looking for useable flintlock musket/rifle

Don't buy a "cheap" flinter... You'll want to never use one again after the frustration of trying to get it to fire. IMO for a factory rifle, Id go Pedersoli or Lyman great plains over any other. Inexpensive customs can be had for 700USD on up if you watch the US boards and they are fine to ship to Canada. I just had a rifle made by Jackie Brown in the US for about 800$...A good lock is a must on a flinter, a cap gun can get by with a crappy lock but a flinter not so much. Not to say there might not be a gem out there in the inexpensive factory offerings but Ive fooled around with most all of all of em and only use customs now. Many of the quality lock makers do offer semi drop in locks to replace some of the cheaper locks found on low end factory rifles and that could make all the difference.
 
Seems hard to sell quality customs in Canada...Ive had a 62 cal jaeger flint with a conversion drum and lock to perc cap for sale on and off with no interest at all and its at about 1/2 the price of new plus its really in the kind of semi custom class of rifle (less $$). Their are several makers in the US that crank out very inexpensive semi customs, Jack Garner, Jackie Brown, Matt Avance are 3 I've personally owned rifles from. They make no frills inexpensive rifles but use very good quality parts and workmanship is good as well.
 
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Percussion guns usually go for less, but caps at times can be a pain to find, lovely fixer upper military percussion arms are often on the ee for what I consider to be complete steals.

For flintlocks, I would advise to go for something in a military pattern with a big beartrap of a lock and a deep pan, If the lock sparks and the touchhole is positioned correctly it will fire.

Japenese Miroku, and pedersoli besses and charlevilles are great buys if the barrels are ok and the locks are mostly complete, The Indian repros can be great "I have had great experiences" but that said if a gunsmith has a hate on for the Indian made repros I have seen simple gunsmithing work "like changing a spring" turn GREAT shooters into wallhangars and then the shoddy work blamed on the "Indian" musket.

Further "ha ha ha" I think the brown bess is a excellent beginner musket, millions of men of all stripes took them to war for more then 150 years.
 
I will second the advice on NOT buying a cheap flinter.
I have a Euroarms Kentukian 44cal.
I have rebuilt the lock and added a bridle for added strength, refinished the stock, made a solid brass ram rod
Did trigger work to it.....and it fires when it wants to, I hate it.
BUT, it gives me the basis on which to build a wheel lock from scratch and add to a otherwise acceptable gun.
 
Well, If your lacking big funds but have some shop skills, check this out http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/975626-Old-Percussion-Civil-War-Musket

350 bucks "A STEAL!" and these things were built rock solid, carefully remove then replace the nipple, get a 30 dollar cylinder hone and give the bore a basic going over, clean it up and fix any stock damage.

A little time and a pittance of money you will have a really neat shooter.....Shes not a flintlock, but shes 100% traditional and authentic.
 
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Musketfire said:
Percussion guns usually go for less, but caps at times can be a pain to find, lovely fixer upper military percussion arms are often on the ee for what I consider to be complete steals.

For flintlocks, I would advise to go for something in a military pattern with a big beartrap of a lock and a deep pan, If the lock sparks and the touchhole is positioned correctly it will fire.

Japenese Miroku, and pedersoli besses and charlevilles are great buys if the barrels are ok and the locks are mostly complete, The Indian repros can be great "I have had great experiences" but that said if a gunsmith has a hate on for the Indian made repros I have seen simple gunsmithing work "like changing a spring" turn GREAT shooters into wallhangars and then the shoddy work blamed on the "Indian" musket.

Further "ha ha ha" I think the brown bess is a excellent beginner musket, millions of men of all stripes took them to war for more then 150 years.
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I too can vouch for the india made muskets. Depending on where you buy from, some companies will tune, polish and harden parts before sending them your way.

Mine works very well for what I paid. I'm going to be placing an order for a 1777 charleville in the next week or so.
 
juanvaldez said:
Seems hard to sell quality customs in Canada...Ive had a 62 cal jaeger flint with a conversion drum and lock to perc cap for sale on and off with no interest at all and its at about 1/2 the price of new plus its really in the kind of semi custom class of rifle (less $$). Their are several makers in the US that crank out very inexpensive semi customs, Jack Garner, Jackie Brown, Matt Avance are 3 I've personally owned rifles from. They make no frills inexpensive rifles but use very good quality parts and workmanship is good as well.
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That was a good rifle. I really wanted but calibre is hard fill in NB. It's almost impossible to get pure lead here as well. This is the produce nothing province.
 
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