Thoughts on TVM Natchez Poor Boy

[Cherrybow]

My Natchez Poor Boy is not slated to start until maybe July. I am headed down there next weekend to finalize my choices and fit with Matt and pick up some parts for a future Leman build. I am hoping there will be a Poor Boy finished or under construction while I’m there. If there is, I’ll report back with y’all.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Look the piece over with thoroughitudiation when it arrives. Accept none less than that ordered and in best form. They can have... accidents.

 

[James Kopp]

i Stand. Corrected....so would a 58 smoothbore...be a 20 ga or somewhere around ??.??? What kinda load size would it take 40 grains 60 grains.... help a newbie out

 

[Notchy Bob]

i Stand. Corrected....so would a 58 smoothbore...be a 20 ga or somewhere around ??.??? What kinda load size would it take 40 grains 60 grains.... help a newbie out

A .58 caliber smoothbore would be approximately 24 gauge. Going from memory here, without consulting my chart, I believe a true 24 gauge would be .577", while a true 20 gauge would be .615". Even modern shotguns have a tolerance range for bore size, so they are not as exact in diameter as rifle bores.

I think 60 grains of FFg would be a good starting load for a .58 caliber smoothbore. I don't think I would go lower than 55 grains, which would be about two drams, and if it were me, I probably wouldn't go much over 70 grains, which would be just over two and a half drams. If I wanted to shoot a heavier load, I would probably look for a gun with a bigger bore. I'm sure a lot of guys will tell you to use FFFg, which will give the load more energy than an equal volume of FFg, and some may recommend a different powder charge. I won't argue with them, but I like FFg and the load ranges I mentioned for my own use in a bore this size. Ball size would depend on whether you want to shoot a bare ball with wadding, or if you want to put the ball in a patch. With bird shot, a good starting point would be to use the same volume of shot as powder.

You may want to invest in a blackpowder loading and shooting manual. Eric Bye's book about flintlocks, available from the NMLRA, might be a good one to start with. I have several other manuals, but most of them are 40-50 years old. I'm not sure what's in print, these days.

Good luck!

Notchy Bob

 

[Cherrybow]

Here is a few pictures of the Natchez PoorBoy

 

[Notchy Bob]

Here is a few pictures of the Natchez PoorBoy

That's a very nice-looking rifle! @Cherrybow , is that just an in-stock example, or is it the one you ordered?

I've always admired the appearance of the L&R Trade Lock. It appears they rounded off the tail of the lockplate, but it looks good.

I do think, if I were ordering one of those, I would request a little less extension in the toe of the butt stock. Even with a substantial toe plate, that area is still vulnerable to damage, and original rifles without buttplates, even southern rifles, had a less angular profile in the butt. I'll try to find a picture or two if anybody is interested. Many southern rifles that did have butt plates, and that much extension in the toe, had the butt plate and toe plate riveted together at that point.

Thanks for those images! That rifle looks like a good deal.

Notchy Bob

 

[Cherrybow]

That is one that is ready to ship out. It is very much like the one I have order. That one is 45 cal 42”, dark brown finish on plain maple with aged steel. 14” LOP. The only difference in mine will be an upgraded lock. I am getting the Chambers Late Ketland. The toe plate extends past the end of the wood to protect it from damage. I really like it! Balances nice and settles in on my sight picture effortlessly. One thing that makes it really stand out is that it is the creation of TVM. Not a copy. It will definitely be a conversation piece. Can’t wait to get mine, but the wait is longer than I had hoped due to the amount of orders they have on kits to get out. Hope to get mine in October now. (That’s about 10 months from ordering)

 

[hanshi]

Good looking rifle in a great caliber. I had a years wait on one I ordered long ago; it was worth it.

 

[Cherrybow]

My 45 cal Natchez PoorBoy is on the way! Here are the pictures.. after a 11 month wait, i am ready to put it to use.

 

[Notchy Bob]

I love it! Looks like they did a first-class job on your rifle, and I think the .45 was a good choice for caliber.

It looks to me as if they may have scaled back that rakish toe extension that you see in their website photos. Did you request that, or have they modified their pattern?

Thanks for posting!

Notchy Bob

 

[Cherrybow]

I thought the same thing. I didn’t request that but I think it is better this way. The one from the earlier pictures has a very sharp point on it. I will have it in my hands Friday evening.

 

[Festus]

I received my Natchez Poor Boy a couple of months ago. It was a 10-11 month wait but well worth it. It looks better in person and I couldn't be more happy with it. It is very nice. You won't be disappointed.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My .40 calibre came in about 3 weeks ago… prints clovers at 50 yards with .395 RB and 40 grains of fffg.

I'm very happy with this gun

 

[Rock Home Isle]

The upper rifle is my .40 calibre TVM Natchez PoorBoy. Below is my .45 calibre TVM Southern Mississippi PoorBoy, as reference. Both guns feel great in the hand. The balance of the Natchez is well centered, the gun feels solid in your grasp. I love the feel of this gun. It’s a bit heavy than the .45 calibre, and that 1/2 pound of added weight feels good. The grip at the wrist is very comfortable, and the trigger guard has really a good feel to it. I like the way TVM guns feel in the hand.

The Natchez has a curly maple stock, but the stain is so dark you can’t really tell unless in very bright light and trying to see it. I ordered a honey brown stain and I thought the stain I was getting would be similar to the lower rifle. I got a dark brown stain instead.

I’ve been shooting the Natchez a lot. I’ve probably put near 300 RBs through it since it arrived. My above post was after the first day shooting about 20 shots and load development. Since that time, accuracy has been inconsistent. Somedays, it shoots lights out…then on other days 6” to 8” groups at 50 yrds is the best I can do. A local gunsmith was at the range last time I had it out, and he shot the gun a couple times. Asked me to bring it by, I just got the gun back…I‘ll be at the range shooting it tomorrow.

Here’s a close up look at the lock areas of both rifles.

The gunsmith only worked on a couple things. He said the barrel crown at the muzzle wasn’t even, so he recrowned the barrel. And there was a slight delay on ignition, so he replaced the flash hole liner. He then ent through and polished the internals of the lock…aside from the lock, simple stuff. When he has more time, he’ll let me know…he wants to have a better look at the set-trigger, it’s noticeably bad. Very hard to set, so some adjustments and alignment needs to be made at a later date. In my opinion, the trigger issues are not subtle and should’ve been caught and fixed in the shop.

Overall not bad…but I’ve had 4 guns made for me by TVM, and I’m noticing that they’ve become inconsistent in their quality control. For a gun that’s going to cost you around $1,400 to $1,800, you want quality to be a priority…sending a gun back to be fixed costs money, it’s not cheap. And the handling by USPS is garbage.

After I get home from the range, I’ll post again as to whether the gun performs better. Though it may take awhile to see how consistent it is…

 

[PathfinderNC]

kIBLER DOES NOT MAKE A SMOOTHBORE

Correction: You CAN get a Kibler smoothbore. Check their website (I have one on order)

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Correction: You CAN get a Kibler smoothbore. Check their website (I have one on order)

You are absolutely correct..they make smooth rifles in .50, .54, and .58 calibres…

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I spent most of Sunday shooting my TVM Natchez PoorBoy. I just don’t know…the gun is shooting better, but it really should be shooting better than 4” to 5” groups, from a rest at 50 yrds.

It could be me….my grandson was shooting his new little flintlock, and I was focussed on being sure he had fun and was safe.

I will say that the stock sights on the rifle need to go. I’m going to talk to the guy helping me on this and see what he says.

I want so bad for this gun to be a shooter…