Which one would you get?

[Undead246]

Traditions Hawken Woodsman Muzzleloader
Ӣ28" blued barrel
ӢHooked breech for easy barrel removal
ӢClick-adjustable rear hunting sight
ӢDouble-set triggers in an over-sized glove-fitting trigger guard with finger rest
ӢInletted solid brass patch box
ӢSights: Adj. / BB
ӢRate of twist: 1 in 48"
ӢOverall length: 44.5"
ӢWeight: 7.875 lbs.

Traditions Kentucky 50 Cal. Muzzleloader
Ӣ33.5" blued barrel
Ӣ Crisp hunting trigger
ӢBrass inlays and embellishments
ӢAuthentic wooden ramrods
ӢShooting, loading, and cleaning instructions
ӢSights: Fixed / Blade
ӢOverall length: 49"
ӢWeight: 7 lbs.
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I intend to get a second muzzleloader before the season here starts and unfortunately I do have a budget or else I'd buy the TVA .60 I've had my eyes on for a week that cost $1300. Anyway theres a high chance I'll buy one of these guns which both add up to about $400. So I'd like to hear opinions on which gun you would choose, and why.

 

[George T.]

I would buy another Lyman GPR as I love mine.

Geo. T.

 

[Undead246]

Nice looking gun, unhelpful answer.

 

[Semisane]

I'm with Geo T. GPR in .54 caliber. They're worth the extra bucks.
http://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/10256/inline/1

 

[Undead246]

Budget is the issue. -_-

 

[mooman76]

If you are getting it for hunting I would get the Hawkin. It's slightly smaller for carry and with the 1/48 twist you will be able to use conicals also.

 

[Zonie]

I'd go with the Woodsman.

The little weight penalty from its added weight will help to reduce the recoil when it's used with a hunting load.

I've also got a personal dislike for the two piece stock on that Kentucky.

Yes, the company that makes them has greatly improved their guns over the ones they made for CVA back in the 1970's and '80's when they were selling their "Kentucky" but those old ones left a lot to be desired.

 

[necchi]

The Woodsmen.
Just because the Kentucky is problematic with it's split stock.
All Traditions models are Spanish imports and made inexpensively meaning the don't spend a lot of time doing the fine polish and finish work to the lock and triggers.
Those items are easy enough for even the beginning hobbyist to finish, but when you step into the poorly pinned barrel of the front section and the space between the two halves of the Kentucky it enters another world of;
"I need practice before I can do this right", kind of building/repair.

 

[Undead246]

Super Glue and Duct Tape can fix anything! However, I'll most likely get the woodsman and hopefully will get my first harvest ever using it. Already read many recipes for deer jerky and chili. Mmmmm. Thanks for the detailed response!

 

[Adui]

Well I own the woodsman in .50 cal. LOVE IT. For that reason (I already own it) I would go for the Kentucky. Did I not already own the Hawken I am not sure. I'd probably still go for the Hawken simply because I am a fan of the Hawken guns.

 

[AZbpBurner]

Seriously consider these, if still for sale: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/9709/cat/9
or: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/9615/cat/9

Either one is a steal.

Traditions may be ok as starter guns, but the downside is the Spanish manufacture. Many folks have them and love them, but those who have a GPR for the most part love them more.

The Hawken Woodsman is a fancy looker, but it has a single trigger. It's nice to have a set trigger without having to buy one and install it separately. Snooty tooty shooters will point out the shiney brass is a concealment giveaway while hunting, and its not authentic, blah, blah, blah ... Nevertheless it is nice looking. For performance, the GPR is your hands down better choice.

That 2 piece stock is an economical feature, since it's cheaper to join 2 smaller pieces of lumber, rather than use one single, pricier piece of wood.

I have no cat in the bag over the GPRs for sale, but I check the For Sale Boards often and have recently purchased a rifle from another member. I like to support our community of members, in even a little way when possible.

The GPRs are better rifles, and the price is less than half of what I paid for a new GPR last winter.

IMO, you'd come to regret not checking into either of these.

 

[AZbpBurner]

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/9713/cat/9

Now, this Great Plains Hunter would already be mine if it were lefthanded. Sure it's flint, but it also has a 1:48" twist which works just fine for roundballs.

 

[Undead246]

Third person to recommend a GRP to me, I cannot ignore these great rifles anymore. I guess I should just use my deerhunter for now, and wait until I can make a proper investment to get the best gun.

 

[George T.]

I'm sorry that my first answer was lacking. I'll add some additional information. The GPR is a very good shooting rifle with more or less traditional lines. As I have both a 50 and 54 caliber barrel for mine I shoot both and it really groups well with 1 1/2 bore diameter loads or 75 and 80 but also shoots 110 and 120 grain hunting loads very well just not as user friendly.

They can be found for less than $600 at several on line retailers. If you watch the adds here and Gun Broker you can really get some great deals.

I bought my rifle new on Gun Broker three years ago for $350 in unfired condition. This was before MLR's caught on a little. I bought the 54 Barrel there for $75 in like new condition with 35 dollars worth of Lyman sights on it. I changed over to the GPR front and primitive rear sights which I have on both barrels.

My rifle is a cap lock. I like the trigger but it will not set to under 1 pound when using the set. Offhand the 54 is easier to hold as it's lighter but both balance really well. I have Investarm and T/C rifles but this rifle out shoots them and just looks better to me. By the way most have really decent wood on them.

Both of the barrels are the 1 in 60 round ball twist. I do not shoot anything else in muzzleloaders. My T/C prefers Pyrodex but both of these barrels do best with 2F black powder.

Good luck with your Quest! Geo. T.

 

[necchi]

Third person to recommend a GRP to me, I cannot ignore these great rifles anymore.

It would be best to travel around a bit while your saving your money and try to find a GPR to shoulder,, they don't fit every one.
That sharp curve butt on the GPR don't fit me no-how!!

 

[cowpoke1955]

I also agree with Geo T and cast a vote for the GPR. I have two .54 GPRs, one percussion and one flint built from a kit. Yjese rifles are highly accuratr at 100 yards. I just bought my son in law a .54 GPR flint kit. Worth looking at :thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

I gotta agree with you necchi.

There are a lot of people who don't like the deeply curved buttplate. There are others who don't like the extra weight and the way the longer barrel causes the GPR to be a bit muzzleheavy.

It's always best to try a gun before actually buying it.

Yes you guys. I hear you scrambling for your keyboards to tell everyone the deep curved buttplates are supposed to be shot off of the upper arm, not the shoulder but when a man is digging deeply into his pocket to buy himself a new gun, I think he should get what he likes. Not because everyone else likes it but because he likes it.

If he tries it and thinks he can adjust his shooting method to accommodate the butt plate that's fine.
If he doesn't want to change his shooting stance and method to fit a new gun, that's for him to decide.

 

[daniel collums]

both of the rifles from traditions you are thinking about are goods choices,i have the kentucky in kit form i sometimes hunt with. the long sight radius is a big help over the shorter hawken.I use my t/c rifles more than any of the others but the long barrel seems to be more stable in my hands, about the only thing i dislike about traditions rifle is the trigger, but after you get use to it its alright. the hawken is a quicker clean because of the short easy removable barrel but the kentucky barrel comes right off also you just leave the forearm on, remove the barrel to stock screw and pull it apart. I bought a new kentucky a few months ago for my son only to learn his late grandfather left him a large collection of rifles and 5 of them are black powder rifles. He wants to sell the new kentucky to help him get funds for a truck, so if you want a traditions kentucky 50cal. i got a new one never shot or handled that we will give a great deal + on. I had it listed here but unlisted it a couple weeks ago. Not trying to push this on you or anyone else but i sure would like to find a good home for it. Got some good hard to find stuff that goes along with it also. Whichever black powder rifle you get it will be a blast to shoot and a thrill to hunt with.

 

[Undead246]

My life would be so much easier if I could find a local store that carries traditional muzzleloaders. Even all the local pawn shops say they won't buy or sell them. >

 

[gunmaker43]

Maybe check out a local club or a rendezvous close to home, mite find a shooter gun there....