Greetings Grant, from Damascus, Maryland.
So there are two schools of thought on starting out with a muzzleloader and starting with flint…
First school of thought…, get started right away with a “factory” made rifle. You can go used in good to excellent condition, or you can go brand new. Advantages : You normally spend a lot less than a built rifle. You often can get started with it right away, and deer season starts next week where we are. Since it’s a factory gun whether new or used, you won’t feel so bad if you get a ding on the stock. Disadvantages: What’s available can be limited, might not be in stock, and ties up your money in that rifle if you wanted to later get something much more historic or authentic in appearance. I’d say the choices are the Cabela’s Blue Ridge Hunter which is made by Pedersoli from their Frontier Rifle, the Pedersoli Hawken, the Lyman half-stocked rifles such as the Great Plains Rifle, Trade Rifle, and Deerstalker, and used versions of those, and a used Thompson Center flintlock.
Some of the above are available “new” in a kit form, from some place like Dixie Gun Works. All of the fitting of the metal to the wood is done so all you’re doing is sanding the wood , staining, and sealing it. If all you are looking for is something for hunting, this is a pretty good option.
Second school of thought, “buy once ; cry once” rifle. You have a rifle built for you or you buy one already hand built. These tend from what I’ve seen to be at least 50% higher in cost than a new factory rifle, but folks will point out that spending money on the factory rifle only slows you down from buying the rifle that you “really want”. The hand built rifles tend to be much more historic and authentic than the factory rifles.
BOTH styles of rifles are known to be accurate and to slay deer without problems.
I have found with folks starting out that a larger lock tends to be easier to work with. Most buy not all of the factory offered rifles have what I consider a large lock.
Caliber…, OK well the state allows .40 but I’d shy away from that on your first flintlock. There are some special consideration for the .40.
Is recoil a factor, and do you think you might want to go for something like Elk one day with this rifle?
.45 patched round ball will take deer no worries, and is very easy on recoil. .50 and .54 are found more often as some states require a larger caliber than .45 for deer. .54 is often the smallest recommended for elk. All three …, .45, .50, and .54 can use conical bullets to give you more impact on the deer, but that increases kick. You have to also be careful as often .54 rifles, even factory made, are made with barrels meant only for patched round ball. I’ve never had a problem taking deer with a .54 patched round ball, and a lot of guys on this forum do it every year with the .45 patched round ball.
OH and some store clerks will tell you that a conical bullet gives you a faster reload than a patched round ball, which is true, but not fast enough for you to get a second shot on a wounded deer before it moves out of your eyesight.
I hope this helps you decide. Good Luck
LD
