Author Topic: Tradition Percussion Pennsylvania longrifle (Read 1186 times)

pintaildrake · « **on:** December 15, 2005, 03:50:14 PM »

My bro and i want an old style rifle that is between 54"and 60" in over all length in a .50. we looked at this gun, but we have yet to come across anyone who has one or even seen it. we only have two friends who use muzzleloaders, and they both use in-lines. in anyone has ever used this...what are its pros and cons?

Slamfire · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2005, 06:28:58 PM »

PA at one time had the most restrictive muzzleloader laws in the country, roundballs only, maybe even flintlocks only. For the special season they still cling to most of the restrictions, but durin' the normal rifle season they allow the use of conicals in muzzleloaders. Traditions made rifles to fit their laws, and just which one is which is a mystery to me. Try the Traditions website.

lostid · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2005, 10:00:35 PM »

I know Traditions bp rifles. And I've had a new pennsylvania long rifle in my hands. I could go tommorrow, a 1/2 mile down the road, and have a new one in my hands again at the local Spotrsmans Wharehouse. K?
You want the pro's and con's,,

The pro's are: it is a long gun.

The con's are: This is a long heavey 15/16 in barrel fitted to an odd balance of forearm shape, the lower forearm and wrist are bulky. It seems the toeline and comb are made only for the addition of the glued-in and ground too shape brass inlays. It's hard to say whom they had in mind to fit when they set that curved butte-plate in there,,(I thought cast-off was supposed to be in the fore end of the stock,,?) It does have the same reliable Traditions stamped lock we all know. It's a good lock after tuning properly..

long story short,,I think they tried too put a bit much "pizzaz" with brass doo-dads on it,,,for the price, it's still a start-up traditions rifle.

Have you and your brother looked at the Lyman "Great Plains Rifle"?

jgalar · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2005, 01:20:21 AM »

I have never owned one or even shot one. I have seen and handled them though. I think it is a beautiful gun. It does not feel awkward to me at all, fact is it feels and points well. It just doesn't feel like a modern rifle. I would get one but the rear sight is to close for me to see it, old age don't you know. I have a few traditions guns and they are good shooters and dependable. They also have a life time warranty.

mallarddrake85 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2005, 10:14:29 AM »

howdy yall, i am pintails bro.
no we have never heard of the Great Plains Rifles. are they about the same size? are they better made than traditions? do they come in .50 cal? are they octagonal barrel or smooth bore? what kind of sites? do they have a website?
i know i am asking a lot o questions, but i am a rookie when it comes to blackpowder. as my bro put in the original post, we want an inline but only after we get an old style smoke pole. kind of traditionalist you can say. lol.
thanks for your comments and help.
mallarddrake85

mallarddrake85 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2005, 10:24:21 AM »

also, will it shoot round balls as well as conicles?

Trapper-Jack · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2005, 02:18:41 PM »

Guys,
I have not personally shot a Traditions longrifle, but I have some of their pistols and can attest that they are dependable and good shooters. I know a couple of guys that own the Traditions longrifles and they are happy with them. Personally I don't like the comb as I have to get my cheek bone down hard on it to line up the sights.

I can tell you about the Lyman. I have one of them in a .50 caliber percussion. It will shoot straighter than I can offhand. The Great Planes will have about a 1:60 twist in the riflings which will make it excellent for round ball, but not so good for the longer bullets. I have shot a less than 2" group of five at 100 yards off of a rest with it after figuring out what the gun likes. Lyman also makes a barrel that I believe will drop into the rifle with a 1:20 something for longer bullets. I have never been anything but a round ball shooter so I can't tell you much about it.
The Lyman with the 32" barrel isn't as front heavy as the Traditions with the 42" barrel. Either of them can be had in a .50 caliber and I know for sure that the Lyman comes in a .54 as well. Also either of them comes in a flint or cap and the Lyman can be had in either left or right hand models.

The bottom line is that I think that for the money either would make a excellent shooter and be dependable. The big decision is how it fits you and which style trips your trigger. Hope this helps.

Gregory · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2005, 03:06:25 PM »

mallarddrake85 & pintaildrake

Here's info on the Lyman
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/index.htm

I've got a couple of lefty TC Renegades, one 50 and one 54 that are reliable and shoot pretty well. Also a 32 CVA. Never owned a Lyman but a lot of people say good things about them.

Seeing as how you are brothers and both 20 by my powers of deductive reasoning I'd say you must be twins. What part of so Illinois you from?
We might be neighbors.

lostid · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2005, 08:25:27 PM »

Quote from: mallarddrake85

also, will it shoot round balls as well as conicles?

Oh boy,,,,

, Welcome to black powder shooting guys :grin: It's ALOT of fun!! This is a great site to study! On the opening page of the Trad Arms Forum it list's pages, with just a click you can scroll back and read knowledge and experience from folks posting "years" back and not worry about someone trying to sell or market anything,,just shared experience!

The Great Plains Rifle made by Lyman is a slow twist rifled octagon barrel available in .50 or .54.,just right for round ball
The Great Plains Hunter made by Lyman is a fast twist rifled octagon barrel on the same stock in .50 or .54, just right for conicals,,,

The neat thing is you can buy one or the other,,,,then just swap out barrels to any of the calibers or twist rates with just the thumb push of two key's and lifting! They have open buckhorn style iron sights,,double "set" triggers and a reliable coil spring lock adapted to a snail beech. Lock and trigger parts, and/or custom sights are widely available for the lyman.

I'm not trying to sell these things,,but for the money at entry level and ease of use, Heck with proper care, You'll get 90% back if and when you trade.
Do some studies my new duck named freinds

p.s. i have more than a few, "curley" feathers in my cap

captchee · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2005, 04:05:05 AM »

I will only im afraid reinforce what Lostid and trapper jack said . the traditions Pennsylvania while very attractive , its stock is not well designed and is hard to line up on correctly . The Roman comb is very high and for me when I would shoot it would about knock me out when using a heavy loads . I would come home with my face black and blue from the contact with my cheek bones .

As to if it would shoot , yep I have no problems with it there as it was acceptable , not a tack driver but acceptable .
I did have a couple issues with the lock and flash hole as mine was a flintlock .

yottey · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2005, 04:26:24 AM »

They could be Irish twins!

slayer · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2005, 12:24:20 PM »

I would opt for the Lyman Great Plains with the slow twist barrel in either Cap or Flint, their both good. It does sema as though the prices have risen drastically on the LGP rifle in recent years, as have all muzzleloaders. I would opt for the T/C Hawken or Renegade over the Lyman if you are going to pay that much, but the T/C comes with that goofy QLA loading system, not too good for Roundballs. I would call T/C and order the Hawken or Renegade with the optional 31 in 1:66 twist barrel, as they don`t come with the QLA, much better for Roundballs. T/C will hook you up!! Jack.

mallarddrake85 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2005, 12:59:30 PM »

yes we are twins. :grin: :grin: :twisted: