Recommendations for first flinter

[dchawken]

I imagine this is a pretty common question, but I couldn't find it in the last few pages of posts on this board-

I've got 5 percussion guns now, I love BP, and am thinking of getting a flinter. Any recommendations for a starter flintlock? I mean, something reliable and fun, not too expensive, more for plinking than hunting, but sufficient for Whitetail if I wanted to try. Rifle or smoothbore? Pistol or longarm? Cost is a big factor these days, but I could set aside around $250 I guess.

Any thoughts or comments welcome.

PS -
If this has be covered recently, just point me to the thread, don't mean to waste everyone's time. Thanks.

 

[roundball]

I've got 5 percussion guns now, I love BP, and am thinking of getting a flinter. Any recommendations for a starter flintlock? I mean, something reliable and fun, not too expensive, more for plinking than hunting, but sufficient for Whitetail if I wanted to try. Rifle or smoothbore? Pistol or longarm? Cost is a big factor these days, but I could set aside around $250 I guess.
Any thoughts or comments welcome.

Sounds like a replay of my past...I can give you my experience as one reference to consider...I also had a few TC Hawken percussions, so when I switched to Flintlocks it was an easy choice to try a TC Hawken Flintlock.

Have several now, shoot them year round, they're outstanding and all I hunt with now...you can usually pick up a clean used one on auction in the $250 range...and they have a lifetime warranty regardless of original owner...I predict if you get into Flintlocks of any kind, those percussions will start gathering dust...enjoy!
:redthumb:

 

[Bob J]

[/quote]
...I predict if you get into Flintlocks of any kind, those percussions will start gathering dust...enjoy!
:redthumb: [/quote]

My percussions are starting to! Thanks to Roundball, Stumpkiller, Zonie, Rebel and a lot of other good folks here at the 'Forum, I have discovered that flintlocks are FUN :front:

DCHawken - You also might want to look at the Lyman Great Plains Rifles in .50 or .54 - There's one listed on the "Classified" section of this Forum.

 

[cayugad]

I imagine this is a pretty common question, but I couldn't find it in the last few pages of posts on this board-

I've got 5 percussion guns now, I love BP, and am thinking of getting a flinter. Any recommendations for a starter flintlock? I mean, something reliable and fun, not too expensive, more for plinking than hunting, but sufficient for Whitetail if I wanted to try. Rifle or smoothbore? Pistol or longarm? Cost is a big factor these days, but I could set aside around $250 I guess.

Any thoughts or comments welcome.

PS -
If this has be covered recently, just point me to the thread, don't mean to waste everyone's time. Thanks.

Check out the Lyman Trade Rifle. I bought one in .54 caliber. Other then a few minor problems and waiting for some parts for Lyman for the rifle, it is a great shooting excellent sparking rifle.

Before I scare you off, the thimble rib screws fell out. I should have checked them when I first got the rifle and lock tighted them in, but I didn't.

The rifle really is nice. I would also recommend the .54 caliber. It is a great caliber that can handle most anything you need....

 

[tg]

I would opt for the Lyman Great Plains it is a good gun for the money and more authentic than anything else in that price range.

 

[cayugad]

The reason I suggested the Trade Rifle is you can buy it for $242.96 at that site which is under your $250.00 suggested price while the Great Plains Rifle will run you $356.46 which is over $100.00 more then you wanted to invest to get into the flintlock sport. I can understand how when a person only wants to invest a certain amount of money...

If the traditional style flintlock is not all that necessary, Traditions sells a PA Pellet Flintlock (at that same sight) for around $200.00. It has a removable breech plug, can shoot pellets and is supposed to shoot sabots very well, with a 150 grain max ability. The Trade Rifle on the other hand is a little more along the Tradtional looking lines of the rifles...

 

[Will Bison]

I'll give you the same advice I got over 50 years ago.

"Buy a $300 lock and a $30 rifle."

Obviously a slight exaggeration but it drives the point home. Sans a good lock, you have a stick with a pipe attached to it.

 

[tg]

What is the Mid-South Supply current price on a LGP, I got a kit for $218 in 1999 I thought the complete guns were around $280 now.

 

[Rat]

On the other hand, if you can scrape up $250, you can certainly find another $100 by skipping a few movies, the trip to the casino, beers, filling the truck up with gas, or whatever your poisen is...!! (and digging the change out of the couch)

Cayugad, no offense but the pellet flinter sounds like kind of an oxymoron, a modernized flintlock that shoots plastic and pellets...!! Don't steer the man towards the dark side!!

:nono: :shake: :nono: :shake:

Rat

 

[Wart]

I wouldn't be afraid of a Pedersoli ... you may be able to pick a use one up for the price you've mentioned. New out of Cabela's they run around $399. There a good gun for the money.

 

[cayugad]

On the other hand, if you can scrape up $250, you can certainly find another $100 by skipping a few movies, the trip to the casino, beers, filling the truck up with gas, or whatever your poisen is...!! (and digging the change out of the couch)

Cayugad, no offense but the pellet flinter sounds like kind of an oxymoron, a modernized flintlock that shoots plastic and pellets...!! Don't steer the man towards the dark side!!

:nono: :shake: :nono: :shake:

Rat

No offence taken Rat.

Some people although able to scrap up the additional money only want to test the water, not dive in. So they set limits on what they are willing to spend. I am more then able to see their point in that venture. I do the same thing with many items that I purchase.


The Tradition's PA Pellet was an attempt to get more shooters into the flintlock market with an easy way to load and fire an accurate flintlock rifle. They will shoot pellets, but from what I have been told perform best still with good old black powder. They do not look all that traditional to me (for that fact most of my black powder rifles do not look all that period correct), and people that consider them really when making that choice probably care less about being traditional in apperance.

Since they have a 1:48 twist I would guess that they will also shoot roundball, but have rifling cut (from what I have been told) to allow them to shoot sabots accurately. Perhaps this was an attempt to get the market share. I guess the company is trying to give the purchaser options that might cause them to purchase the product. After all, with most companies market share is what the game is about.

The original poster set a dollar limit they wished to stick with, but the desire to shoot a flintlock. Just another option that fell inside their limits. There was no intent on my part to stear them down the dark side, just stating possible options to get them in the sport...

I have actually thought about getting one myself just to play with. I was talking with a fellow who hog hunted with one. He said it was a great hunt and he dispatched a fine hog with a 240 grain XTP hollow point.

 

[jim gray]

The Tradition's PA Pellet was an attempt to get more shooters into the flintlock market with an easy way to load and fire an accurate flintlock rifle.

I bought one for my daughter. It's a great shooter, ignition is reliable, and it is accurate. The only drawback was that the front sight fell off. It took a while (IMOlonger than it should have), but I finally got in touch with someone helpful at Traditions and they sent me a new sight.

My first choice for a first flinter in your price range would be a Lyman Trade Rifle, but the Traditions is a decent gun at a very reasonable price, but having shot both guns, I'd say you'll get more for your money with the Trade Rifle.

 

[Rat]

Ok I give.!!!

Maybe I was looking at it backwards, such a rifle might steer people towards the bright side. ??

Rat

 

[BillinOregon]

I am not a big Wal-Mart fan, but they did get me a Lyman trade rifle, .54 flinter, in about 10 days for $228. That's less than I could have ordered it over the Net.
Hope to shoot it tomorrow.

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

What is the Mid-South Supply current price on a LGP, I got a kit for $218 in 1999 I thought the complete guns were around $280 now.

Midsouth's current price (it goes up every so often) for a flint GPR is $373. They don't currently carry the kit version. Don't know if they will in the future, as they don't show any being 'on order'.

 

[dchawken]

Hey guys-

As usual, thanks for all the great advice. I've already given up Casinos and movies, beer and gas for the truck are non-negotiable. :winking:

Thanks for the hint at the PA Pellet, I didn't even know it existed. I went to the Traditions site and looked it over. It doesn't look like a bad little gun, but with a whopping 150gr. magnum Pyrodex limit and pellet loading, I think it's aimed at a market segment I don't belong to.

I understand the advantages of pellet loading, I just never found them very compelling. And if 100 grains under a 400gr+ conical doesn't provide enough stopping power for your purposes, maybe you should consider a smokeless repeating cartridge gun, or more range time, IMHO.

I've had nothing but good experiences with my 2 TC Renegades, and I'm glad to hear TC made the cut with you all. I've only heard good things about Lyman as well, so it was good to hear they excel in the flint category as well.

I guess it really comes down to the $300 lock and $30 gun observation. As with all ML guns, everything comes down to reliable ignition. A GM barrel on a curly maple stock is just a pretty walking stick if it doesn't go off. I know flinters are more... well, subtle, than percussion guns, so any maker who produces a good combo of lock and breech is going to catch my attention.

It sounds like you all have good opinions of the off-the-shelf sporting sidelock "big 3" - TC, Lyman and Traditions (CVA seeming to have left the market). Anything in particular I should look out for (or avoid)?

Thanks! :hatsoff:

 

[Birddog6]

I don't know much about T/C's or Renegades, but what about putting a flintlock on one of the current rifles you have ? Is that a option & still say ya some bucks ?
Once ya shoot the flintlock a while you won't shoot the percussions anymore so you may as well utilize them ! ha ha !

:thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

I've had nothing but good experiences with my 2 TC Renegades, and I'm glad to hear TC made the cut with you all.

Then you have even another option...since you've already got two Renegades, convert one to a Flintlock...just have to buy a TC lock and a Flint barrel...TC has significantly redesigned their flint lock assemblies and they're now 100% reliable...I've created every TC Hawken Flintlock I have by converting percussions, or by picking up a stock here, a lock there, a barrel here, etc

 

Well, there's another thread about a Traditions flintlock that you might want to read if you're thinking of going with one of their guns. Seems their ideas of vent hole alignment are not consistent with nice, fast ignition, so I would stay away from their guns.

I absolutely love my Lyman GPR flintlock. I also have a Pedersoli pistol that is a really good little gun too, but seems the Pedersoli rifles will break your budget a little. I have not yet owned a T/C flintlock, but do own an old T/C caplock Hawken that has been nothing short of outstanding, and would not hesitate to own a T/C flintlock.

Looks like Midsouth is about $375 for the complete right-hand flint GPR right now. Dixie Gun Works has the Trade Rifle for $317. (Did a quick search on[url] froogle.com[/url].)

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Well, there's another thread about a Traditions flintlock that you might want to read if you're thinking of going with one of their guns. Seems their ideas of vent hole alignment are not consistent with nice, fast ignition, so I would stay away from their guns.
**SNIP**

I wouldn't say to stay away from Traditions flintlocks, but I don't much care for the Pellet PA myself. I have a Traditions Pennsylvania Long Rifle and my lock and vent hole placement are fine. In fact they are the pictures of the one that works in the thread that Static mentioned. You would do yourself a favor by looking at those pictures to see what does and doesn't work with vent hole placement.

The reason I'd say not to judge Traditions by one gun, is that anyone can make a mistake and one gets out that isn't right. HOWEVER, there is no excuse for their customer service people to respond as they did and not recognize the problem.:nono: That might be a reason to stay away. TC has demonstrated many times to the folks on this forum that they stand behind their product in spades. In my opinion, that is a big factor to consider.

Let us know what you decide on.