here it can be very steep one minute and 200 yards later your knee deep in a Laural swamp. In bear season as a driver I use a handgun,Marlin lever with open sights, or just go unarmed. My long rifles are for casual ridge line still hunts or stand hunting.

Of the short barreled flintlocks I don't think you can beat the deerstalker or the trade rifle. It just boils down to what fits you better. And it beats something with a plastic stock.

 

[shootrj2003]

That's my problem with firearms in general and probably why I have few high dollar rifles or antiques;if I own them they have to shoot and work and work for me,if,I came into possession of an original Hawken,Walker Colt,no matter what it is I have to shoot it and hunt with it ,no matter how pretty or rare it would have to go into the briars,brambles and brakes'! I don't beat em' but they do get ,like me,honest wear marks ,like a horse,they alway's get taken care of first ,by me though.

 

[chazz1975]

What's the barrel twist on the Lyman Deerstalker? Saw a few on clearance a while back at Cabela's (One was even Left-handed, kicking myself for not putting it in layaway). It felt like a really nice-handling rifle. If I ever come across another one of those in lefty flint, it'll be mine whether I can afford it or not.

 

[Blackbruin]

A shame I just sold my lh lyman deerstalker .50 cal flint. rate of twist is 1-48". Used that flinter to help fund my custom being built. Yes with a few tweaks with the lock and hardening frizzen, and a better or upgrading the touch hole liner, they are nice guns for the money, no doubt. As for a beater, carry whatever you wish, some like smaller barrels to get through the thick stuff driving, but I have learned over the years, when its that thick you go slower, and learn to pick through your way without killing yourself.