[cayugad]

At MidSouth Shooters Supply I was shopping for projectiles and stuff. I then saw that they had barrels for my Lyman Trade Rifle for under $100.00. I sat and thought about a .50 caliber flintlock for that rifle. I have a .54 but would like something else to play with. So I bought one of them and a ton of other stuff. No wonder they love me.

It came today and it fits my rifle perfect..

Now I have to watch the gun adds and see if I can pick up a stock and lock. The rifle came with a new tang. So maybe I can build another rifle out of it and it can sit next to its big brother..

Well I knew it was windy and late in the afternoon, but a quick ten shots never hurt anyone. So I hauled the new .50 caliber outside.

Rifle: Lyman Trade Rifle Flintlock .50 caliber
Powder : Goex 3f 70 grains
Projectile: .490 home cast roundball with .018 pillow tick moose milk lube
Distance: 25 yards (range finder)
Weather: 72º sunny, windy blue sky
Sights: non adjustable old style iron sights

I loaded the rifle and forgot what a great trigger the Lyman Trade Rifle has and it surprised me with a slight hangfire. Shot number one so noted.

After being surprised by the first one, I hunkered down and shot nine more rounds. Over all I was surprised by the way this rifle shot. The lock worked flawless.

 

[Gil Martin]

Gotta love those Trade Rifles

I went the other way and converted several .50 caliber flintlocks to .54 by getting additional barrels and tangs. That is some fine shooting. All the best...
Gil

 

[oldbrass33]

That's a nice rifle, I shoot a fifty and love it. I notice you use .490 balls, ever try the .495's?? GMB recommends that for a target load, with .018" pillow tick it starts really hard, in fact it's hard to do without dinging up the front of the ball with the short starter. I can load .490's with a lot less effort and no deformation. Great shooting, by the way.

 

[cayugad]

I have the same rifle in .54 caliber also.

Yes I use the .490 ball because I cast them myself. I use a .018 pillow tick and they load beautiful. I had a .495 mold and a .535 mold and sold them. I hated to work that hard to load a round ball. But if this rifle will keep shooting like it does, I have no problems. I do think 70 grains of Goex 3f is a good deer load for where I hunt.

 

[Big John Linney]

Flintlocks

Wow, I love your collection of ML's. I have seven flintlocks, plus nine cap locks. Does not include cap lock revlovers. Now, which one do I take deer hunting??