I am thinking about getting a flintlock and I have no clue where to start I have a tradition percussion and I have looked at there ky long rifle flintlock but its higher then what I like to pay so I looked at the tradition frontier rifle and I don't know how good of a gun it is and how historical accurate it is I'm just looking for advice thanks
flintlocks advice?
- Thread starter jrbaker90
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with flintlocks, the most important thing is the lock. SPend too much money and you have spent too much. DOn't spend enough and you will get a POC lock that doesn't spark and can't be correctd without spending more money. I have a couple of flint rifles and the locks cost +/- $100 when they were purchased 30 years ago. If I were looking today, I would consider a used semi custom or custom rifle from Track of the Wolf or Log Cabin.
Traditions and others like it are not going to cut it as flintlocks. They barely are acceptable as percussion rifles.
Traditions and others like it are not going to cut it as flintlocks. They barely are acceptable as percussion rifles.
Curator
Member
Strawhat is telling like it is! You might look around for a used Cabella's "Blue-ridge rifle" made by Pedersoli as it has a good lock. Another choice is to buy a flint version of the Lyman Great Plains rifle Or Tompson Center Hawken, and get an L&R replacement lock for another $150. These locks aren't exactly "drop-in." You will need to do some careful inletting to get them to fit correctly.
You should check out this forum:http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com
"Most" of the information you will get there is pretty good but as always, beware of internet experts with strong opinions not based in fact or actual experience.
You should check out this forum:http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com
"Most" of the information you will get there is pretty good but as always, beware of internet experts with strong opinions not based in fact or actual experience.
xXxplosive
Member
For something just decent in a Flintlock, be prepared to spend at least 1500.00 today especially from Track...I have quite a few and have been hunting with them for over 25 yrs.....the prices have really gone up. My latest was by Wm. Shipman of Pa. and cost me $4500.00 back when, but it's a beauty....and yup, I hunt deer with her every year.
whughett
Member
Do a search on one of the Gun Sites, such as Guns America or GunBroker.
There is a Hatfield for sale on GunsAmerica. For sheer beauty it is hard to beat a Hatfield Rifle.
There is a Hatfield for sale on GunsAmerica. For sheer beauty it is hard to beat a Hatfield Rifle.
Noz
Member
Please, pay attention to those that say the lock is the most important piece of the gun and in many cases the most expensive.
I bought a quality gun and after several months of frustration I traded it for a percussion gun.
The man that I traded with spent more than the cost of the original gun on a new lock and has a fine shooting gun.
I bought a quality gun and after several months of frustration I traded it for a percussion gun.
The man that I traded with spent more than the cost of the original gun on a new lock and has a fine shooting gun.
loose noose
Member
I bought the Lyman Great Plains rifle kit a little over a year ago, in the flintlock version, for right around $500.00. Being as I'm retired, I took my time and built a really nice rifle. In fact the rifle is extremely accurate (50 Caliber) and it fires as quickly as any of my percussion firearms, which says something about the quality of the lock. The only problem I had with the lock was the frizzen spring broke, however, that was an easy fairly inexpensive replacement.
Pete D.
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Lyman
Probably the best buy in a flintlock right now is the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (GPR). Yes, you can change the lock if you wish but that is a just a nice frill.
I have had my GPR for years and it still has the factory trigger. it is extremely reliable and very accurate.
It is a nice gun out of the box.
I have a custom made flintlock, a 16 gauge fowler, that is also a fine shooter but a different type of shooting of course. An upland gun.
Pete
Probably the best buy in a flintlock right now is the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (GPR). Yes, you can change the lock if you wish but that is a just a nice frill.
I have had my GPR for years and it still has the factory trigger. it is extremely reliable and very accurate.
It is a nice gun out of the box.
I have a custom made flintlock, a 16 gauge fowler, that is also a fine shooter but a different type of shooting of course. An upland gun.
Pete
BCRider
Member
I've been shooting my Lyman GPR for two years now and it's been mostly a great and reliable gun. Much of my early troubles were due to me trying to get too much life out of a flint. I realize now that they are somewhat expendable and only last for maybe 100 shots due to either self knapping or due to needing to be hand knapped to freshen up the edge when it rounds and smoothens off too much.
I've found that one needs to keep the pan wiped off and reasonably clean as well. And a touch hole wire in place while you're loading aids in getting a more consistent and quicker ignition.
The one thing I'm having trouble with at the moment is that the frizzen seems to be a little too soft. So it produces only a few red sparks instead of a nice shower of bright white sparks. Taking it off and having a go at re-hardening is on the "To Do" list.
I've found that one needs to keep the pan wiped off and reasonably clean as well. And a touch hole wire in place while you're loading aids in getting a more consistent and quicker ignition.
The one thing I'm having trouble with at the moment is that the frizzen seems to be a little too soft. So it produces only a few red sparks instead of a nice shower of bright white sparks. Taking it off and having a go at re-hardening is on the "To Do" list.
Loyalist Dave
Member
I've owned a .62 jaeger and a .54 jaeger. Got rid of both. Economic problem not a rifle problem.
Depends on what you want to hunt really. The idea behind the Jaeger was a handy rifle in heavy brush as well as on horseback. Germans have always been fond of large projectiles from relatively light rifles, for you shoot it once in the day; while carrying the rifle all day.
Anyway, a .54 will serve you well, a .58 is not much bigger, and either will take everything in North America. A .62 will be closer to what was often found in Jaeger rifles in history, some were even larger.
I highly recommend that you build it with a "swamped" barrel, they taper in the middle and thicken at either end.
As for "building" a flintlock, that's not for the novice. If it was my first time out, I'd find a company that would inlet the lock and barrel for me, and then finish the rest of the rifle myself.
LD
Depends on what you want to hunt really. The idea behind the Jaeger was a handy rifle in heavy brush as well as on horseback. Germans have always been fond of large projectiles from relatively light rifles, for you shoot it once in the day; while carrying the rifle all day.
Anyway, a .54 will serve you well, a .58 is not much bigger, and either will take everything in North America. A .62 will be closer to what was often found in Jaeger rifles in history, some were even larger.
I highly recommend that you build it with a "swamped" barrel, they taper in the middle and thicken at either end. As for "building" a flintlock, that's not for the novice. If it was my first time out, I'd find a company that would inlet the lock and barrel for me, and then finish the rest of the rifle myself.
LD
BILLYDIXON
Member
I built a Ithaca .50 Hawken percussion back 1980. That was my first one. Then I built a kit I got from Track of the Wolf a .60 Jäger flintlock that was a real nice build. Then another Track of the wolf a full stock Hawken flint lock .54. I bought two more flint locks one from Track of the Wolf. I wanted a rifle I could use to reeanacter French Indian war and Revolutionary war. It is a .54 flint lock. It has a Queen Ann lock and the barrel is 44" it barely fits in my Jeep Cherokee with the back seat folded down. The last one I bought from TVM. It's a it's a full stock flint lock in .40 cal. And I enjoy shooting that rifle rather than larger caliber. I unfornatly had to sell the Jaeger. Try track of the wolf there r plenty of guns in stock.
MICHAEL T
Member
I have a traditions Ky flint lock . I bought used in gun shop for 35 bucks Dealer hates any thing not inlne . I ve had going on 3 years It has never fail to fire. In fact seems about as quick as a percussion I own . Since just a play rifle Iam not going to change anything It works and pretty accurate good enough for my old eyes.
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