Rifle Recommendation

[JMN68]

I have been shooting for 15 yrs. now and have gone through the stages of tactical shoting to cowboy action and now black powder. I have shot a friend's Lyman Trade model rifle but would like to purchase and earlier model flintlock (late 1700' and early 1800')for myself. I have looked at Tradition rifle but what else is reliable and good? Any recomendations are welcome.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[torn moc]

man...you opened a can of worms!
just watch all the differnt replies!!!

 

[brubincam]

-----go with a custom--check with TVM-Tennessee Valley Muzzleloaders----- :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[thewho66]

I depends on you wallet or skill level. After that what school/form or rifle you like. etc.etc this topic could never end.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

What use will you put the rifle to?

 

[Lonegun1894]

If you want an off the rack rifle, go with Lyman or TC. Preferably a kit so you get to know the rifle better. If you have deeper pockets that that, or insist on something more historicallly accurate, your only options are semicustom or custom. I'm not saying the Traditions wont shoot, but you get what you pay for and i wouldnt mess with em unless you want to take a chance on a lot of extra work. I have a couple Lymans and have friends who shoot TCs. I cant say either is better from what i've seen, but many here have A LOT more experience than i do. The only step up from those two is either a semi or a full custom. You get what you pay for, and you will either get something good to begin with, or start cheap like i did and waste money when it would have been cheaper to get the good guns first in the long run. I have a couple of good CVAs, but they're caplocks. Go with a better lock if you choose flint. Best of luck, and as you've been told above, you have opened up a BIG can of worms. Whatever you choose, have fun and experiment til you have it figured out, and then ENJOY.

 

[J.D.]

would like to purchase and earlier model flintlock (late 1700' and early 1800')for myself. I have looked at Tradition rifle but what else is reliable and good? Any recomendations are welcome.

Welcome to the forum, Joe, and you certaily did open a can of worms, but that's ok.

Rust T ask to what use this gun will be put? I think that is a good place to start.

That said, There isn't a production rifle that accurately represents anything actually made in th e late 18th century or early 19th century. Finding a gun that is an accurate representation of a circa 1800 rifle will require a semicustom or custom gun. IF historical accuracy isn't a concern, there are several decent entry level production guns that might, kinda, sorta satisfy your requirements.

As an alternative option to one of the production guns, early rustic offers a good value in a semi custom gun.
http://www.earlyrusticarms.com/pricesanddescriptions.htm

I suggest that you ask for a Chambers lock to be assembled on whatever gun you choose.

Good luck,
J.D.

 

[laufer]

tvm, no mistake there!

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Contack Tip Curtis about a flintlock in the white.

 

[William Joy]

Look at the for sale section on this forum!

 

[Zoar]

(1) Depth of pockets (2) How authentic you need to go and (3) what you are planning on using the gun for: hunting, re-enactments, paper hole punching, showing off at whatever level of use all drive the recommendations, etc.

I wanted a first flintlock that shot Round Ball well, was low cost, good for whitetail in the Upstate NY heavy woods, and one that I could make some mistakes with since it was my first flintlock rifle, and I wanted a larger bore caliber. In part, I also wanted to shoot paper targets at 30 and 50 yards and make big enough holes in the paper so I could see where they hit without magnification or needing to walk closer to the target....

A 54 Caliber Lyman Trade Rifle at about $265 was a terrific choice and I have had a ball with this rifle. I shoot ragged holes with it OFFHAND at 30 yards and nearly ragged at 50 yards and deer down groups at longer ranges (65-70ish). I am refinishing the stock to more of my liking but the gun has been an excellent flinter and FUN! I am astonished at the accuracy of this roundball thrower. And the recoil is so low in part because of the great stock design. I ahve heard some other 54 cals really punch pretty hard, not so with this Lyman Trade Rifle. It is a pussy kitty in the recoil department but throws a mean 228 grain round ball lethal enough for most North American big game.

 

[tg]

JD pretty much hit the nail on the head about no production guns being available in that time period, and the advise to look to Rustic Arms for a reasonably priced period gun, in the white would cut the cost and such a gun could be finished by most anyone experinenced or not.

 

If you want great accuracy right out of the box, my Pedersoli Kentucky is great.

 

[JMN68]

Thank you all for the recommendations and they are great. Maybe I should have put a little more detail in my post. I will be using the rifle to punch paper and steel targets at 50 to 75 yards. I would go after small games when I can handle the rifle with ease.

I would like to put money one time on a good rifle instead of spending more money later for upgrades or fixes. Since this will be is my first flintlock rifle, I just want something simple, no carving/inlaid or fancy silver or brass furniture, just a simple and reliable shooter.

If there any other recommendations, please keep them coming.

Joe

 

[thewho66]

Still dont know what price you are looking at but I would contact oldarmy here on the forum. He made my pistol in .45 cal, if you look up his posts you will find pictures of mine and one jimmytheshank had purchased. He had sold 2-3 long guns as well with the latest being a southern mountian rifle for 875.00 in .50 cal..He is a great guy to work with and could get you what you want. P.m. me if you have any questions.

John

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you are looking for a period Flintlock, you need to talk to TVM, or Tip Curtis, or Rustic Arms. All produce kits or guns for under $1,000. With the price of everything going up, even that will be the low end of costs in not too short a time.

I have a Tennessee Poor Boy style rifle that was semi-custom made for me from parts by a company that finally went bankrupt. It is plain, iron furniture, but has good parts. It shoots just fine. Its in a .50 caliber, and it sounds like you might be better served with a .45, if small game is likely to be what you will hunt the most.

If you are not attached to period design, then by all means check out the Lyman half stock flinter. For the money you can't go wrong. These are made by an Italian company for Lyman, but the guns have great barrels, and good locks.

 

[tg]

"If there any other recommendations, please keep them coming."

Take a look in the links section of the forum it lists a lot of vendors/builders you can compare the prices and types of guns, for the time period you are looking at and for a gun even close to the originals you will need to pass any production guns out there and enter the realm of reasonably accurate replicas probably starting in the 700 dollar range, often a very good deal comes up on a used gun in the classifieds, style/school, caliber, all need to be figured to suit your needs, and you have the right idea about getting a good flinter to start with if you can swing it this can really shorten up the learning curve.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Buy the best rifle that you can. And, in my opinion, it ought to be an authentic one. It can still be plain--many of the old ones were--but it can still be handsome and well balanced. There is NO mass produced rifle that can approach even the simplest custom for balance or authenticity. The high quality components used in a custom are worth every penny. Long after the cost is forgotten, the quality and beauty remain as a testament to your good judgement and fine taste.
You will have purchased a family heirloom.
Some gunmakers will accept a downpayment and then payments along the way as the rifle is being built. Not only does this make owning a fine one of a kind rifle possible, but it often allows a man to buy a little more gun than he had planned on.

 

[kaptag]

If you are thinking small game, and target shooting I would suggest a .32 or more apt a .36. A .40 would also fit but is a bit big. Check out those sites listed. I haven't bought from any previously but they have good (TVM . . Early Rustic . . Tip Curtis) reputations. You should also check out Sitting Fox and especially Track of the Wolf. Once again I have not bought from them. Track has a good reputation and the prices are pretty good at Sitting Fox Muzzloaders. If someone has purchased a gun from Sitting Fox, I would appreciate some input as well because I like the looks of their "Lehigh Valley." There's also North Star West and I would strongly urge you to check out Cabin Creek Muzzloading also...and lets not forget Gobbler Knob... Well I'm getting carried away... have fun and may your next hunt be a good one!

 

[jimmytheshank]

I second the who66's recommendation. In my opinion you can't beat a custom gun. And oldarmy's a great guy to buy a longarm from. Contact him, you won't be sorry. :thumbsup: