OK, Who Makes Good, Inexpensive Rifles?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I'd like another percussion, .50 cal.

I would absolutely adore the CVA Bobcat I have now, except I hate plastic. In fact, got rid of a plastic pistol to buy it and everything I needed to start.

It's a good all-weather gun, but it looks... well, kinda' cheap. Shoots nice though, better than I can see, though I hopefully have sights on the way that will help out there.

I keep finding Lyman, T/C (which uses coil springs as far as I can tell), etc.

I just want a plain old, wooden stocked, rifle with a single trigger. I have a rifle with a set trigger. It's a target .22. It's good for what it does, but the way these blackpowder rifles handle for me, I'd have no need for a double trigger and honestly don't like the looks.

Again, just a plain wood stocked rifle, 24" to 28" barrel, single trigger, primitive sights. Not expensive, and prefer a drum bolster with a screw.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Josh

 

[Lonegun1894]

You never say what you consider cheap, but the Lyman Trade Rifle is about as close as I can think of, and better quality than a CVA or Traditions for not much more money. I have both a CVA St. Louis Hawken and a Lyman GPR, and prefer the GPR by a long shot. The CVA shoots just as well as the Lyman, but the GPR feels much better to me.

 

[Josh Smith]

Well Sir, that's because I honestly don't know.

I was looking through Cabela's last night. I remember when you could get sidelocks with wood for a under $200. You can still get the rifles alright - but they're those inline deals. Not real muzzleloaders.

I've been looking real hard at the Lyman, but to give you an idea of what kind of money I tend to spend for good rifles, well, I have an SKS that is bulletproof and my highest dollar rifle is my .22 heavy barrel Savage which ran a shade over $400 without 'scope, bipod, etc.

In other words, I look for deals. I expect any firearm that I carry to be inexpensive due to possible abuse it may suffer in the field (by "abuse" I mean unavoidable dings and dents) and pretty tough.

I care for my firearms properly, but if it's going to break easily, I don't want it.

That also means the less complex the better - which further means no double set triggers and the like.

The Lyman is indeed looking like what I'll go with though. Just wish there was a bit larger selection.

Thanks!

Josh

 

[Josh Smith]

You know, I'm sitting here looking at Midway USA's selection of kits (there used to be a lot more).

I'm thinking that I've always wanted to brown a barrel, and that I've always wanted to use linseed oil to finish a stock over a number of weeks.

They're old time methods I learned from an old gunsmith, but never really had the opportunity to try it on anything but scrap...

I might just build this next one.

Question though: Let's say I build a rifle. I'm supposing that, with blackpowder arms, I could legally purchase and fit a smoothbore barrel for it as well?

Thanks,

Josh

 

[Lonegun1894]

I know what you mean about the prices. I paid just over $150 for my CVA, um , a few years ago. Saw a Traditions Woodsman (close, almost identical) go for $400 the other day. I couldn't believe it sold for that price. If you're not in too much of a hurry, you might watch the classifieds here and eventually, someone will be selling something you want and much cheaper than new--if you dont mind a used gun. Often times, you can get more gun for your monay that way, but may have to wait for it for some time. Were talking Lyman's and TCs in the $200ish range at times. May be worth a bit of a wait. Either way, best of luck to you.

 

[Lonegun1894]

Assuming you're in the US, perfectly legal to have smooth and rifled barrels. Also, unless your state says otherwise, there are no caliber or barrel length restrictions like there are with modern firearms, but most of us go with things much longer than required by law anyway. The GPR I mentioned is a .54 Flint lock, and I also have a Green Mountain .54 smooth bore barrel for it. That way I'm covered on both sides of that. It doesnt handle as quickly as a shotgun, but i personally like it. In case you haven't figured it out yet, this is an addictive hobby/obsession, but most of the people here will tell you it's worth it.

 

[Birddog6]

Josh.. that is like asking for a Good Inexpensive Woman... :youcrazy: :idunno:

No such thing........... A good one will cost you, one way or another....... :wink:

Buy a used rifle out of the Classifieds on this site & refinish it. Same thing as buying a GPR kit only at 1/2 the price.

Keith Lisle

 

[shootemup]

Other than the drum bolster, you were pretty much describing a T/C New Englander (single trigger, 26" barrel, wood stock, optional smoothbore barrel). These can usually be found in the $200 or less range for a clean used one.

If you have decided to put together a kit, I agree with the Lyman Trade rifle from Midsouth for about $364.

Lots of fun ahead for you, good luck with it.

:hatsoff:
Spot

 

[Josh Smith]

Thanks all!

It is indeed very addictive - moreso than I bargained for, maybe.

I got my CVA for $60 just a few weeks ago. The stuff to start (boolits, balls, powder, caps, etc) ran way more than the rifle.

Still, it's a good gun with the exception of the stock.

I can wait while I learn on it. By the time I'm beyond beginner (I feel I've moved beyond novice), I'll be ready for a real gun - you know, wood and metal.

Thanks again!

Josh

 

[2172]

Josh, I find the rifles you describe at anywhere from $75 to $125 at local pawn shops...they're priced at double that, of course, but I've never yet found one I couldn't bargain down. The bbl's will have some internal rust, from poor cleaning, but a couple of hours work will clear out most of that. Hank

 

[Pete Gaimari]

How about this? I thought about buying it myself.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/5346

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Check the traditions web site for their specials, every few months or weeks.

The web auctions often have the Bobcats and frontier rifles for $100 to $200.

 

[BrownBear]

I recently picked up a used TC New Englander 54 cal for $150, and the guy threw in 5 boxes of assorted TC and Buffalo conicals (less the three shots he had fired), two unopened boxes of Hornady RBs and two packs of prelube patches. Then he went into another room and came back with 4 tins of caps, two unopened cans of Pyrodex RS and one of Triple 7 with, you guessed it, three shots out of it.

I figure I paid $150 for about $200 worth of components and the guy threw in the rifle for free. :grin:

 

[roboskittle]

You could always check ebay for a wooden stock to swap all your parts from your bobcat over to. Than sell the bobcat stock on ebay and recoupe some of your money. Or even post it on here. If you were anywhere near me you could find what I consider to be cheap T/C renegades or Hawkens or any of the CVAs or traditions rifles.

The T/Cs go anywhere from 75 to 300 dollars in really good condition. I purchased my Renegade in 50 cal for a whopping 25 cash from my ex brother in law. She isnt the prettiest gun in the world but I use it to hunt with so it goes through some abuse out in the field and holds up just fine. She will stuff the freezer full of goodies too.
I purchased a T/C Hawken for my father for christmas last year for 100 dollars and it was like new with the original manual.

Also last year I picked up a Bobcat and a CVA Kentucky Rifle for 120 bucks for both. I turned around and sold the Bobcat for 100 and I am still playing around with the Kentucky Rifle making it into a pistol. (Stock was badly cracked) These types of guns can be had for 50-200 in my area.

Goodluck on your search you will find something nice.

 

[BadHeart]

my first ML was the CVA bobcat. bought it at walmart is tx brand new off the shelf for $55.00. Then everything to shoot is was double what the rifle cost me. It had a plastic stock on it. Kicked like a mule. found a place on line that had wooden stocks for them, made a world of difference for the good. Also have the CVA Hawkin and the Traditions Penn, Perersolli Kentucky,and i lost count of the others, but picked up a GPR on a trade blanket at a voo for $125.00, Looked really rough but dropped a bore light down the barrel and it looked brand new. it shoots good enough to cut a card at 20 yards and hit a hanging chain at 40 yards. it has since became my goto gun for hunting. if you wait you will find what you are looking for or wanting. by the way the old CVA bobcat was the beginning to my black powder downfall.welcome to your new obsesion. enjoy.

 

[Mattole]

Josh, I am another one who recommends being patient and looking for a good used muzzleloader. There are the classifieds here and on other forums to explore, as well as gunbroker, auctionarms, gunsamerica, and other online gun sale and auction sites. There are some great deals out there on guns that have been well cared for. Of course there is poop out there as well, you just have to be discerning.

If you do buy used be sure to make a deal that includes an evaluation period so you can inspect the bore and check for any bulges in the barrel (caused by the gun being fired with a ball that is not seated at the bottom of the barrel). If something doesn't check out, send it back to the owner.

Good luck, have fun..

 

[hanshi]

To think now, I paid $120 for a new Traditions DeerHunter at Kmart about 19 years ago. I still have it. It's always been a great shooter and has taken more than it's share of deer. I don't necessarily recommend nor do I not recommend a Traditions except to say that barring an abused gun, most imports do provide long years of good service...in caplock, that is.

 

[Walks with fire]

Lyman Deerstalker is what comes to my mind; 24" barrel. Not sure if they come in cap or just flint. They are 1/48 twist.

 

[Pete Gaimari]

They come in both cap and flint. Also LH if you need it.

 

[Josh Smith]

Thanks all!

I think I'll take the "be patient" road, though I'm not good at it.

Need to get employed too, instead of going off my savings. Medical field; people are always needing help there, so shouldn't be real long. Dump some money into more training and I'll easily afford the lower end domestic guns.

I guess I'm very disappointed that all the sidelocks I'd see for cheap are now inlines.

I only know one other person here who hunts with a sidelock and balls. That would be my cousin, a former Navy SEAL, about 45mins south of me. I was surprised; we'd never really talked weapons before, though.

Gonna make up another powder horn for him, I think. Same grandparents.

Josh