New GPR

[dledinger]

I got my new 50 GPR and joined the flintlock club today. Interestingly enough, we now have all three of the Lymans. I've been quite happy with my Trade Rifle and my wife's Deerstalker.

Some of the comments on the GPRs lately had me worried as I waited anxiously for the FEDEX truck. Particularly concerning the fit and finish and touchhole placement. I was relieved to see that the fit and finish was acceptable, and the touch hole appears to sit where it should in relation to the pan. Phew. I take these guns for what they are: affordable and mass produced. The fit and finish is definitely equal to any off the shelf centerfire gun I might purchase. While I wouldn't tolerate any obvious defects, I still don't expect hand-fitted custom quality. Definitely happy with what I have seen so far.

I am wondering, is there any "must do" modifications or adjustments this rifle needs out of the box? Specifically, I am thinking of the little things like polishing the pan and changing or modifying the touch hole liner....and also more significant things like upgrading the lock or trigger. I can definitely see room for improvement in the trigger, but it might just need some working over and adjustment.

I hope to get out next weekend and it give it a shot. I'm going to try bone stock first and see how it goes. It came fitted with a flint and seems to let out a good shower of sparks.

I just can't wait.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Welcome to the club!
Great gun!
Now to the suggestions.
Go to your local auto supply store and get some valve grinding compound and lap your barrel.
That is using a good cleaning rod with a tight fitting patch.
Put a good amount of the compound on the patch, and give the barrel a good solid 100 strokes with the cleaning rod and patch.
Always a full stroke from muzzle to breech.
Then clean the barrel with varsol, to make sure your touch hole is not full of grinding compound.
The GPR triggers are quite good, but could use some polishing.
You can also polish the pan, and grind it a little deeper. The bottom of the pan to the center of the touch hole should be about 1/8" to about 3/16" of an inch to get good ignition.
The touch hole should be 1/16" to get premium ignition.
Also remember to get the quickest ignition, you should not bank the powder against the touch hole.
A nice even covering of the pan with powder will give instant bang.
I hope this helps. Flintlocks can be easy or finicky if you don't learn right.
When I was much younger I thought flintlocks were too much trouble and preferred cap locks.
Now it makes no difference which I use.
Good fortune with your new friend.
Fred

 

[bpd303]

I would recommend shooting it a lot, to get the feel of her, before making any changes. New guns need to be "broken in". Then decide what you would like to do after analyzing things like trigger pull, patch condition, etc.

 

[AZbpBurner]

I've got a GPR flint & I'd think long & hard before I'd consider wrecking the sharply cut rifling profile with valve grinding compound, or any abrasives. The barrels are really made better than that. Best advice is to thoroughly clean out the bore to remove all traces of the factory coating.
Your bore will wear in nicely on its' own simply by firing it often.

 

[William O.]

A lot of folks recommend the stainless touch hole liner from RMC. The bore of a Lyman barrel often needs some extra polishing in order to get the best accuracy, which can be accomplished by just putting 100 or so shots through it. I highly recommend JB's bore compound too.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I for one would leave valve grinding compounds for salvaging barrels. For new barrels I would recommend just a bore brush and toothpaste. To remove any machining burrs you don't need valve grinding compounds. Even some steel wool or scotch bright will do the job . :idunno:

 

[hthomso]

I own a flint GPR and as far as the bore goes, I fall into the camp of "just shoot it alot" before doing anything. Get used to the gun and its quirks. I did install the RMC liner. Works great.

 

[Eljay]

Yeah, I would put 100 rounds through it before messing with it.

The main thing is to start the process of load development. Once you're comfortable shooting it and can make something resembling a group shoot some groups with different powder loads and see what happens to the accuracy...

 

[jamesthomas]

Dang!, I wish I had a new Flinter!, I liked going to the range an finding out a good load for my rifle, It was a good excuse to go to the range more often than I do now. I would take the advise an just go shoot the rifle, a lot! 200 plus rounds it took for mine to settle down and for me to find out what combination of patch size,type of lube, an roundball size it liked to shoot. The worst thing I would do is use the 0000 steel wool or a piece of green pad to smooth any burrs the rifling MIGHT have, no need at all for the valve grinding compound.

 

[58CAL]

Whatever you do DO NOT get V/G compound anywhere near your new rifle!!!!!!!!!! Just shooting it and cleaning it properly will give you a barrel that will last longer than you will. ALSO don't even think about pyrodex!!!!!!! It leaves a chemical in the pores of the barrel that cant be got out and they destroy the barrel FAST!!!! Ask me how I know this. You can buy real black from powder inc and in ten pound lots its cheaper than the phony stuff anyhow. Enjoy your new rifle it will shoot great and last a very long time. Lots of matches have been won with them right out of the box.

 

[F.G. Ford]

BWLVR
You must be an accomplished machinist/gunsmith!