Pedersoli/Lyman Great Plains Kit

[LSB]

I just purchased one of the new 50 caliber Lyman Great Plains flintlock rifle kit made by Pedersoli. Overall I am fairly please with it. However, there appears to be a couple issues with it. For one, the ramrod is way too short. As shown in the photo below the ramrod does not reach to the end of the barrel and when dropped in the barrel it disappears into it. No problem, I will make a new one. The other issues deal with the touch hole and the pan in the lock holding the priming powder. The touch hole appears to be positioned way too low as shown in the photos below. I have shot percussions for decades but this is my first flintlock so I am not experienced with them but everything I have read says the hole should be situated near the top of the pan containing the priming powder and not near the bottom as this one is. I am assuming it will fire but should I expect a slow ignition? The other issue related to this is the size of the pan. This appears to me to be a small and narrow pan. Do you feel it would be beneficial to enlarge the size of the pan? As long as I am asking for advice, what would your recommendations be in regards to flint size (5/8 or 3/4)? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Nameless Hunter]

Yep. That's way too low. Me, I'd send it back.

 

[rusty]

I think it will be just fine.

 

[azmntman]

I am not an expert but the experts I have heard say the touch hole should be EXACTLY where your is. You will not wanna cover it all all and thus ignition will require much less prime and should be about as fast as a caplock if the things tuned good. Ramrod shows a drinking man on the production line.

 

[duca]

I’d grind the pan wider and a little deeper,
Then you should be good. Just make sure the Frizzen covers it

 

[Nameless Hunter]

Never mind. When I first looked at it, I thought the vent hole was into the edge of the pan (top arrow).
Now I see the vent is above the bottom of the pan (bottom arrow) - you should be OK.
As duca already pointed out, you can also make the pan a little deeper.

 

[longcruise]

Those ramrods are pretty much throw aways anyway.

Just build it out and shoot it. It might be just fine as it is.

 

[DuncNZ]

There is plenty of metal there for you to lower the pan bottom and even widen it a little , although I don't think it needs widening .,Because of a similar situation I ground down the bottom of the pan on one of my Flintlock's during our last lockdown , and quite frankly I was amazed how fast that lock is now . No it wasn't a Pedersoli lock it was a small Queen Ann by Jim Chambers on my .40 JP Beck , not very well made by Narragansett arms co .
The ramrod looks like it is too small to fit the ramrod pipe properly . as longcruise says all you would get is another rod pretty much the same . Make a new one .

 

[SDSmlf]

Touchhole appears to be below the ‘sunset position’ that I was always taught was optimal, but it appears the popular opinion is that it is located just right. Based on that, I am not correct for your rifle as I don’t want to upset anyone. Hope it works out.

 

[frankie]

Those ramrods are pretty much throw aways anyway.

Just build it out and shoot it. It might be just fine as it is.

agree with longcruise. Use a Dremel with a ball carbide bit if you don't have a mill.

 

[SDSmlf]

agree with longcruise. Use a Dremel with a ball carbide bit if you don't have a mill.

I do not disagree with thought of deepening the pan, and missed where longcruise suggested using a Dremal and a ball carbide bit. But if he in fact suggested using a Dremal and the OP goes down that path, suggest finding a source for a replacement lock plate before hand, or at least a precision welder to patch things up.

 

[Jim Evans]

This is all you need to do

 

[dave951]

I'd say touch hole is fine. Just don't cover it with powder. Prime the way Jim Evans shows in his pictures.

Ramrod, disposable. Make what you want. Track has everything you need.

 

[frankie]

I do not disagree with thought of deepening the pan, and missed where longcruise suggested using a Dremal and a ball carbide bit. But if he in fact suggested using a Dremal and the OP goes down that path, suggest finding a source for a replacement lock plate before hand, or at least a precision welder to patch things up.

Longcruise didnt say the part using a Dremel. I threw that in. I just mentioned that if there was no mill to use. I should of stated also to touch everything up using a half round abrasive stone and then dowel and sand paper. Im glad you brought this to my attention for me to clarify.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I picked up a NOS Lyman GP a year or so back, and although the touch hole is about right (Sunset) the pan is very small like yours. It does however shoot fine, IF I REMEMBER TO PICK THE HOLE EVERYTIME. Sorry for the caps they are a reminder to myself. : )

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

Never mind. When I first looked at it, I thought the vent hole was into the edge of the pan (top arrow).
Now I see the vent is above the bottom of the pan (bottom arrow) - you should be OK.
As duca already pointed out, you can also make the pan a little deeper.

View attachment 132884

I have the same thing on a Pedersoli Kentucky. How would you suggest machining it deeper?

 

[LSB]

Those ramrods are pretty much throw aways anyway.

Just build it out and shoot it. It might be just fine as it is.

I plan on at least trying it out before making modifications to the pan. It seems to be a good sparker so maybe everything will work out. The ramrod is a piece of junk. The brass tips are pretty crude and the wood is something I am not familiar with-a dark wood with almost no grain.

 

[LSB]

Touchhole appears to be below the ‘sunset position’ that I was always taught was optimal, but it appears the popular opinion is that it is located just right. Based on that, I am not correct for your rifle as I don’t want to upset anyone. Hope it works out.

Me too. I always have heard the same thing about the sunset position but since I have never owned or fired a flintlock I am concerned. However, I have been studying photos of flintlocks and have seen several with the touch hole in the same place and some of these pictures show "custom" guns. All I can do is finish the rifle and try it out to see how it works.

 

[LSB]

There is plenty of metal there for you to lower the pan bottom and even widen it a little , although I don't think it needs widening .,Because of a similar situation I ground down the bottom of the pan on one of my Flintlock's during our last lockdown , and quite frankly I was amazed how fast that lock is now . No it wasn't a Pedersoli lock it was a small Queen Ann by Jim Chambers on my .40 JP Beck , not very well made by Narragansett arms co .
The ramrod looks like it is too small to fit the ramrod pipe properly . as longcruise says all you would get is another rod pretty much the same . Make a new one .

I plan to shoot it after I finish the rifle and see how it works. If there is a problem, I can remodel the pan. I already have some hickory ramrod blanks from TOW so making a new one shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[LSB]

agree with longcruise. Use a Dremel with a ball carbide bit if you don't have a mill.

Thanks for the advice.