Investarm/Lyman Plains Pistol .45

[icy]

I bought Investarm/Lyman Plains Pistol cal .45. It is a nice piece and I just love it. But (there is always a but!!!! ). Hammer head is off the centre of the nipple muzzle. Hmmm. See picture Plains: Pistol.45_2a.jpg. Is that bad enough to send her back?

The other discrepancy is that the rifle bore is NOT all the way down to the nipple muzzle. See the picture: PlainsPistol45_0007b. Ramrod shows the way of the bore and the thinner rod show the smaller bore down to the nipple muzzle. Is this normal with the muzzleloaders? Or only Investarm/Lyman has this?? What if I will use light load and there will be empty space between the ball and the powder? Shall I use filler?

Any experience with this nice pistol is welcome!


Jurij

 

[AzShooter1]

That's the typical Lyman Patented Breech. It's on their rifles as well. You will probably fill it with powder, patch and ball with even the light load. The biggest problem is cleaning it. Use a brush to get into the breech area and everything will work fine. If you don't clean it occationally you will get missfires, a devil to figure out why and even harder to clean once everything solidifies down there.

 

[icy]

I ordered their Great Plains Rifle in caliber .45, too. This caliber is I believe most common in Europe while in the states you more like 50 and 54 calibers . Thanks for quick reply!

Jurij

 

[arcticap]

The hammer center doesn't look to be too bad. What's important is that the hammer hits the nipple "square" or flat on the top.
Also, filler should never be necessary. Even if there was a tiny amount of airspace down in the breechplug, it has a thick wall and was designed to withstand the pressure of such a small powder charge.
The pistol and your pictures are very nice icy.

 

[mec]

Interesting. this is the first time I've seen one in .45 (clearly visible in one of your pictures. The lyman product site still lists them only in 50 and 54. My 50 plains rifle has a minimum charge of 60 grains. Anything less and you swage the ball into the unrifled breach area. The smallest charge I've loaded in the 50 plains pistol is 20 grains and the equivalent in H777. The ball is still in contact with the rifling so, no problem.

 

[arcticap]

mec, If the ball goes into an unrifled breech area with less than 60 grains of powder, then your rifle may have an improperly fitted breech plug. It may not be a significant problem, but there really shouldn't be an unrifled space for the PRB to fall into. This isn't really an uncommon problem, but some folks would be upset enough about it to have wanted to correct the problem by having the breech plug refitted when it was first noticed.
Even a small amount of excess space there can accumulate fouling and associated corrosion. It's not something that I would worry about, but some perfectionists do.

 

[icy]

I do not know to paint good, but I think the breech on Lyman GPR looks like this.

 

[Plink]

Icy you are correct about the breech. That's a patent breech. Lyman, Thompson and many others use it. It's a pain to clean. The best way I've found is to find a brush that fits the breech, usually .30 or so, and wrap it with a cleaning patch. This lets you scrub the breech. It's not really much of a worry if you flush the gun with water, as that removes the salts and most of the fouling.

If there is empty space between the ball and powder, using filler is a good idea. There shouldn't be any empty space though, as the breech is designed to be used with most typical powder charges.

 

[mec]

It would be abut 25 years late to complain about it. The rifle is exceptionally accurate and very easy to keep clean, free of corrosion, and ready for postitive ignition.

 

[arcticap]

icy, in your diagram, that unlabeled part is the hook of the "hooked breech". It's a 2 piece design consisting of a hooked breech plug and a tang.

 

[plumberroy]

I have not seen a lyman .45 available at all in the states And I looked I just bought a great plains rifle 50 cal I would drather have a .45 but I could not find one
Roy

 

[icy]

I have not seen a lyman .45 available at all in the states

Lyman/Investarm pistols and rifles (e.g Great Plains rifle) are produceing in .45, .50, and .54 calibers. I had difficulty to get one in .50 cal so I ordered one GPR in .45 cal. I believe for sates Investarm produce .50 and .54 cal rifles and pistols as they are more appreciated in the states. The same was with my Plains pistol. Slovenian Uberti importer had two in .45 cal (now one) and still has four Trade Rifles in .45 cal. 28" barell. But I want rifle with 32" barell. Soooooooooo I wil have to wait a couple of weeks or months for my rifle.