Which to buy????

[Little Wattsy]

With so MENY choices I THINK ive narrowed it down to.....
I will be hunting primarily in the fairly dense forests of N Idaho, Washington, and NE Oregon for whitetail. In the snow. Inlines and fiber optic sight are NOT allowed. Mostly blind hunting; shots from 20 yards to MAYBE a 100. Im pretty sure I want a 54 cal in a precussion; Soooo
Do I get a LYMAN TRADE RIFLE or a Cabela's Traditional Hawken or a Lyman Deerstalker?

P.S. does anybody know the specs, including the weight, on the Lyman?
P.S.S. Does anyony have a list of initial needed items needed beyond the gun its self? IE short starter, patches, etc, etc, etc?

Please and thank you!!

 

[Kentuckywindage]

Lyman Great Plains Rifle .54 percussion :thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Lyman Great Plains Rifle .54 percussion :thumbsup:

My vote too! :thumbsup:

 

[rbfree]

Lyman Great Plains Rifle .54 percussion :thumbsup:

My vote too! :thumbsup:

Well Ive got the same rifle and got this same advice on here so i'll chime in.

1, find a used TC renagade then get a green mt barrel in .54 or .58

2,

from cabelas or the hawkin if ya like all the shine.
3,the GPR but just order different sight from the get go!! IMHO

 

[captaincaveman]

Lyman Great Plains Rifle .54 percussion :thumbsup:

Yup...but you're going to want to change the sights

Josh

 

[Trot]

The Trade Rifle and Cabelas Hawken are almost the same rifle, the Cabelas has double set triggers and the Trade single. I have a percussion Cabela's Hawken .50 and a flint Trade rifle in .54 and like them both. I think the Trade rifle is supposed to weigh 8 pounds, but can't say for sure.

 

[bob308]

just what is wrong with the layman sights?

i have been using a gpr for 20 years with the org. sights and have had no problems with them in hunting or the matches. even put a set on my underhammer and then realy cleaned up.

 

[playfarmers]

I have the Lyman Trade rifle in .54 percussion. It weighs 8 lbs, 28" barrel rifled 1 in 48". I have been shooting round balls in mine, and took 2 whitetails this year. I didn't like the sights, so I ordered the hunting set strait from Lyman, and love them. It is the white bead and adjustable back, the same sights they put on the Deerstalker.

 

[boar]

If you want accuracy get double set triggers. Whichever gun you get. Dilly

 

[Doe]

Got a CABELA'S HWAKEN and the wood/metal work is great..mine has the double set trigger and i can put 3 rbs at 50 yards in a playing easily :thumbsup: I would not hasitate on getting one that is made for CABELA'S

 

[BrownBear]

Since you're in Beaverton, it would be worth your while to wander over to Springfield and visit Gun Works so you can look at guns firsthand. So much of your happiness is going to boil down to a question of what feels right to you. I've got the GPR in both 50 and 54 and I love it. I really don't like the high comb on friends' TCs I've shot. I've been giving serious thought to picking up a Lyman Deerstalker for fast shooting in close cover where the GPR is a bit awkward, but it would never replace my GPR for general use and longer range. The Deerstalker and other short ones may be faster handling, but for me they're lots tougher for offhand long shots.

It's a real personal thing to buy a new gun, and none of us are going to be able to guess which gun will make you happiest. You'll only find that out by handling them yourself.

 

[bwhoffman]

Powder Horn in forest grove usually has a good selection of stuff, just a tad west of you!

Brett

 

[Old40Rod]

Dense forest in North Idaho... in the snow... been there, done that.

My 2 cents... The GPR would be a good choice if you are hunting from a blind... but it won't be anywhere near as handy as a Trade rifle or a Cabelas if you are moving around. I have a GPR, and love it, I also have 2 Cabelas' Hawkens, and love them. But hands down, I would hunt with the Cabelas over the GPR in our terrain. The north panhandle is tough terrain, lots and lots of trees, buck brush and up and down.

The Cabelas sights aren't too bad to start with, the biggest functional difference between the Cabelas and the Lyman Trade is single vs double trigger. You will be hunting in the winter, a double trigger just might add an element of fussing your cold fingers don't need to deal with....

 

[rdoggsilva]

Lyman GPR great rifle a little on the heavy side but not a heavy as a M-60. :rotf:

 

[Kevin2241]

Wattsy:

I have a Lyman Trade Rifle and a Lyman GPR both .54 cal. I like both rifles and they are fun to shoot. I have hunted Western Oregon with the GPR with no difficulty but I have always prefered a heavier rifle.

Like the others said, be sure to check out the Powderhorn, The Gun Works and Sportsmans Warehouse. These are good local merchants that will assist you.

Be sure to handle each rifle you are considering in person before you make your choice. Consider whether you want a rifle already assembled or getting a kit and assembling it on your own. You have many great choices depending on what you like.

I have a list a friend gave me of the accessories I would need for my rifles. If you send me your email address, I will scan the list and send it along to you. Good luck and have fun!

Kevin

 

[Mydnyte Son]

As for equipment, just head out to sportsmans warehouse and pick up a starter kit or just go shooting with some one and see what they use.

Speaking to the rifle selection ... I am far from being an expert here so this is just my opinion. I dont much care for the fit and finish of the Lyman rifles. For what a guy pays for one I feel the product should be a might better. The Cabelas rifle seems to do better along these lines but to me still falls short of my Renegade. I know that you cant buy new Renegades any more and that the Hawken cost and arm and a leg but there you have it. As for the sights, well I didnt like the sights on any of those rifles and ordered a Williams front bead and a newer T/C adjustable rear. This set up seems to work real nice for me. I havent worked up an accuracy load yet but I am still holding right around 2-3 inch groups at 100yards. I am certain I can get that down under 2 inches with a bit of bench time.

So to me it seems if you want historically accurate then go with the Lyman, but if you want a more modern deer killer go with a Renegade or a Hawken.

 

[Rat Trapper]

My vote would be for a TC Hawken in either 50 or 54 cal. TC rifles are American made! They also have the best customer service out there! If you take the time to look around, you can often find a new to like new Hawken for very reasonable prices. In-lines are what are selling in most stores today. Often these same stores will almost beg you to purchase any traditional muzzle loaders they have just to get them sold. This is a great deal for those of us who like traditional rifles.