Trying to figure out which rifle is more hard to come by if I dont buy it

[Murphy_Roberts]

Recently I posted on the forum about pointers to get into Muzzleloading. I purchased a smoothbore flintlock 16ga fowler which I have apart right and is being throughly cleaned. However there is a seller in Piedmont,WV who is selling two rifles for a decent price which have perked my interest. I was able to get my 16ga for such a good price it left me with enough to also get a rifle. The two rifles are a .50 caliber 45 7/8" barrel and a .62 caliber 36 3/4" barrel. They are both beautiful and have been well taken care of. Both rifles are in my price limit and I can only buy one. My question is which rifle will be harder to find. If I buy one I want to buy the rifle I most likely will never find again. I really like both of them and he has another buyer who will buy whatever I don't. My buddies on my crew are split on what I should buy when I asked so I figured I would come back here for some more expert advice. Sorry if my posts are too consistent and annoying. I thank everyone who replies.

Edit: I have made aware that my descriptions are very vague (my apologies).
Both flintlocks are Rifles, rifling looks good in both and they are both very clean. I ran oversize patches down both bores and there was no snagging of the fabric. Both rifles are equal in terms of looks and fitting of parts (brass and barrel as well as the lock all fit well with the wood). The barrels and locks both have good bluing. The locks are different though, the .50 caliber rifle has a Siler lock and the .62 caliber rifle has an L&R lock. Both frizzens show signs of use nothing damaging though as both rifles have been used since the early 1980s. I do not know who was the manufacturer of either barrel or where the stocks came from. I don't have any pictures as the owner asked me not to share any of his rifles online until he is no longer the owner of them ( so I didn't take any pictures ). My apologies for all the confusion, I will remember to post better descriptions in the future.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I'm assuming the .62 caliber is a smoothbore? If it were me, the choice would be easy, since you've already got the 16 gauge.

 

[Brokennock]

Would really need more info.
Style? Stock material? Furniture material? Quality of the builds?
Does the length of pull on both work for you?

Just based on caliber and barrel length, which produces some guesses as to style, I would, probably, go with the .62 caliber gun.
Unless there is something special about the style or build of the .50 cal gun, well, .50 caliber muzzleloaders are all over the place. Of course, that also means components and tools are readily available too.....

 

[Brokennock]

I'm assuming the .62 caliber is a smoothbore? If it were me, the choice would be easy, since you've already got the 16 gauge.

Why?
With the shorter barrel I'm guessing it is either an "early" style rifle, or maybe what some call "transitional," could be some type of "Hawken," or other western associated style rifle.

 

[FishDFly]

"My question is which rifle will be harder to find. If I buy one I want to buy the rifle I most likely will never find again."

Buy the one you like the most makes the most sense.

Buying something that is the hardest to find makes no sense to me if you do not like it, nor have a use for it.

Sounds like your money is burning a hole in your pocket.

 

[Steve Martin]

Photos would help but....50 caliber RIFLES are much more common than .62 caliber RIFLES, while a .62 caliber SMOOTHBORE is common. So it boils down to rifle vs smoothbore as to how scarce one is over the other. I would get the .62 caliber rifle if indeed it is a rifle not a smoothbore.

 

[EC121]

I would buy the .62 rifle because I like the big punkin' rollers, and I don't like the big long barrels. Can't tell you what to buy.
Nothing is hard to find if you have enough money.

 

[jackpine54]

I'd buy the one you'll use the most. If you're just buying them to look at then buy the prettiest one. Either way you win!

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Murphy_Roberts, you haven't given us much to go on for replies.

The most difficult to come by will be the one with the best wood to metal fit, the best executed carving, the best executed engravings and the best functioning parts.

The long 45 3/4" barrel is not as common as the 36 3/4" barrel. Both calibers are common but the 62 caliber rifle is rarer than a 50 caliber rifle.

Ultimately, it will be the one that appeals to you the most that will be the hardest to come by.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Pics, makers, components, etc? Need more information

 

[Murphy_Roberts]

I'm assuming the .62 caliber is a smoothbore? If it were me, the choice would be easy, since you've already got the 16 gauge.

They are both rifles

 

[Murphy_Roberts]

Photos would help but....50 caliber RIFLES are much more common than .62 caliber RIFLES, while a .62 caliber SMOOTHBORE is common. So it boils down to rifle vs smoothbore as to how scarce one is over the other. I would get the .62 caliber rifle if indeed it is a rifle not a smoothbore.

The .62 is a rifle

 

[2 shots]

have not given us much to go on. if you are going to shoot it pick the one that fits and feels the best.

 

[Murphy_Roberts]

@Murphy_Roberts, you haven't given us much to go on for replies.

The most difficult to come by will be the one with the best wood to metal fit, the best executed carving, the best executed engravings and the best functioning parts.

The long 45 3/4" barrel is not as common as the 36 3/4" barrel. Both calibers are common but the 62 caliber rifle is rarer than a 50 caliber rifle.

Ultimately, it will be the one that appeals to you the most that will be the hardest to come by.

My apologies they are both equal in metal fittings and wood fittings. There aren't any carvings or decorative pieces on either other than the typical brass nose caps, the brass plate opposite of the lock and the buttplates. Both have equally good rifling and no patches snagged running down either barrel. Both locks seemed the same the owner said the .62 had an L&R Lock and the .50 had a Siler Lock. The frizzens weren't bad but both showed use as they have been used since the early 1980s. Does the barrel length on the .50 make it better than the .62 or does the shorter barrel bode well with the larger caliber. I'm assuming longer barrel means more range ?

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Murphy_Roberts, Barrel length, longer or shorter, does not necessarily make one better than the other. The application you want the rifle for may make one better for you. A longer barrel does not mean more range. Better sights which provide the best alignment to the target mean more range.

I would be looking hard at the long barreled 50 caliber, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Brazos John]

I see a lot more .50's for sale here than .62's.
You don't mention the length of your smoothbore.
I prefer long barrels, but if the smoothbore is long, then the shorter .62 would seem to be the best choice.
If your smoothbore is not so long, then it's more of a decision between a long barrel or a rarer, shorter rifle.
Either way, I think you win!

 

[Brazos John]

Maybe someone could comment on the differences between the Siler and L&R locks.

 

[tnlonghunter]

Just my $.02 - if it's your first/only flintlock rifle, I would use the following criteria:
1. What's going to be most versatile. (i.e., what do you plan to use it for?)
2. What's going to be easiest to learn on (easiest could mean what caliber is most common, and therefore has the most data available; it could mean what is cheapest to experiment with)
3. Which one fits you best, physically? Is one stock more comfortable than another?
4. What is most appealing?
5. Are either of the 2 barrels swamped?

For me, it would be a tough call. I like shorter barrels (36-38" are my faves), but maybe I don't love the aesthetics or stock architecture of the .62 cal. On the other hand, you've already got a big-bore, so the .50 may be more versatile. For sure, the .62 will eat more powder and lead, and will probably have a stiffer recoil (though that's not a given). If I'm gonna get a 45" barrel, I really want it to be swamped, personally, for balance reasons.

 

[hanshi]

Get the one that feels better when you shoulder it. How they fit you is the bottom line. Rarity? One does not stumble upon a .62 rifle that often, but that's not a logical reason to pick one over the other.

 

[stikshooter]

The 50 is cheaper to feed ball or conical (important in these times ) but the rifle in 62 is rare molds for 50 are all over /not so much for 62 . Performance is always with 50 /62 not so much and other than wall hanging the larger is even more a short range oddity !/Ed