Lyman stocks - Trade or Deerstalker

[dave63]

I think I'm going to order one of these rifles. I'd like to get the Trade Rifle, because of the longer barrel. Question is, how radical is the shoulder cutout in the stock. I found a GPR at Gander Mountain, and there is no way I could shoot that thing. The lower part of the stock would make me bleed (I'm big. 6'2" and 285).

Is the trade rifle stock a little less drastic than the GPR?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Rebel]

The stock on the GPR isn't meant to be held into the shoulder like a modern gun, but more out on the arm a little. If you shoot it off the upper arm and not the shoulder, they aren't bad to shoot. The Tredgegun has a slight curve to the buttplate, nothing like the GPR, and the Deerstalker is prety much straight.

 

[2172]

Dave, I have both the GPR and the Deerstalker....the Deerstalker is a pleasure to shoot....at first, I hated its non-traditional appearance...now, I lie to myself and say it is some kind of Jaeger...Hank

 

[hou5ton]

The stock on the GPR isn't meant to be held into the shoulder like a modern gun, but more out on the arm a little. If you shoot it off the upper arm and not the shoulder, they aren't bad to shoot. The Tredgegun has a slight curve to the buttplate, nothing like the GPR, and the Deerstalker is prety much straight.

Not being an experienced BP shooter, but wanting to get started in it, I'm a little confused about your comment. I'm interested in the .54 GPR, but don't understand not holding something this large to your shoulder before setting it off.

 

[Zonie]

When your looking at old guns, or reproductions of old guns, one of the things to notice is the curve of the butt plate.

The guns made in the 1700s usually had a relative flat butt plate kinda like a shotgun has.
In the early 1800s the butt plates began to have more of a cresent shape, and by the 1850s (and later, on sporting arms) they had very deep curves.

These guns with the deep curves cannot be shot comfortably if you hold them at the joint of your shoulder like you would with a modern gun. Just bringing one of these guns to your shoulder, they will gouge your pectorial muscle. If fired from the shoulder, they may cause large bruses and a lot of pain.

These guns were meant to be fired with the butt of the rifle held slightly outside the arm pit towards the elbow, resting on just the upper arm.
When they are fired, the arm takes the recoil and rotates backwards.

No, I don't know why they did this, but the fashion lasted up until the late 1800s. This includes the cartridge guns some of which had brutish recoil like the .45-120 and the.50-140. :shocking: :shocking:

 

[hou5ton]

So, if I want a good deer hunting rifle that is more practical in design, it sounds like I should steer away from the stocks that are cupped out like that. Is that correct, or does one quickly learn how to deal with it??

I am looking for something about .54 caliber, traditional looking.

 

[Rebel]

Personally, i have never had a problem with the shape of the GPR stock. I have owned them in both .50 and .54 cal. and have used heavy hunting loads in them. If you are not comfortable with that shape though, maybe you would be better off with the Trade Rifle or Deer Stalker.

 

[dave63]

I think it's gonna be the Trade Rifle for me.

Thanks for all the help.

Dave

 

[flm_shooter]

One of the things to mention also is the "type" of recoil. My wife can shoot her .50 cal muzzleloader with 80 - 90 grains BP all day long and still be smiling. She can't do 10 shots from my M1A without giving up.

The BP seems to provide a gentler "push" than smokeless? Her impression.