Revolutionary War Semi correct Long Rifle

[RonRC]

When I started this black powder hobby about 2 years ago, we were helping support my son as he changed careers and cash flow was very low. So, my first flintlock was used and cost about $200. My first percussion was about $200. As for what people thought about my Armi San Marco, CVA and other low priced rifles at the time - I couldn't give a flying leap.
There were many more people who took me under wing without a statement about my period incorrect, inexpensive rifles than there were critics. The critics could just go eat dry grits as far as I was concerned (although I really don't wish such a fate on anyone :grin: ).
I lusted after many of the rifles I saw here on the forum, but buying one wasn't in the cards. Now, our son is on his own and I can look at spending a bit more on muzzleloaders, and I have.

Spend what you can, get connected with some local muzzleloaders, and have fun.
Ron

 

[Melnic]

All the suggestions are welcome so far. I did contact Tip Curtis to get an idea on prices and what he had. I also learned here that what I was looking for did not really exist for what I thought was the price range I was initially planning to spend. For now, I may just roam the local gun shows looking for my first Flint and get my feet wet. Then look at getting the custom in the spring.

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Walking the line??? I must be losing my touch, usually I jump over it with both feet. The truth sometimes hurts and is often not popular. I think telling anything less shows total disrespect to someone asking a question. I wish someone would've told me the truth 20 years ago when I started this madness.

To clarify, there's generally nothing wrong with the quality of workmanship with Pedersoli products, although I've seen a lot of newer Brown Bess muskets with soft frizzens and some of their cartridge guns with poor inletting. But they go bang and hit what you are shooting at. If someone just wants to shoot some black powder and attend a rendezvous they will do just fine, but the rifles are not right for the Revolutionary war.

We've all been down that route when money is scarce. I currently do not own a custom gun, I sold the last two to finance a new furnace & air conditioner. But I'm saving for the next one. Personally I think someone is better off to buy a quality piece that will hold it's value, especially if money is tight. Then you have both a tool and an investment. But,I digress as this is not a message board about economics and personal finance.

I will likely hunt this fall with dad's T/C Hawken. It's perfect for black powder season and a quality made firearm. It is however not correct for the 18th century so I would not recommend it for such. I have reread my earlier post and can't find anywhere where I've personally disrespected anyone or their gun for that matter. It is a bit funny that someone who still hunts with a 30 dollar Stevens single shot 20 gauge is compared to a gun snob.

 

[Turtle Creek]

No, the guy asked about a semi period correct gun....so we answered.
I do not belong to a group and shoot what I like...I paid a bit more but got a really nice used rifle that pleases 'me'. The historically correct part for me is not some aspect of pleasing some group but of shooting something that would of been used in our Revolution.
Shoot what you like, pay what you want but don't get upset at others opinions.

 

[Turtle Creek]

That's a good idea, check out different makers and get a feel for what you really 'want'.
If it takes a bit of time you'll be rewarded for your patience in the enjoyment of a piece you'll be proud to own.
There are some nice custom used pieces in the 1200 buck range so just put some dough away and good luck with it.

 

[Rick Boylan]

Iowa, there are good points here across the board including your own. There are snobs, and Tommy may be walking the line, but please understand what they mean...



But truly listen to them. Thank them. Then move the hell on and past them. Get reasonably involved vs. not at all. Constantly improve -- it's a journey not a destination. My opinion? It is better to be a diamond with a flaw than a perfect rockhead. Yet there is a price to even get into the game. For me, custom, especially unseen with hillbilly cheats like TVM, John Buck, etc., ain't it anymore.

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. It was a late night post and I was a bit tired and my nerves were a bit raw. It is a rare poster who does say negative things about the non custom guns, but I probably over reacted to this custom gun stuff. My apologies for jumping into the mud on this one.

I'll just get good with my non HC gun and use it lovingly. Take care of it. Use the heck out of it. And attend some rondevous with it and feel out the reactions. Also to see if I wish to take it furter and start collecting the clothes and gear.

Sorry to hijack this thread. I'm just going to ignore anything I see as a slam to those of us who don't own custom guns.

To the OP, I would suggest a Kentucky Pedersoli, but only if you are looking for something to start out with, but not if you really are into totally HC guns. Mine shoots like a champ. Looks great. Feels great. And it only cost me $530.00 total. Check out GunBroker.com and see what is for sale. You can even buy originals on there (if you have that kind of money).

Thanks again for all the comments and thoughts.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Wow, really? Those are affordable prices for you?

I am working full time. Putting my kid through college and having many other real expenses and you believe that I should not put $500 into a pedersoli and hold out for a used gun that is over a thousand dollars just so you will accept me into your group?

Darn, that's not acceptable. Not everyone has that kind of money nor would we spend it on a used copy of a more PC gun just to fit in. I'm about done with this gun bigot stuff. Custom guns are nice, but they are still reproductions and not the real deal. Unless you are shooting a real period gun then don't be such a snob. All you are doing is chasing off the next generation of those who could keep the sport alive. This stuff is getting crazy.

Hey IowaShooter,

You're right, the prices from some of those links are pretty scary, especially for someone new to flintlocks.

You can certainly get decent flintlock rifles that are at least close to historically correct from some smaller builders and certainly the Tip Curtis guns "in the white" for just a bit more than the Traditions and Pedersoli production guns.

If you don't need Historically Correct but really just want to shoot flintlocks, you can get into it for far less money by getting a used Lyman Plains Rifle or Thompson Centerfire Hawkens in Flintlock. Although they are based on guns made in the 1820's and later, they are plenty accurate enough, fun to shoot and hunt, and can be found around $400 to $500 without much problem most of the time and sometimes down around $200.

But as soon as you put a subject line of "Revolutionary War Semi correct Long Rifle" that limits the choices quite a bit and pricing is correspondingly more. I bought my Early Lancaster used for $1100 and you can probably find something similar between $1100 and $1500. If you expect to get something HC for that time period for less than that, I'm sorry to say that will be a tough nut to crack. Again I'd encourage you to look for a used gun or look at the Tim Curtis "in the white" guns (you do the wood finishing) and small builders. Small builders will typically take 6 months to a year to build your specific rifle but sometimes have a few finished rifles on-hand for immediate sale.

It is real easy to get up into the $2000 range with a newly built gun, but remember it takes about $850 in parts plus about 120-hours of skilled labor to build one. Good news is that a quality longrifle will hold its value over the years and in some cases will appreciate.

So, you can decide from that what works best and fits your budget. If you are looking for something to use in reenactments, you can get by with the production guns. By the way the Cabela's Blue Ridge is a Pedersoli gun. It meets the "rule of 30's" - at 30 feet it looks fine. The Traditions Pennsylvania one doesn't. If you're not looking at reenactments but just want to get into rock crushers at a much more reasonable price, look for used TC Hawkens or Lyman Great Plains rifles.

Hope this helps,
Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup: