Shot new Lyman GPR Today

[bigbadben]

So, thanks again to everyone who helped me with picking out my first traditional muzzleload a few weeks back. I ended up with the Lyman GPR in 54/flintlock.

I took it out to the range today. Man, people who say shooting a flintlock takes some getting used to aren't kidding. My first few shots weren't anywhere near on paper at 50 yards, just because I had to learn to resist the flinch when that flash happens right next to your face.

But so far so good. I had a couple of misfires. But I think that's just a matter of remembering to clean out the touch hole and getting a sense of how much powder needs to go in the pan.

But so far so good. Having lots of fun.

Now I just need to find a good turkey gun . . .

Ben

 

[Rebel]

I never even see the flash from the pan any more. I think when first starting out with a flinter you concentrate on the pan instead of the sights because you are anticipating the flash. But after a while you start to cencentrate on the sights and target and forget all about the pan flash and don't even see it any more. What kind of turkey gun are you going to be wanting, a caplock or flinter? Have fun with the GPR.

 

[bigbadben]

Yeah, I think you're right Rebel. It's just that not being used to it I jump out of my skin with this look on my face like "what the f*#k was that!!!???" I think my subconscious mind -or maybe my conscious one for that matter- is thinking that my gun just blew up. But it feels like something that I'll settle down with after 50 shots or so. I shot about ten today and it was getting better towards the end.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for in a turkey gun. Maybe a percussion since this one is a flinter. It would be kind of nice to have one of each. It would really be nice to get a double barrel, though I guess that's not altogether necessary. The choke should be on the tight side. I guess I could work with screw-ins.

So I guess I'm looking for a smoothbore percussion of 12ga or larger in single or double with either tight chokes or screw-ins. Anyone have any ideas? It would need to be a factory gun as I doubt I could get a custom done in time.

Thanks,

Ben

 

[papellet]

I really like my TC New Englander, they can be bought reasonably on gunbroker or other similar sights. Mine has the screw in chokes and its deadly on turkeys with the Primos tightwad choke. Its also fun rabbit huting with it. You can also get a drop in barrel for it from the TC custom shop.

 

[renovato]

Ben, hang in there, it does go away. I'm a new flintlock shooter too and I'm just now getting past the flint flinchies. I'm not grouping as well the the gun yet, but there's a lot more discipline required to shoot a flintlock well anyway. I guess that's part of the attraction for me.

 

[Geoff Jones]

BigBadBen,

E-mail me ....I might be able to help you with a double percussion full and modified chokes....
Geoff
[email protected]

 

[paulvallandigham]

Ben: Sacrifice a flint by practicing firing an empty gun at home. Do it first with no powder in the pan. Later, go out in the back yard and put some powder in the pan and flash it off. The dry fire practice will teach you to ignore the flash, and focus on that front sight. It will also allow you to figure out just how much or how little priming powder you need in the pan to get the powder to flash. You will also get to know that trigger and how to move it directly backward, and not to one side or another. All of those skills will make you a better Flintlock shooter when you take it out and put powder down the barrel.