Good Hardware

[keith]

Gentlemen and/or Ladies:
I am new to this forum and new to muzzleloading. So new in fact, that I am still deciding what type of rifle to purchase. I have my eyes on a Lyman's Great Plains Rifle. This is for several reasons: a) it comes in a left-handed flint model...I'm left-eye dominant; b) several people have said they "heard" it was a good piece; c) the Hawken-like design seems like it would be the most sturdy and easy to maintain and care for.
I've always been interested in muzzleloading. I have a bit of history with them but never with live rounds. (Did some reenacting milleniums ago and worked at Historic Fort Wayne, always fired blanks.) I'd like the rifle to be representative of the fur trade/mountain man era, which my reading seems to indicate it would be. I'd also like to use for hunting (something else I'm new at...the deer still feel completely safe in my presence.) That, and I want a muzzleloader because there just seems to be a certain allure and tradition to them that is not met with modern arms.
Could I get some feedback on these issues? Any comments at all woudl be appreciated.
Let me add that I am glad to make everyone's aquaintance.
Thank you.

[Semisane]

Hey Keith, welcome.

Your reasoning is sound based on your interest and objectives. The Great Plains is a fine rifle. In fact a GP Flintlock is on my Christmas list.

I really like its style and lines also. Have you handled one yet? You should be aware that it's a fairly heavy firearm. Hangs real steady for off-hand shooting, but a bear to carry all day in the woods.

Like me, you have some decisions to make if you get one. Fifty caliber, or fifty-four? A slow twist 1 in 60" barrel for shooting patched round balls, or the 1 in 32" Hunter barrel for shooting heavy conicals? If you haven't already done so, you should cruise several muzzle loader forums to get a feel for the pros and cons of those options.

I gar-run-tee you're gonna' have fun.

[whyohe]

keith welcome to the board, they are both good guns. i like the T/C hawken with the doubble set trigger personally cause i like a lighter trigger. if i remember right the great plains is a long barrel. ifyou are going to hunt in brushy areas you might like a shorter barrel. but if you dont mind the weight the longer barrel is nice too.

[mike3132]

welcome keith,

i live not far from fort wayne, about 25 miles SW. like semisane said pick the rifle barrel twist for the kind of shooting you want to do. round ball is OK for deer hunting but doesnt have the killing range of a conical. i have alway been partial to T/C hawkins .50, mostly because it was the first muzzle loader i owned. mike

[tg]

I had a LGP in .54 and it was a great gun, not att all uncomfortable to carry or hunt with in dense cover, I now use a gun with a 44" barrel and do fine, go for the PRB approach they are all you need for deer in the .54 or .50 within ML oped sight range.

[quigleysharps4570]

Keith you being new to muzzleloading I think I'd start with a percussion rifle instead of the flinter.
When you get real comfortable shooting and maintaining that percussion rifle...then put a flinter on your wish list.

[kb]

I have the GRP in .54 in both flint and percussion. They are both accurate and quite effective on deer. I even took a 200-pound hog with it. With a good hit, the animal will go down.

I also have a TC in .50 and .40 caliber. I mostly shoot the GPR's.


Historically I don’t think that there were too many half-stock flinters, so that is something to think about.

TC has a lifetime warranty, and many many accessories (barrels) for versatility. I think that they come with a 1/48 twist that is good for RPB as well as conicals. You can add a green mountain IBS barrel for a 1/70 dedicated prb barrel, or add a faster twist for sabot style shooting.

The GPR has the same barrel versatility, but not as many offerings. I like the GPR as it is more traditional looking. I browned my barrel and furniture, and rubbed my stock with Tru-oil to a really nice sheen. It looks really antiqued now. It fools lots of shooters.

Good luck with your choice

kb

[blackopsglock]

Be sure to check out TVM and their fine line of rifles.

If your looking for a entry level flintock,,this is the way to go.