Different take on Lyman's Plains Pistol

[denster]

A few weeks ago, on a whim and because it was cheap, I bought a Lyman's Plains Pistol kit on gunbroker. I made a few changes. Shortened the barrel, reshaped the patent breech, shortened the grip etc. Didn't turn out too bad. What do you think?

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Nice job on the patent breech, looks much better.

 

[Blackpowdershooter44]

That's awesome!

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Looks great, that's the fun of doing a kit gun. You can really make it your own.

 

[Jimster]

Very nice job!

 

[doubleh]

Nice work. Personally I wouldn't have shortened it but that's why we build them. To get what WE want.

 

[ThomasT]

I'm with doubleh. I like the longer barrel but you did a great job on your build.

 

[denster]

Thanks for all the comments. I shortened the barrel because I already have a 9in barreled Hawken style pistol. This balances nice at this length.

 

[Ironhand54]

Looks right handy. Good job

IronHand

 

[whughett]

What caliber? Nice job, I assume you had to cut a new dovetail for the front sight.

 

[expat_alaska]

I just love the wood!

Jim

 

[denster]

What caliber? Nice job, I assume you had to cut a new dovetail for the front sight.

.54 Caliber. Yep had to cut a new dovetail for the front sight.

 

[bannockburn]

denster

Nice job! I like the way it looks!

 

[rodwha]

I like it as well! Nice job!

I’m stumped on the breech fix. What did you do (guessing its internal)?

 

[denster]

I like it as well! Nice job!

I’m stumped on the breech fix. What did you do (guessing its internal)?

I reshaped it externally to look more like a Hawken style patent breech. The way the Lyman kit or the finished gun comes is ,to my eye , just plain ugly

 

[paul harm]

Nice job on the breech - looks really good.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Looks good.

 

[arcticap]

The wood finish looks great.

 

[rodwha]

I reshaped it externally to look more like a Hawken style patent breech. The way the Lyman kit or the finished gun comes is ,to my eye , just plain ugly

I have a Lyman Deerstalker, but can’t for the life of me see the difference. The area you modified is north of the breech plug, right?

 

[Erich]

Wow, that's cooler than a fan!

 

[denster]

I have a Lyman Deerstalker, but can’t for the life of me see the difference. The area you modified is north of the breech plug, right?

It's the area just behind the nipple and in the area of the cleanout screw. On the kit and the factory finished ones that is squared off with just a shallow eye shaped opening where the cleanout screw is located.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

very nice, have you fired it?
I'm curious how you think it handles compared to the original.

 

[Hanshi]

I like your customized pistol a lot! That's what I would like to have for packing in the BP woods. My flint pistol is very nice but a tad long.

 

[denster]

very nice, have you fired it?
I'm curious how you think it handles compared to the original.

I haven't had an opportunity to fire it yet. I have never fired a full sized Lyman's plains pistol I do however have a custom built Hawken style pistol that is bout that size. I like it but it is really muzzle heavy. This one feels better in the hand and on the belt I'll report back when I get a chance to shoot it.

 

[Gordon]

If it's a .50 a patched .490 ball and 50 grains of FFFG is a stout and very accurate load . Back off to 40 grains for target shooting. I use my pistol as a back up if I have to finish a deer after shooting it with my .50 Stalker or my .50 Jonathon Browning mountain rifle. I usually walk aound with the Stalker and the Plains pistol, the Browning from blinds . It really makes me feel good to have the pistol as a ready to go back up and has actually saved me from losing one deer. You gun looks even better for that job of back up.