Which Lyman muzzleloader should a newbie buy?

[Slasher]

Alright... I've been sitting on the fence, for a couple of years... Decided this year is it... I'm going to get a muzzleloader!!! I've never had one, but have shot a few friends and really want an sidelock over an in-line... Everyone I hunt with who muzzleloads use in-lines... It's to be a GA deer rifle, so probably small does up to 180 lb deer or so, hogs possible... so I want a solid punch!!!

I want a caplock and have been quite impressed with the Lymans for its traditional look in design and wood, yet still reasonable enough that I'd take it out hunting in the deer woods... The TC are nice, but another $200 doesn't pull me toward them... Now the hard part, I want to use PRB so, I figured the .54 cal is the order of the day as I'd like a solid hitting 100 yd gun if I can do my part. So is the 1;48 of the trade rifle/deerstalker or the 1:60 of the GPR better?

I like the GPR and trade rifle, but was also considering getting the GPR in kit form, but unsure how difficult it is to rust brown the steel... I am handy, but never attempted metal finishing... I am looking to have fun more than anything else... Making meat would be a definite plus, but that is more on me than the tool being utilized...

Any insight would be appreciated  as when getting into something new... Doing right the first time is so much more enjoyable (usually cheaper too!!!) Come on help me make the right choices...

Thanks,

Slasher

[flintlock]

I shoot a .54 custom flinter that I finished in 1990...It does a fine job on our NC deer...I use .80 grs of FF Goex and a prb...The .54 in the Great Plains should serve you well...

Browning metal is pretty easy, especially in our humid climate  in the South, just make sure you degrease the parts well and plug the barrel so you don't brown the bore...

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Don't shy away from the GPR kit.  I've put together several and they are what is known as "kitchen table" kits.  You don't need much for fancy tools.  Screw driver, file, sandpaper. 

They are an In-The-White kit which means you finish the wood and metal.

Rust browning is pretty simple.  The toughest part with the GPR is the long barrel and heating it up (doesn't fit in most ovens).  Just go to the nearest gun shop and get some Birchwood-Casey Plum Brown.  Degrease and rinse metal parts thoroughly, heat and treat.

There are other ways of browning barrels.  One way is to just do nothing about the finish and shoot it a lot.  The salts from the fouling and sweaty hands will give it a brown patina. 

[Slasher]

Gee... this is sounding better an better... I am actually a pretty handy fella... just never delved into kit guns... but have refinished stocks... and played around a lil bit... but it sounds as though the browning is a non issue... For now, I'll just have to wait for MidSouth to get some more GPR kits in-stock...

Anyone have the Trade rifle or deer stalker? What do you think? .


Thanks guys!!!

 

[Landngroove]

I have a Lyman Deerstalker, in .54, percussion. Very accurate with 90, or 100 grains FFG Black Powder, with a .530" round ball, and .018" pillow ticking patch. I would definately reccomend this muzzleloader for deer hunting, if you like Lyman. I did put a 57SML rear peep sight on mine, and was able to use the front sight that came with the ML. This is the only Lyman ML I own, so I can't comment on the others. But if you want a handy, (24" barrel) muzzleloader that is accurate, with a patched round ball, you won't go wrong with this one.

[Slamfire]

Some follks I know don't like the plains rifle, with its Hawken styling, but they all admire the Trade Rifle. 

[Snowshoe]

I have the Deerstalker in .50 and the Trade in .54. The Deerstalker is the best hunting muzzleloader I have ever handled. It weighs in at 7 lbs and fits like a shotgun, and can shoot round balls just fine. I have taken 3 whitetails at just over 100 yards, and many more at closer ranges. The Trade rifle is an 8 lb rifle and looks real purdy, but I just got it so I can't tell you a whole lot more about it. The sights on the Deerstalker are way better than the ones on the Trade rifle, in my opinion, so I ordered the same set from Lyman for $20, and have them on the rifle ready to try out. Good luck with what you pick.

[longcaribiner]

If yer shootin round balls stick with the longest twist they make.  A 1;48 IS "ALLEGED" to be a compromise between good bullet accuracy and good PRB accuracy.  It is just that a compromise. and is not optimum for either.  It is ok for hunting accuracy, but with hunting charges won't generally shoot cloverleafs at 100 yds.     

I also suggest a 54.  further knock down power and more wind resistant.    If you can, go to a store that has several in stock and pick through two or three to get the one you want.  I have recently heard that there is a slight fit and finish problem in the deerstalkerss and GPR's .   Some are nearly flawless and a few are kind of bad.  They are a good selection none the less. 

[Biff Mayhem]

(Fast production guns only) Lyman Deerstalker or T/C Hawkens are two of the best names. The Deerstalker because it's light and short -- Hawkens for it's brassy good looks. The Great Plains rifles are the most traditional-looking, but they are long and heavy.

[Slasher]

Thanks everyone... .54 is a defenite... just hard as I will be mail ordering since I have never seen anything but an in-line in any of the stores around here...

Guess I couldn't do too bad with any trade offs...

    -GPR nice looks, but extra weight... 1:60 twist PRB barrel

    -Deerstalker- short, light and handy...1:48 twist compromise (jack of all ammo) barrel

    -Trade rifle- a mixture of the two... only shinier...

decisions decisions.... decisions....

[offhand35]

I have had several ML sidelock and underhammer rifles, and have been shooting and hunting most recently with a 54cal Deerstalker.  I've been shooting PRB .530 with an .015 patch with 100gr 2F. As has been said, this rifle is great in the close ranges and heavy brush here in CT! I once missed a shot at a great buck that I jumped when my 32" underhammer hung up on some brush on the upswing.......So I looked for a carbine.......


As for doing the plum brown on a barrel, I have had great success on barrels using Birchwhood Caseys Plum brown. Follow directions on the bottle. I used ether starting fluid to degrease [degreasing is of utmost importance], and an everyday propane torch on the barrel hanging from the mounting bracket of my garage door, stabilized by a wooden dowel  slid into the muzzle to touch the floor.

I've done 3.  This 10ga  H&A underhamer with Ed Rayl  bbl came out great!






I don't have any better photos of the barrel, but you can see thatthatt came out well, and  what happens if the metal is not well degreased from the receiver. It would be easy to redo the receiver, I just haven't gotten around to it......

[sharps4590]

Put my check mark in the Lyman Great Plains rifle column.  54 is also the caliber of choice with the round ball twist.

I hunted with a GPR for a few years in the forests, thickets and briars of the Ozarks and never noticed the weight or length being an issue.  Only reason I don't own it now is that I acquired a custom Hawken, which is both longer and heavier and isn't a problem.  Personally, I don't care for the looks of the other two Lymans or the T/C wannabe Hawken....but, as a friend always says, "there's no accounting for taste".

Get the GPR kit, finish it with browned barrel and furniture and an oil finish on the stock and you'll have a fine rifle you can pass on to your successors!

Vic

[Slasher]

Thanks all,

Especially about the metal finishing... I think I should be able to pull it off once it warms up this spring and can hopefully be finished by summer... I am going to get the GPR .54 kit and finish it myself... I just like the looks despite the fact I'ld probably enjoy toting the deerstalker around the woods more... I just like the look of the GPR ... I guess the same emotional pull that has drawn me to a sidelock has won out here on which one to choose... Besides... If I get the desire to shoot conical or sabots... an extra barrel is available to drop in... Maybe not the most rational decision, but if i had to rationalize it, I'd probably be buying a T/C Omega....

I found my project for this spring!!! My plan is to take it slow and easy... I know I will want to brown the metal, but will have to see how the walnut looks before I decide on how to finish that... I'll be sure to post pics, good or bad!!!

thanks again,

Slasher

[Wynn]

My GPR is my go to rifle despite the fact that I have a deerstalker and a couple of TC's. In the woods it just feels..."right". I did just purchase a TC Big Bore (58 cal) but I doubt it will replace my GPR for deer hunting. I plan to use the Big Bore for off season hog hunting.

[SuperstitionCoues]

I enjoy a 50 and a 54 cal. Lyman GPR.  Have one of each.  You can't beat the accuracy and integrity of the weapon, and I don't think you will find anything else more effective than a PRB in a 1:60" twist barrel for game, IMHO.

Check Midsouth Shooters Supply for the weapon or kit to build it, and then www.trackofthewolf.com for supplies to either finish the kit or outfit yourself and the gun.  My wife has given me both kits, and SHE has enjoyed me getting a kick out of building them as much as I have enjoyed buildling and shooting them. 

Now, if I can just get Arizona to institute a really good independent elk season for muzzleloader, I'll be ecstatic.

[offhand35]

If you are still looking around for a GPR, Track of the Wof has a used 54cal flinter for$299


http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(sjrvy3exg22nmh55q4ifin45))/categories/partDetail.aspx?catId=12&subId=81&styleId=280&partNum=AAD-103

[Slasher]

Check Midsouth Shooters Supply for the weapon or kit to build it, and then www.trackofthewolf.com for supplies to either finish the kit or outfit yourself and the gun. 

Thanks Coues... but that's the best price and they've been on order in .54 cal for quite a while now...

If you are still looking around for a GPR, Track of the Wof has a used 54cal flinter for$299


http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(sjrvy3exg22nmh55q4ifin45))/categories/partDetail.aspx?catId=12&subId=81&styleId=280&partNum=AAD-103

Appreciate it off hand... But I am going to get the GPR kit and go for it!!!


I have always been intrigued and I like projects... After hearing and reading about browning, I think I can pull it off... I am looking forward to it and I want to say THANKS!!! to everyone here on GBO... Its things like this that make the web a useful tool.... I will take lots of pictures and let y'all know how it goes and probably ask a bunc more questions as they arise in the build(assembly is probably a more accurate word) process... as I want to make sure all goes well...

Thanks all,

Now just waiting on mid south to get a kit in....

Thanks

Slasher

[toecutter]

Sorry to be piping in so late on this, but if I remember correctly someone had asked me a while back where I had gotten a GPR kit for $280.  Not sure If I could find the link at the time, but here it is and it looks like they dropped the price by $10.  Enjoy!!

http://www.dnrsports.com/acatalog/D___R_Catalog_Lyman_Muzzleloaders_1529.html

Best price I was able to find anywhere.  Hope this catches you in time and saves you a few bucks Slasher.