Need Suggestions and Advice

[Valkyrie]

I am looking to order a TVM Late Lancaster rifle. It will be primarily for deer hunting. Al I can say for sure right now is I want the nickel silver trim and .50 cal.

What would you folks recommend for a barrel length/configuration? I hunt mainly small food plots and cut overs and thick areas so a "shorter barrel" seems appropriate for me but I know this is a relative term.

 

[ZUG]

Just my thought -- ditch the nickle silver trim if you are going to hunt with that rifle -- it will spook the game -- my two cents worth :v .

 

[nwtradegun]

36 inch barrel and iron furniture. go with a round ball twist.

 

[don hepler]

Swamped barrel, for hunting. A .54 will be a little lighter. 38", swamped, big bore.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I'd go with a swamped barrel in .54 (instead of .50) 37" like the Colerain Edward Marshall barrel, OR the 38" swamped Colerain Isaac Haines barrel..., also in .54. They are available in .50 but I like .54 especially in brushy situations. Either caliber in those barrels will also give you the ability reach out to 100 yards if you wish.

LD

 

[lowcsp]

Just from what I have learned building and selling these guns is the silver hardware is hard to resale if you ever want to. But a swamped .50 cal barrel would be great for your type of hunting.

 

[Valkyrie]

Just from what I have learned building and selling these guns is the silver hardware is hard to resale if you ever want to. But a swamped .50 cal barrel would be great for your type of hunting.

I don't plan on ever selling it but just not a fan of brass.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

A swamped bbl is the way to go. After having done my share of carrying straight bbl. guns hunting my .54 c weight flintlock is the first choice. A b weight .50 cal. bbl. would carry very well if that is important to you. How much walking you plan on doing? 38 ins. is a good length. Dan.

 

[Black Hand]

Just from what I have learned building and selling these guns is the silver hardware is hard to resale if you ever want to. But a swamped .50 cal barrel would be great for your type of hunting.

I don't plan on ever selling it but just not a fan of brass.

That may be the case now.

It is easy to dull the brass to a warm patina by wiping with a dirty patch. All that said, these rifles don't look correct without the brass hardware. Also, these rifles had longer (40-42 inch) barrels which are not a hindrance, even in thick cover. If you have the option, a barrel in 54 caliber will give you more bang for your buck (literally).

 

[hanshi]

My Late Lancaster has GS hardware, a .36" straight barrel and is .45. It's my most used deer rifle and is a joy to tote, shoot and hunt with (a flintlock, of course). While I like 38" swamped barrels my TVM L.L. is my favorite. The GS dulls same as brass will and presents no problem. All my many deer kills with that little .45 were ALL one shot kills. A Lancaster in .50 will see you through the deer seasons to come and can be passed down as an heirloom.

 

[Valkyrie]

Just from what I have learned building and selling these guns is the silver hardware is hard to resale if you ever want to. But a swamped .50 cal barrel would be great for your type of hunting.

I don't plan on ever selling it but just not a fan of brass.

That may be the case now.

It is easy to dull the brass to a warm patina by wiping with a dirty patch. All that said, these rifles don't look correct without the brass hardware. Also, these rifles had longer (40-42 inch) barrels which are not a hindrance, even in thick cover. If you have the option, a barrel in 54 caliber will give you more bang for your buck (literally).

Haven't sold a gun in my 45 years. But it's good to know. As for the barrel and caliber, I just can't decide.

 

[Valkyrie]

My Late Lancaster has GS hardware, a .36" straight barrel and is .45. It's my most used deer rifle and is a joy to tote, shoot and hunt with (a flintlock, of course). While I like 38" swamped barrels my TVM L.L. is my favorite. The GS dulls same as brass will and presents no problem. All my many deer kills with that little .45 were ALL one shot kills. A Lancaster in .50 will see you through the deer seasons to come and can be passed down as an heirloom.

I would assume a 36" .50 barrel will be somewhat lighter than a .45? I like the idea of a longer barrel but I hunt from blinds and tree stands too so something more like your length is interesting to me.

I want to stick with .50 cal for a couple reasons. First my brother also shoots a .50. So we cast a lot of bullets together and I have plenty. I already have two .50 Cala. But he TC Firestorms that shoot really well. I inherited my dads, that's why I have two. So I figure I'll just stay with the .50 though .54 is tempting.

The gun indeed will be an heirloom to pass on. I have many safe queens but my most valuable to me guns are worn and have years of miles on them. I also have found that flintlocks are a great introduction to shooting for anyone. The regimen of loading and mechanism of firing are intriguing and kids just cannot get enough and I have friends who love to shoot now just because I took them to the range with a flintlock rifle.

Also, as a side note, it seems that flintlock deer camp is growing while rifle season deer camp is declining here in PA.

I'm gonna roll the option so around my head for another week and read as much as I can and have it hammered out soon.

 

[don hepler]

Man, if you're in PA, I'd go over to Kempton to Dixon's Muzzleloading shop and try handling a couple rifles. Dixon's is about 15 miles east of the big Cabelas at Hamburg.

 

[Valkyrie]

Man, if you're in PA, I'd go over to Kempton to Dixon's Muzzleloading shop and try handling a couple rifles. Dixon's is about 15 miles east of the big Cabelas at Hamburg.

I'm actually stationed in MD. In the Navy.

 

[excess650]

I have both straight and swamped barrels. my 38" swamped .45 is a joy to carry, and not too long. The 42" x 15/16" .50 is just too muzzle heavy for me to want to carry around in the woods. My .58 is a 32" tapered barrel, and the 28-1/2" .62 is swamped. Both of those are relatively light and a treat in a stand.

I'm in the process of building a 36" x 15/16" .54 in Leman style. A 36" straight .50 x 7/8" should handle as well as this .54.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I too don't care for brass trimmed arms, so in my custom LH build I am going for the aged/patina iron like this amazing York build by Keith Lisle, who posts here as 'Birddog6', see: http://custommuzzleloaders.com/YorkCounty.html

 

[SDSmlf]

Lee molds are around $20 each. I currently shoot (and cast RB for) 36 cal pistol, 45 cal pistol and rifle, 50, 54, 58 and 62 caliber rifle. Also cast conicals in 45, 50 and 54 cal for rifle. Would not limit myself to a specific caliber because my brother and I 'cast a lot of bullets together'. Having to get another mold should be so far down the list when selecting a caliber/gun......

 

[Valkyrie]

Lee molds are around $20 each. I currently shoot (and cast RB for) 36 cal pistol, 45 cal pistol and rifle, 50, 54, 58 and 62 caliber rifle. Also cast conicals in 45, 50 and 54 cal for rifle. Would not limit myself to a specific caliber because my brother and I 'cast a lot of bullets together'. Having to get another mold should be so far down the list when selecting a caliber/gun......

Spent the last evening reading the merits of 45 in a flintlock. I may be convinced.

 

[azmntman]

Thank you for your service :thumbsup:

 

[Don Steele]

I'd be looking HARD at a 54 cal. with a swamped 38" bbl. for a new hunting rifle, if I were in that market.
50's are GREAT. I have 4 of them. I've never taken a shot at either a Deer or Hog that didn't go down immediately. That said though...if I were starting out again, wanting a rifle pretty much dedicated to hunting, I'd go with a .54.
THEN....I'd get a 40 for day-to-day fun at the target range. :hatsoff: