1 gun with 2 barrels or 2 guns?

[robin_du_bois]

I'm new to the world of flinters but it's something I've considered seriously for the last few years.  I've done extensive reading and research and feel ready to purchase a rifle and get underway.  Those of you who have posted on this board have been of significant assistance.  There is one conundrum I'm left with, however.  As with all things, practice makes perfect.  It strikes me from what I've read that this is especially true of flintlock rifles.  I've determined, therefore, that buying a .32 or .36 cal for plinking and small game will give me ample time to learn the art of shooting the flintlock in the field under all hunting conditions.  But I also want to use the gun for the significant deer and elk hunting opportunities I have.

And thus the question:  Is it better to get one gun fitted with a brace of barrels or buy two guns.

I would like to keep the purchase between $1 - $2000.

Should I buy 2 Pedersoli's, for example, or one semi-custom gun.

Also, any suggestions for gunmakers would be appreciated.  I am particularly fond of the style and fit of the Pedersoli Frontier rifle.

thank you

[tryit]

Robin of the woods(translated) it would be better to have two rifles that have similar physical charateristics than to have one that has a different balance. I have built 5 or 6 with interchangable barrels and the two I build for myself did not suit me and I build another rifle on the same barrel and came out with two guns in both instances. The people of whom I built the interchangable barrels for wanted two guns later. Besides you cannot have too many guns of which you must feed. Tryit.

[filmokentucky]

Agreed. And in your price range you should be able to get a pair of nice semi custom rifles. Check Track of the Wolf for an idea of prices on quality used rifles.

[Ramrod]

I second (third?) the two gun idea, especially with flinters that have pinned barrels. You don't want to drive these pins out more times than neccesary or you risk chipping out the holes in the stock. Also the smaller gun should be slender in both barrel and forend. I doubt you would like the feel otherwise.

[Ladobe]

I did both I guess.   After a 30 year absense from shooting black, I got hooked again several months ago and now am up to 15 rifles and pistols.   One of the rifles is a semi custom Hawken with 3 barrels and both flint and percussion locks (GM 36 & 50 cap and 45 flint barrels).  

Agree with Ramrod... same rifle with 32 and 50/54 caliber barrels will work just like my switch barrel Hawken I guess, but a small profile 32/36 would be a lot more fun for plinking and small game hunting.   For that same reason I have two small profile 32's and another 36 on hand.

FWIW,

Ladobe

[lostid]

A 4th vote for two guns, but get the large caliber first. You can always load down,

Then get the small one;

then get the one in-between;

Don't forget the smooth bore!?; gotta have a smoothy!

then,,,, :eek:    

[filmokentucky]

Yup! And then a couple of pistols and a Hawken and a nice swivel breech
rifle and a....

[Birddog6]

I agree with the others, get  2  rifles.  I take two when I go deer hunting and usually end up squirrel hunting in the mid afternoon & this way I can do both. Swapping barrel is a PITA and you WILL eventually end up screwing upthe wood & etc., unless the rifle has wedge pins/keys in it.

I prefer the .36 caliber or .40 caliber for squirrel & the .54  or .58 caliber for deer.    You can have two almost identical Isaac Haines rifles built, one in a  B40  swamped 38" barrel & the same rifle in a C54 swamped 38" barrel, the rifles will be within  1/2# of each other.  The B40 barrel will be just a tad heavier than the C54 but the C54 takes a lil more wood to support it, so they end up about the same weight or very close.  Also the Isaac Haines rifle in a 38" barrel if a very well balanced rifle, easy to handle, & extremely comfortable to shoot.  I suggest a Chambers Siler or a Chambers Deluze Siler lock & R.E.Davis triggers, as they are the best. (IMHO)

Hope you find what ya want.  :-)

Birddog6

www.custommuzzleloaders.com

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Good idea fer startin out with flints on squirrels.  That's what got me hooked.  The opportunities to shoot a deer can be few and far between.  If you didn't do your part in making it work - you can get frustrated by having to wait until next year for the next opportunity.

However, with squirrels if you make a mistake and your pan goes poof but the gun doesn't go boom, you just correct your mistake and wait another 10 minutes.  Eventually you feel comfortable enough to try it out on deer.  In the mean time, you'll find that a .36 flintlock will make squirrel hunting extremely enjoyable.  To the point where you look forward to the squirrel opener as anxiously as you do the deer opener.

$2000 will get you 2 semi-custom flintlocks of excellent quality.  You may not get much fo-forah with them, like carving, inlays, and tiger maple.

I've got a semi-custom Early Virginia with swamped barrel and Jim Chamber's Colonial Virginia lock.  I was a couple hundred short of the $1,000 mark.  So the components are what you would find on a $3,000 gun, but mine just lacks the fancy carving.  I'm working on my own type of carving and inlay.  "That clover-leaf there just behind the entry thimble, that's from hunting Wildcat Mountain in 2004, I got 2 does that trip.  And the little crystal embedded on the cheek, that's sand from when I was. . ."

[Winter Hawk]

I agree with the two gun approach also.  When you want to go out after squirrels you don't want to have to switch barrels because the other one is on the rifle.  As mentioned, the balance and feel can be off between the barrels.

Another source of reasonable guns is Tennessee Valley Arms.  Their website is:

http://www.avsia.com/tvm/

It is a little different.  Where it offers you to get their catalog, click on the arrow and the drop down list opens with the individual guns.  Clicked on the one you want, then open it by clicking "come see the guns here."

-Winter Hawk-