Looking to get my first flint lock rifle. I own 2 modern muzzleloaders so I have some experience with muzzleloaders. What’s everyone’s suggestions for a affordable Rifle for me to get in to flick locks with? I was looking at the traditions deer hunter, have no idea if it’s a good option.
Affordable flint lock
- Thread starter mattgoulding
- Start date
I own a bunch of flinters. Perhaps too many, even a couple of unfinished kits. I like the Lyman made rifles, especially the Deerstalker (.50) which is perfect for deer hunting in Northern Ont. I also hunt with a Dixie Pennsylvania rifle, .50 cal. I should finish the Jim Chambers kit in .58. The barrels get lighter as you go up in caliber, and some are swamped giving them a good balance.
I would probably pick a .54 as the best all-round caliber. The style, the amount of brass, length of barrel, rifle twist (round ball or conical would depend on the purpose of the rifle.
The quality of Pedersoli, Lyman, Thompson Center are very good, and I have never heard anything bad about the Traditions, to be clear.
I buy all the accessories from Track of the Wolf. You will love the flinter!
I would probably pick a .54 as the best all-round caliber. The style, the amount of brass, length of barrel, rifle twist (round ball or conical would depend on the purpose of the rifle.
The quality of Pedersoli, Lyman, Thompson Center are very good, and I have never heard anything bad about the Traditions, to be clear.
I buy all the accessories from Track of the Wolf. You will love the flinter!
I seen a few of these built it your self kits, how are they? Easy to build? And how’s the quality of the components?
As for the kits, they range in difficulty depending on manufacturer. Ive built a few now. Started with a traditions and it was fairly straight forward with a few issues here and there. Last kit was a kibler colonial rifle and it was a dream to build. I spent lots of time on the metal. It depends mainly on your budget.
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I am trying to stay on the lower end for my budget as flint locks are something new for me. I have always had an interest in them but that don’t mean I will get one and like it. So I don’t want to invest to heavily. Trying to find the most cost efficient way to start.
The kits can be expensive, but you can make them as simple or as ornate as you want, suited to your time and talent. Many require very little "creation", just fitting and finishing. The Thompson Center kits required very little work except for polishing brass, and sanding/oiling the stock. I would not hesitate to buy the well known kits, but you must make a project plan to do the work - if you are like me you are better off to buy a new or used gun, ready to go.
Used flinters seem to run $5-700. 10 years ago they cost $400 new - now they are $8-1000. Not sure why the jump over the years.
If you visit Track of the Wolf website they sell used guns, not sure if to Canada, and it is a great way of understanding how these things are priced. While you are waiting for the right gun, subscribe to Muzzleloader Magazine, the best old-school mag left on the store shelves.
Used flinters seem to run $5-700. 10 years ago they cost $400 new - now they are $8-1000. Not sure why the jump over the years.
If you visit Track of the Wolf website they sell used guns, not sure if to Canada, and it is a great way of understanding how these things are priced. While you are waiting for the right gun, subscribe to Muzzleloader Magazine, the best old-school mag left on the store shelves.
do not buy a low end flintlock....you will get pissed off and never fire the thing. Buy quality right off the hop
a good quality lock is most important next is the barrel , pick a caliber that will do everything you want and practice lots
and once you are hooked you can blame me.
a good quality lock is most important next is the barrel , pick a caliber that will do everything you want and practice lots
and once you are hooked you can blame me.
exactly ...
what is "affordable"?? what is your price range?
"kits" come in 3 flavors
Traditions types - never built one, but I hear you can slap one together in a weekend. - someone else will chime in.
Kibler - never built one, but have the top rating all around will cost you around $2k after exchange, shipping and duty. depending on the stock grade.
everyone else. will cost you about $1100CDN to get all the parts up here (if you can find them) - but these are unfinished parts that need a LOT of work, rough castings, questionable inlet jobs, tap, drill all holes, metal and wood finishing.
So, spend $1100 and throw it in the trash, or spend $900 more and get a good rifle. Buy once, cry once, I say.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
Lyman used to make good quality kits that weren't to technical to build. Not sure if they still do but I think there was one at the Calgary gunshow for around $600.
A friend did a Traditions kit this winter and was quite happy with it but it's a caplock. No experience with their finters though.
A friend did a Traditions kit this winter and was quite happy with it but it's a caplock. No experience with their finters though.
The more I look at the kits or buying parts and building a gun. I think about all the other projects I need to get done. And I don’t think I would find the time to do it right. I would rush just to get it done. So I think I am going to look at used/new rifles and see if I can find one in Canada that fits what I am looking for. Any suggestions on dealer that you have delt with in the past that has brought in flintlocks from the USA for you let me know.
You might want to think about buying an inexpensive gun and replacing the lock with a quality one. I haven't looked at prices recently but I would guess a good flint lock would run $150 and some of the companies selling have illustrations which are the actual dimension of the product. That would more or less let you drop in a quality lock. One thing you do have to worry about is that there are some guns made with a drum or vent liner which screws almost all the way through both sides of the barrel. That means a tiny hole leading to the powder and frequent failure to fire in the case of a percussion and even worse for a flint lock. I am not sure how you would identify them other than to stick with models which come with a snail in the case of percussion and have a flint model of the same thing.
cheers mooncoon
