which flinter?

[Robyn]

Hi Guys and gals
I have been shooting percussion for a while now and i was wanting to get into the flinters.
I was wanting a 50 cal and have the option of either a traditions Kentucky or a pedersoli kentucky both are new. I guess the question is which would be the better for a old fool that thinks they can shoot.
Regards Robyn

 

[Parzifal]

In my opinion the piedersoli is going to be higher quality then the traditions.

I think the traditions has a 2 piece stock and a lock bound to make you use cuss words you never thought you knew.

The piedersolis lock will generally be a bit better and it will have a full length stock

 

[Emet Huntsman]

Are those your only two choices? If so I would venture the Pedersoli.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Those are not much of a choice

Save you money and buy a Chambers kit

You wont have years of lock fustration, and hate flinters.

 

[Stubert]

I have two Pedersali's. One kentucky rifle and an 1807 Harpers ferry pistol. Both the locks sucked and both needed major work to get sparking. the rifles' top jaw hit the frizzen at half cock. I had to bend the hammer back, but now it is at wrong angle and gouges the frizzen face. I would buy a used rifle from TVM or TOTW before I got another Pedersoli.

 

[Zonie]

Unless your locked in to one of the two rifles you mentioned I would suggest that you consider either the Lyman Great Plains Rifle in Flint or the Lyman Trade Rifle in Flint.

See this link to Lymans catalog of available guns
LYMAN'S MUZZLELOADERS

IMO Either rifle is as good if not better than the Traditions or the Pedersoli.

Unless you are very good with tools I wouldn't suggest that you buy a Chambers, Pecatonica River, or Track of the Wolf "kit". These are all labor intensive projects that will take at least 130 hours of your time to finish.

Tennessee Valley Mfg produces some nice rifles but there us often a waiting period to end up with a gun in your hands.

 

[Darkgael]

Ditto that GPR recommendation. It's a best buy.
Pete

 

[Mulebrain]

Got the Great Plains Rifle in .54 flinter, and it is a great gun!

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

What uses do you have in mind for this rifle? The two guns you mention aren't famous for their high quality flintlocks and a poor flintlock is a sorry thing to have to live with. You might check Track of the Wolf's site and see what they have available in used guns as this can be a good way to get a simple but high quality semi custom for a reasonable price.

 

[tgreen]

If the price fair and the gun feels is right for you, go the pedersoli.

 

[the Black Spot]

i have the pedersoli kentucky(cabelas). that little lock on mine is fast and sparks good when the flint is lined up good. uses 1/2" flints(pistol flints i think). mine is the .50 and shoots 1.25" to 1.5" groups at 50 yards off a front rest from a sitting position(60 gr of 3f schuetzen powder hornday .490 rb and mink tallow greased linen patch. my lock needs the pan filled to get consistent ignition. if i just dab some poweder in there it will flash but won't fire.
all in all i like mine a lot. its the most gun i shoot. i would buy another one in .54 if they made it.