It looks like a lot of T/C fallowers, but there are no new T/C's that fit your specs. Take a good look at the Lyman Deerstalker, they still make them. They are a good rifle and fit right in under $500 new. Be ware of used muzzleloaders, especially if you can't see it first hand. There are a pile of used muzzle stuffers out there that have pitted and rusted bores.
Good starter BP gun for girls? - traditional only
- Thread starter H Wally
- Start date
For comparison these are my wife and daughter-in-laws rifles.
Top one is a 50 cal Lancaster with a 36" swamped barrel.
Middle , 50 cal CVA 26" X 15/16" barrel
Bottom, 45 cal T/C 25" X13/16" barrel
The Lancaster is beautifully balanced, haven't met a lady yet who couldn't shoot it.
The CVA of the three is the most "front heavy",
The T/C , any lady could shoot this one also.
My D I L finds the CVA too heavy, but has no problem with the T/C
My grandson also shoots a shortened T/C, but uses X sticks .
ww.sittingfox.com sells Lancaster ladies rifle in a kit for $499
a friend of mine has built one for his wife and is in the process of building 2 more for his grandboys.
Cheers nessy.
Top one is a 50 cal Lancaster with a 36" swamped barrel.
Middle , 50 cal CVA 26" X 15/16" barrel
Bottom, 45 cal T/C 25" X13/16" barrel
The Lancaster is beautifully balanced, haven't met a lady yet who couldn't shoot it.
The CVA of the three is the most "front heavy",
The T/C , any lady could shoot this one also.
My D I L finds the CVA too heavy, but has no problem with the T/C
My grandson also shoots a shortened T/C, but uses X sticks .
ww.sittingfox.com sells Lancaster ladies rifle in a kit for $499
a friend of mine has built one for his wife and is in the process of building 2 more for his grandboys.Cheers nessy.
A lightweight muzzleloading rifle has a shorter barrel that is no more than 7/8" across the flats in an octagon barrel which is acceptable up to a .50 cal, a .45 cal can be 13/16" across the flats , the lighter the barrel the lighter the gun. A swamped barrel is even lighter but we are entering custom gun territory then. Smootbores have lighter thinner barrels so are the lightest of all muzzleloader longarms
If you are patient you should be able to find a used .50 flinter for under $400 , no problem ordering a flint longarm from the USA , it isn't considered a firearm and will be delivered directly to your door , no registration needed.
The Lyman Deerstalker is a good gun but I think it is too heavy to truly be called a lightweight , the barrel is too thick .
If you are patient you should be able to find a used .50 flinter for under $400 , no problem ordering a flint longarm from the USA , it isn't considered a firearm and will be delivered directly to your door , no registration needed.
The Lyman Deerstalker is a good gun but I think it is too heavy to truly be called a lightweight , the barrel is too thick .
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Weapontech
CGN frequent flyer
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- On my way to Hell in a handbasket
You might be surprised, but the whole thing cost me less than $500 Canadian. Although I will admit to being a bit of a scrounge when it comes to BP parts, everything on this gun was bought new from various sources.
I had made the half stock for another gent who cancelled his order; with some minor adjustments, I was able to fit the barrel & lock without too much trouble. Despite years of practice, I still have troubles inlaying and getting the perfect fit. You can see some of my "lack of patience" gaps around the lock.
I'm not crazy about the no-name brand set trigger - it's finicky. Once the wife starts to compete with it, I'll get it replaced.
I was pleased with the outcome, and the wife has really latched onto black powder shooting as a result. Nice and light with a centre of gravity closer to the shoulder - it points naturally for her. The .36 is a great shooter; light recoil means her offhand groups are consistant.
Suffice it to say, there is a much more competitive air at our household as a result.
It's a pity that the US and Italian manufacturers didn't copy more British sporting rifles. Most of them were slim, light, and handy. Instead, they copied mountain man Hawkens, etc. and Kentucky rifles. Hawken types had big, fat barrels, so that when the bore rotted out, they could be re-bored to the next larger calibre. Not very practical today, and the balance is awful. Kentucky type rifles, I guess they were intended to double as vaulting poles or something. I think you may be be best served by building one to fit the lady, if she doesn't like the feel of store bought rifles. My most popular BP rifle with the ladies is my Snider cadet carbine, with a proper front sight. Pleasant balance, and they feel like they're really shooting something. The young folks love it, too. Second most popular was a Brown Bess carbine, though it rarely hit anything. It was still fun to shoot!
Was thinking about the cadet carbine as a good general blackpowder gun. Unfortunately not a flinter though. I could maybe build a larger bore carbine in cap and ball/flinlock and a small bore longer barrel gun for longer range. Depends on time and costs of course, but if you're going to make one, may as well make two or three right?
Other thing is, if it will be used for hunting, .54 calibre and larger are more effective, and recoil still isn't bad. Only one girl and one guy ever hurt their shoulder shooting my Martini Henry with full power loads, and nobody ever complained about the Snider's recoil. Many were scared to fire the Snider at first, when they saw the cartridge! Then after firing one, they don't want to stop. The cadet carbine has less recoil than the 3-bander, I found. A shorter push.
