lyman deerstalker Questions

[ol_luke66]

Hey I just ordered one of there this morning and I have a few questions. First, I ordered a 54 cal. It has a 1-48 twist and I plan on shooting round balls. What size balls and what size patch should I use? The girl on the phone said that most people get .530 rb's and that with that I should shoot .010 patches because anything tighter could "blow the gun up." But I've heard that you want snug fit. With my old 50 cal I shot whatever balls with whatever I had for patches and it never blew up I just want to know your thoughts on that.
Also, will this gun shoot alright with conicals? which ones should I try?
One last thing, what do you think of the trigger on these? I'm kinda worried about not having the double trigger.
I was leaning towards a GPR but I didn't really like the feel of the stock but I'd still like to try one someday. I just looks so cool. What do you think of the GPR. :thanks:

 

[Landngroove]

I also have a Lyman Deerstalker, in .54 caliber. I shoot 100 grains of APP FFFG, a .530" Hornady round ball, and a T/C .015" prelubed patch out of mine. Most likely the person who told you that using patches over .010" would make the ML blow up, didn't know what they were talking about. I put a Lyman 57ML receiver sight on mine. I did not like standard rear sight that came with the ML. I would start with a lesser load, say 60 grains of powder, and work my loads up from there, with your new Deerstalker. The Deerstalker does not have a "set" trigger, but the single trigger functions fine. I think you will like this ML.

 

[flm_shooter]

I bought a left-handed one in .50 cal for my wife. She shoots a .490 ball and .015 patching. 50 to 65 grains of 3F kills paper just fine.

Whenever I can sneak it away from her, I modify (butcher) it some more. Mods are more for fun than need. The single trigger was OK out of the box. I went with a double-set trigger since she only shoots targets. I replaced the sights with a fixed set. On order is a buttplate, and she has started eyeballing some inlays. It will never be period correct, but from 10 feet it looks good.

If you do want to replace the trigger, Track's #TR-DST-IA works well. There is an old thread over in the builder's bench somewhere about how I did it wrong the first time. I also replaced the trigger guard with a TOTW part, but don't remember the number. We went with all German Silver parts 'cause she said so.

One benefit of the double-set triggers is dry-firing. She agreed as an experiment to religously practice dry-firing 10 times every single day for a month. Last weekend she went to the range and shot a higher score than ever before. She is now a believer.

 

[walruskid1]

i'm impressed with the rifle and the woman. both are keepers :master:

 

[Protrucker]

Anyone ever seen a Deerstalker that had two barrels? I bought one, from a guy at a gun show, that has a .54 barrel & a 20 ga smoothbore. I've never shot it yet & I can't see any sign that it has ever been shot.

 

[Rebel]

Sounds like a great combo gun. Kinda like the T/C New Englander only in .20ga instead of.12. How much did it cost ya?

 

[Protrucker]

I can't remember for sure. I think it was $175, but I know it was under $200.

 

[Rebel]

Sounds like ya got a great deal on it then. Have fun.

 

[Choctaw]

That is a good deal. Good job.

 

I use the Hornady Great Plains Maxi-Bullet 390 grain
.530 ball with .015 patches with Goex powder
Also I added a Lyman #57 SML Rifle Sight (peep)big improvement!

 

[Wolfbane]

Hi there, I am going to get a Stainless version in .54 calibre, so all this is of great value. My question is, how do the conicals go in these rifles? Hornady make some, but are they the best choice? Or is it simply a matter of preference?