Lyman GPR vs GPH

[newtewsmoke]

what are some other good online stores

Gunbroker has several, various ages and conditions.

 

[Billnpatti]

My personal favorite is a .54 caliber Lyman GPR. A patched round ball at ranges under 100 yards is a real killer. If you are hunting deer, you will not be undergunned. A new GPR comes with two sets of rear sights. One is adjustable and the spare is non-adjustable for those occasions where a non-adjustable sight is required or wanted. The GPR is a really fine gun and you won't be disappointed.

They occasionally come up for sale here on the Forum.

 

[BullRunBear]

Another suggestion to check prices at Midsouth Shooters Supply. I think they are $100 less than the amount you mentioned.

Haven't hunted in a long time but I use a 50 cal. GPR flintlock on targets. It is more than capable of hunting accuracy at 100 yards. (I'm the limiting factor.)

As usual with any firearm, if you can handle several different ML rifles for weight, balance, etc., that will help. Perhaps there is a ML group in your area. Chances are they would be more than happy to help.

Please let us know how things go.

Jeff

 

[OvertheHill]

Try cheaperthandirt.com as well...very competitive prices on lots of stuff...

 

[bullterrier]

Hi
I am in the process of assembling a .54 cap GPR. Fantastic fun and looking good. And I am not really as "handy" as I wish I was!
I am not sure how quick you want the rifle, the assembly takes as much time as you like and the guys and girls here have been really helpful - lots of people have made GPRs here!
They might be a little cheaper than the ready made ones?
I always wanted to do one of these kits when I was little, but British and German law stood in my way. Be great to do with your son or to pass on to him - the sort of thing he would always treasure.

 

[Jamie from Alberta]

Go with a Lyman GPR "kit" in a slow twist .54
This will give you and your Son something to do together in the off season and honestly whats beats spending more time with your kids. :thumbsup:
You can make all your own balls and accoutrements togther as well.
As for round ball, you'd be suprised how accurate and devistating they are!!

 

[ebiggs1]

There are a few issues here which are not completely accurate. First the Lyman GPR is a fine rifle and many find it to be all they want or need. Rather than be considered “an entry level” rifle, it will do anything any of the more costly options will do.
Personally I would not even consider the Hunter model. It does have better choices, namely the TC Hawken. And depending on what style you prefer the TC Hawken may be your very best buy.
Second there is much confusion about ROT and way too much made of it. A gun with 1/48 can shoot RB's with the best of them. But most likely a 1/60 will not shoot conicals as well as it does RB's.
Type of rifling effects the projectile more than ROT.
Another choice would be the TC Seneca which being a smaller lighter rifle. It may be better for a young man to handle considering his condition. He may be able to handle it completely by himself. It is a rare gun and can be pretty expensive but well worth a look.
On a new Lyman, Midsouth is the place to buy it. The TC's are going to be in the used market.

 

[rodwha]

"Be great to do with your son or to pass on to him - the sort of thing he would always treasure. "

Not sure if you're up to that, but he has a point! Means much more than just the rifle dad bought and passed down. Even more so if he helps to build it.

I like the idea of building one myself, but I've found I just don't seem to work with wood very well, and browning/bluing the barrel seems a bit of a challenge. Not to mention I don't have any woodworking tools.

 

[BrownBear]

Gotta say that if you get the fast twist with eye toward shooting conicals, recoil could quickly become a factor. I've launched heavy conicals from 50, 54 and 58 calibers fast enough to flatten the trajectory as I would like for longer shooting. And man.... :shocked2: They come back with as much or more enthusiasm as a heavy load in a modern 12 gauge. If you need to do long shooting past 100 yards, then by all means a conical will pay off in trajectory.

But if your shooting is inside 100 yards, a 50 cal round ball will shoot flat enough and land with plenty of authority for deer while generating a whole lot less recoil. If moose or elk are on the list I'd probably move up to a 54 cal and be happy, while still not generating objectionable recoil. Even my preferred 58 is a near-pussycat with round balls, compared to what it does at the back end with 600 grain conicals.

The round balls are also a lot cheaper to buy, and easier to make if you do your own casting.

Sift through all that, and unless you're doing long range stuff, a GPR is likely dandy. And if moose and elk aren't on the menu, then a 50 cal GPR is dandy.

 

[Little Wattsy]

I came into BP from a purly hunting outlook, tradition was a distant 2nd. In short order the romance of yesteryear caught hold and now makes a big differance too.
I at first desired to emulate the rifle hunting that I knew so well... Long range, heavy hitting connicals were what I thought I wanted.
After much to do I realized that ML, in any sence of traditional hunting, are a 100 yard set up +/- 5 yards or LESS. Round balls will do that too.
So I took the "do it challange" I took my .54 GPR and a home cast RB and shot a buffalo with it. Broke his neck and dropped him dead in his tracks. Never questioned again the leathility of a RB....
Now I enjoy pouring my own and love the simplicity of powder (90 grs of FFG), patch (.015), Ball (.535)....
Its just gits-er-done.

 

[boydusmx]

Don't forget the GPR and GPH can be switched by buying an extra barrel. They are 100% interchangable! 3rd Generation shooter supply is closing out Lymans so cheap I just went ahead and bought a flintlock GPR and Percussion GPH, both lefties in 54 cal. I just completed browning and refinishing the stocks to suit my personal tastes. Midsouth has just the barrel for $231. Great guns and really the only choice if you shoot lefty, unless you build your own.

 

[OvertheHill]

I just happened to go through that exact exercise yesterday. Midsouth Shooters Supply has the Lyman GPR .54 1-in-60 factory new-in-box at $479.13 in stock. Second choice, CheaperThanDirt has it for $517.65. Cheapest prices I found were these two.

 

[Sinner]

Hi, and welcome! I have shot a lyman GPR .54 caplock very successfully with both patched roundball and the lee R.E.A.L. bullet (which will give you the extra knock-down power if needed). The Lyman is a GREAT rifle and you'll be very happy with it.
Have fun!

 

[Okie Hog]

BTW: 3rd Generation Shooters Supply has one Great Plains Hunter Rifle left. Price is $389.

http://store.thirdgenerationshootingsupply.com/browse.cfm/2,4705.html

 

[jeffalight]

Thanks Everyone,

After reading everyone’s comments and suggestions we orders the Layman .54 GPR. (actually my Dad wants to give this to my son for Christmas) As with most things that you really get into, there is not one perfect choice. From what I can tell, if you are going to get into muzzleloading you have to experience shooting patched roundball. Plus, nothing says you can only have one rifle. Given that I am a beginner I will continue to follow the forum asking the occasional question.

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hello Jal,
Now that you have your muzzleloaders on the way.
Be sure to read the various threads on "Black Powder"
With two guns, you will go through a few pounds of powder.
Ordering five pounds from a supplier will save you money.
Fred

 

[Snakebite]

Go with a Lyman GPR "kit" in a slow twist .54
This will give you and your Son something to do together in the off season and honestly whats beats spending more time with your kids. :thumbsup:
You can make all your own balls and accoutrements togther as well.
As for round ball, you'd be suprised how accurate and devistating they are!!

I can't agree more with this post. :hatsoff:

Definitly some good father/son time. I get the impression you want to kind of get back to the way it was, IMO, round ball is the way to go. I know people will disagree, I know there were conical bullets a long time ago, etc., etc. But I don't think you're hampered at all with a round ball, in fact I'd be willing to shoot against anyone with an open sighted 30 30 with my .54 Hawken out to 100m.

Sounds like you have a good kid there, hope you all have fun with what ever you do.
Snakebite

 

[Zonie]

When the GPR arrives, don't forget to clean the bore, remove the nipple and clean out that pocket and the small hole that connects it to the bore.

The GPR comes from the factory with some really tough rust preventative in those areas and if it isn't removed the gun will shoot poorly.

Removing this stuff isn't a matter of running a cleaning patch down the bore either.
A product that destroys grease and oil is needed.
Disk Brake cleaner, acetone, denatured alcohol, MEK and Lacquer thinner will all work.

After the packing grease is removed, don't forget to lightly oil the bore with a good rust preventative like Birchwood Casey Barricade or a similar gun oil.

 

[jeffalight]

Sounds good, thanks for the advice. In addition, I have a DVD on the way that is supposed to cover all aspects of muzzleloading for the beginner. Who knows if it will be any good? My dad has had a muzzleloader for years. He has not shot it much (hopefully we can change that!) but he is real good concerning this type of information.

 

[eaglesnester]

I have the Lymen GPHunter. That rifle has a 1-32 twist not 1-48. It is a bullet shooter more than a RB shooter. I like bullets because I can poke a 450gr Lymen GPHunter slug down the pipe. I like shooting a heavy load. The GPHunter is not a RB shooter but it will shoot them just the same. Keep your charges under 65gr of holy black and you will be good to go with RB. The rifling is very shallow on the hunter and if U shoot a round ball with a heavy charge U will tear the patch when U touch it off and your windage will suffer.