Any impressions on this rifle?
What do you old hands have to say?

The couple I've handled have been very nice guns, with above average wood, and pretty good wood to metal fit. The finish has been good, although the blued barrels lack much of a final polish.

The Stainless versions have really impressed me, in that theya re all stainless, they shoot well, and have a really handsome appearance, while being imminently practical.

While having a "compromise 1:48" rifling twist", I suppose this is the norm these days, and they shoot patched RB's pretty well in the .54 caliber up to about 80 grains of FFFg black. Can't comment on the .50 calibers, but the 54's have shot well.

The stock configuration makes them comfortable to shoot with heavy loads, and having relatively short overall lengths (for a muzzleloader) they handle neatly in the woods.

Just my observations.

God Bless,

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Marshall
Romans 1:16



Beartooth: A Bullet Worth Waiting For!

For the money the Lyman .54 Deerstalker is a good shooter. I agree with all that Marshall says about it. The only things I did not like about it is the standard rear sight, and the ramrod. I put a lyman 57SML receiver sight on mine. The standard rear sight is hard to adjust. Must drift for windage, small screws for elevation. The ramrod is synthetic, and is not rigid enough. I replaced mine with a T/C fiberglass.-Landngroove.

I have one in .50 cal and love it. I will go along with the poor rear sight, I have replaced mine with the 57sml too. The Deerstalker is about the perfect length and weight for hunting, and is very accurate with balls or bullets. The only regret I have is mine is .50 cal not .54. Good hunting.

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Manitoba Hunter   Hawk

k, newb alert...

I'm this close to buying a Deerstalker, but now incur the "use the **** search feature gods" by asking...."Why do you guys like the 54 better than the 50?"

I'm lookng at getting the stainless model, which appears to be a little lighter than the blued, and I thought that by sticking with a 50 instead of a 54, I'd keep the weight up.

But...again...clueless newb....

Thanks, all.

Mine'a a flintlock 54 caliber.
I replaced the factory rear sight with a fibre optic adjustable one, (it doesn't detract from the old-timey look), and started having a ball with it.

PA muzzleloader hunting laws allow in lines with scopes and all the modern stuff in the early season, but only "primitive" muzzleloaders in the late, (after Christmas), season.
I simply carry the Deerstalker during both seasons.

The .54 round lead Hornady balls do fine. I chronographed various loads and came up with a load of 120 grains of FFg that shoots dead on at 100 yards without unacceptable rise at shorter ranges. (I forget the velocities, but I've got it written down somewhere... that just gives me an excuse to shoot some more).