leoparddog
Senior Member
So in another thread just below I mentioned that I want to expand beyond my Hawkens caplock and get my first flintlock. With some help and suggestions here I've spent way too many hours looking through many websites and trying to learn what I don't know.
I'm not sure I've learned that much yet but I have gotten an idea or two. One thing that I can't decide upon exactly yet but seems to have an impact on style of flintlock is caliber. I've ruled out a .50 mainly because I have one and it shoots PRB and other projectiles pretty well. So that leaves me with choosing between a .54 or .58. I don't think I have much interest in going larger than a .58 caliber.
Some of the sites I've looked at don't offer certain styles in anything larger than a .50 but the highly recommended Jim Chambers Issac Hayes does come in a .54 and his Christians Spring - Edward Marshall comes in a .58
Between the two and given that I won't be able to hold either of them before buying, I'm hesitant on the Edward Marshall, the buttstock is 2 3/16" wide - which just seems absolutely huge in my mind's eye. There are others that are even wider.
Sitting Fox has an Early Penn Transitional Jager in .54 or .58 that strikes my fancy but some details are lacking. I'll end up spending about the same or a little more on a Sitting Fox once I add on the metal machining that Jim Chambers includes. Choices on Sitting Fox's website are few in the larger than .50 caliber rifles.
I've also looked at TVM and found references to Tip Curtis' shop in TN, but I'm not ready to make a trip up there yet. TVM is a possible choice for a completed rifle at a few hundred more than one of the kits.
So the .58 does shoot a heavier round ball and might be more effective than a .54 but does it matter?
Thoughts about these styles of rifles and calibers would be appreciated.
Thanks
I'm not sure I've learned that much yet but I have gotten an idea or two. One thing that I can't decide upon exactly yet but seems to have an impact on style of flintlock is caliber. I've ruled out a .50 mainly because I have one and it shoots PRB and other projectiles pretty well. So that leaves me with choosing between a .54 or .58. I don't think I have much interest in going larger than a .58 caliber.
Some of the sites I've looked at don't offer certain styles in anything larger than a .50 but the highly recommended Jim Chambers Issac Hayes does come in a .54 and his Christians Spring - Edward Marshall comes in a .58
Between the two and given that I won't be able to hold either of them before buying, I'm hesitant on the Edward Marshall, the buttstock is 2 3/16" wide - which just seems absolutely huge in my mind's eye. There are others that are even wider.
Sitting Fox has an Early Penn Transitional Jager in .54 or .58 that strikes my fancy but some details are lacking. I'll end up spending about the same or a little more on a Sitting Fox once I add on the metal machining that Jim Chambers includes. Choices on Sitting Fox's website are few in the larger than .50 caliber rifles.
I've also looked at TVM and found references to Tip Curtis' shop in TN, but I'm not ready to make a trip up there yet. TVM is a possible choice for a completed rifle at a few hundred more than one of the kits.
So the .58 does shoot a heavier round ball and might be more effective than a .54 but does it matter?
Thoughts about these styles of rifles and calibers would be appreciated.
Thanks