Need ideas....54 cal Flinter

[Nessmuck56]

I got a hankering for a 54 short 36-38 " barrel flinter. Is there such an animal ??? Never had a 54 and just wondering how you like yours . Please post pics if yah can .. Are they light enough to carry for deer hunting ??? Pics please .Thanks

 

[wayne terry]

If your on a budget the lyman great plains rifle is a good one, if money is no object then there are plenty of gun builders and kit makers out there that will make you anything you want.
You can get a good look at the lyman on their web site.

 

[gunmaker43]

Take a look at the flint English game rifles, also called stalking guns. Or a big plains rifle, Dimick, Leman, Henry....I've been shooting a .54 since 1982, It is a very good and accurate rifle, my first choice for most shots..this is a 62 with a 30" barrel 6.5 lb...Tom

 

[BrownBear]

I'd sure go out of my way to "test" your hankering. I.e., handle some guns rather than looking at pics, if at all possible. Better yet, shoot them. Pipe dream for lots of folks living far from sources, for sure, but worth the trouble if you can manage it.

I'd sure handle a GPR 54 if at all possible as a starting point. Might not be the style you're hankering for, but it will tell you a lot about weight and balance. They come in at around 9#, a little less than the GPR50 and a little less muzzle heft. The point is, that weight isn't bad for carry, and it sure helps absorb recoil with stiffer loads. Nice thing with the GPR, especially a kit, you can slim them down a lot to affect weight and balance to a lesser degree. Even if you can't or won't do all that, the mere act of handling one will give you a frame of reference for further hankering.

 

[Spikebuck]

A Jaeger style would be short barreled (generally shorter than 36"). Pedersoli makes an "off-the-shelf" version. http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/tipologia-prodotti.asp/l_en/idt_35/rifles-jger.html

Or of course you or someone else can build one to your "taste." The one I made has a 31" Rice barrel, though I built it in .62 cal. This is from a Track of the Wolf kit.

If the Jaeger is too short of a barrel (though they can be done in longer barrels) the Isaac Haines generally has a 38" barrel. An example is this kit from Chambers: http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles02.htm I have this kit in .54 sitting in my gun safe in prep for a build next year.

A Hawken is another choice, though there is always debate if a flint Hawken ever existed. And example is this one from Selb: http://www.hawkenrifles.com/fullflint.shtml These are most likely going to come in heavier than a Jaeger or Haines. My Jaeger weighs in at 8 3/4#. I have a percussion Hawken in .54 with a 34" barrel that is a bit over 10#. I'm building a flint Hawken that I think is going to come in around 9.5#, but that is only because it's a .58 in a 1" barrel, though 36" long.

Fun thinking about the possibilities, isn't it? I hope I gave you a few ideas to chew on.

 

[kopfjaeger]

Nice Jaeger rifle

 

[biliff]

I have two "short" .54's, one is an Isaac Haines custom I picked up from the Gun Works in Springfield, Or.. 38" swamped Colerain barrel, doubt if it weighs 8 lbs. (bottom rifle in the picture, top rifle is a .58, 37" swamped Colerain barrel version of TOW's Edward Marshall rifle, about 9 1/2lbs, built by Doc White)


The other "short" .54 is a recently acquired Pedersoli Mortimer. Octagon to round, 36" barrel, 10lbs. Comes with sling swivels.

 

[thecapgunkid]

Can I have this Jaeger iffn you ain't using it?

What a beauty.

 

[AZbpBurner]

If you're looking for lightweight and functional vs a really beautiful and spendy custom rifle, consider the Lyman Deerstalker. I have one in lefthanded flint, .54 cal, and it's definitely light weight with the 25" barrel, nevertheless, performance is better than I had ever imagined it would be. I bust a lot of grapefruit-sized targets at 100 yards with it, so accuracy isn't an issue.

It's a good place to start, so you can be out in the field hunting while waiting for that pricey custom rifle to be built.

 

[BrownBear]

Never had a 54 and just wondering how you like yours .....Are they light enough to carry for deer hunting....

My wife and I both love our 54's, and we have quite a few factory models to choose from, with barrels ranging from around 24" to 39". Weight for carry depends on style, with handling depending on that plus barrel profile.

If I was to build one today, it would be a tossup between a "Virginia" style with a more or less flat buttplate and as light as possible swamped barrel in the 38" range, or an English Sporting rifle with a tapered barrel, probably in the 32-36" range.

Aim would be to come in the door at under 9#, and even better a little less than 8#. Lighter weight is nice, but it has to come with just the right balance for my tastes.

 

[thecapgunkid]

I broke ranks and bought a factory gun, in this case a Pedersoli Jager Hunter, and then customized it. That's in a separate thread and you can see some pics if you like. Although the barrel is kinda meaty, nevertheless is comes up comfortably and will support a hunting load. It is also supported for parts by Dixie Gun Works, which helped sway the decision.

It's maybe a little heavier than I'd like because the barrel is not swamped, but it still balances well enough to be carried in the woods.

If you are going to buy off the web or sight unseen, and forgo buying off the rack, then bang around a little because different vendors will have different pricing and the guns are backed by warranty. Mine cane with a broken frizzen and Pedersoli had one here two days after Dixie delivered in one week. The vendor credited me with the price of the Dixie Frizzen.

We have Dixons in eastern Pa here in the North east, and a road trip to a place like that is ALWAYS worth it over buying on the net, so consider that before you spend.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hello Spikebuck,
Very fine looking Jaeger!
Also thank you for the link to the fine Selb Hawken rifles.
Fred

 

[Crewdawg445]

I +1 what BrownBear has said. I've got a GPR in .54 cal and do love the rifle. Lock leaves allot to be desired, but L&R lock company makes a fantastic replacement that is worth the investment. The rifle definitely is not light, but very well made.

Also, throw in a new touch hole liner by RMC and you'll be set!

 

[tenngun]

Another option is full stock Leman if you want to go latter then jagar style. Many were flintlocks made with stright barrles some what thinner then 'beefier' guns. 15/16 for a .54. To save money Leman even used the same brass ribbed thimbles he used for his NWGs in 3/8 size.

 

[stuartg]

Just finished a 54 Lancaster with a 38" swamped C wt Rice Barrel. She handles great!

 

[larryp]

That is one beautiful rifle! And a lefty to boot!

 

[Grumpa]

You might want to consider the Harpers Ferry 1803 Rifle. It was the first rifle made by a U.S. arsenal for issue to the troops, and is considered by some to be the best looking rifle ever issued.

.54 caliber, 36" octagon to round barrel (browned), walnut half stock, brass buttplate and patchbox, color case hardened lockplate.

Saw use in the War of 1812, and in the western territory. Makes a nice hunting rifle.

There are kits available, and I believe factory finished rifles as well. A google search will show the rifle, and what's available.

As noted above, try to see and handle before you buy anything. I think you will be happy with .54 caliber. Good luck.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

That's a real beauty :bow:

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[rr11]

My brother hunts with a 1803 Harpers Ferry rifle, he kills as many deer as I do with my "custom" rifle. All in all a very nice rifle.