considering a flintlock

ive been thinking of a flintlock for a while now, I was on deercreek website and found they have a lh st louis hawken flintlock for under 300.00 https://www.deercreekproducts.net/store/p727/CVA_St._Louis_Hawken_LH_Rifle.html
I'm considering this the price is right or would yall buy a TC or another manufacture gun rather than the CVA?

CVA are decent guns. The lock may or may not have issues, but the rest of it should be fine. Someone posted on another thread that L&R made them a LH lock based on the side plate he sent them. So in the event that the lock is junk, for that price, you can spend the $200 and get a great lock and still be in it less than a TC or Lyman. Either of which may or may not need a replacement lock anyway.

Or save your money and get a used semi custom. Choice is yours. It’s your $$. :v

Good luck!

It really doesn't matter if you add racing tires to a Ford Pinto, it's still not a race car....

:rotf: yep. knew a rel smart kid that put a $4000.00 stereo in a Pinto :shocked2: :youcrazy: :surrender:

I was about to point out it looks strikingly similar to my Traditions Hawken Woodsman in LH till I realized its a flinter.. I'd prolly try it anyhow if I had the cash..

I'd recommend that you save your money and get a higher quality gun. Either a used semi-custom or decent kit in the white. I've known people that have given up on rocklocks because they got so frustrated shooting mediocre guns.

It is YOUR money, but choose wisely Grasshopper...

stubshaft said:

I'd recommend that you save your money and get a higher quality gun. Either a used semi-custom or decent kit in the white. I've known people that have given up on rocklocks because they got so frustrated shooting mediocre guns.

It is YOUR money, but choose wisely Grasshopper...

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I should add, I have had the pleasure of shooting a well made flintlock on at least two occasions. So if I were to try this it would be knowing that I might be getting a lemon. If I did get that lemon Id consider it shame on me for wasting the money.

If you going to get it open up the touch hole with a1/16 drill bit because that's what I did to my cva mountain rifle and use fff for the main charge and if you can wait and save up and pick up a custom-made or so my cousin made rifle it probably be better because I made one on track of the wolf kit and is 10 time better then my CVA Mountain rifle hopefully this helps and have fun and good luck

that all depends on you and what you can afford and your expectations.

I would not buy one, but I am at a place in my life where I can afford what I want.

If money is tight and or you have realistic expectations of the rifle go for it and enjoy it.

I had a pinto station wagon that I shared with my sister growing up. It was the fastest 4 cylinder around. I hated that car, it was not what I wanted to be driving, but it was what we could afford and what our parents made us drive. I thought it was shameful to be driving it as a farm boy. But it was much better than no car. Kinda like your rifle question.

Fleener

jrmflintlock said:

CVA are decent guns. The lock may or may not have issues, but the rest of it should be fine. Someone posted on another thread that L&R made them a LH lock based on the side plate he sent them. So in the event that the lock is junk, for that price, you can spend the $200 and get a great lock and still be in it less than a TC or Lyman. Either of which may or may not need a replacement lock anyway.

Or save your money and get a used semi custom. Choice is yours. It’s your $$. :v

Good luck!

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Are you saying L&R locks are junk? I, and many others, would strongly disagree with you. I had an L&R Classic that was the sparking-est thing you can imagine. Another that was excellent. Good locks.

Rifleman1776 said:

Are you saying L&R locks are junk?

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Me thinks they were implying that the CVA lock could be junk. To me, at best they can be hit or miss.

Two examples ... my twin brother bought a cheap < ~$300 flint rifle and had sooooooooo much intermittent results w/ the lock, that he almost gave up on BP shooting! It would be fine for a few shots - or days - then wouldn’t spark or fire at all. He finally got some other guy to buy it (who wanted a ”˜project’ gun) and he put the $$ into a better rocklock - finally!

On the other hand, not 2 months ago a guy at work says he knows that I like BP toys that go bang and wanted to know if I wanted a ”˜used’ MZL’dr, from a friend of his, for $50?

Used? It looked like new! Not only that ... it came complete with not one, but two charges down the barrel. The bottom-most charge was 2 Pyrodex pellets; no small wonder the rocklock would not go off! He must’ve told his buddy, and his buddy said, hey let me try it. They put ~80-grns of loose BP on TOP of the 1st charge and added a patched ball ... DOH!

Not only did I get a ~$300 retail CVA Hawken for $50 ... but the next day he came in and gave me a box full of 2 boxes of 50-cal roundballs, box of mineballs, Pyrodex pellets, patches, a flint pan charger, short starter, and all the jags & tools one could ever use, plus a couple tubes of bore buttle lube - for free!

And that CVA lock ... sparks like a house afire! Now I didn’t like the wood color, so I am refinishing it, then will give it to a youth for them to get into flintlock shooting and it looks like it will be reliable, or least a good intro.

What flint62smoothie said!

L&R are Great locks!! The CVA lock may be fine, but it might be a hole lot of frustration.

My First flintlock was a Traditions Kentucky Kit I did a crappy Rush job on. When I got the Flintlock itch, I sent the Barrel back to traditions and had them put a touchhole liner in it and send me one of their flintlock. It had its quirks but I had fun at Rondyzous and won lots of plunder!! Then I built my first custom five years later. Worlds of a difference, but I was already hooked.

An L&R lock is not Racing wheels, A fancy trigger is racing wheels, A good Lock is more like a Hemi V8 engine! CVA guns have decent barrels (Tranny). Put a good lock on it and it will Race with the best of them! Yes it will still not be HC or PC but it will shoot great! Not everyone here wants to be HC or PC.

$500 is a lot cheaper than Taking $800-1000 worth of parts and getting a glorified club.

Now on the other hand, If you "want to be" HC or PC even down the road, save your money and get a better rifle.I know Howi Has several BP Guns to keep him busy.

By better, I don't mean TC, pedersoli or Lyman! AS BlackHand would say they are just a different color of Pintos.

There are a lot of Happy Pinto Drivers lets not knock them cause they drive a Pinto! Like we have said many times. You have to start somewhere!

:v :v :v

:v

It sounds like a good deal to me. Some are too quick to disparage factory rifles which can often shoot along with the best custom guns. I've owned, hunted and had fun with Traditions, CVA and Pedersoli and enjoyed each one. The barrels are excellent! The lock may or may not be the best, but it could be. Regardless, it's an easy fix if it is not. If I wanted a good rifle and could afford it yet didn't want to wait months & months to get it; I'd buy it.

Thank you men!!! money is not an issue, The more I get into traditional muzzleloading the more I want to try all aspects of it. hearing all of your advice sure has helped me the last couple years. building a gun or kit is out of the question for me I am not mechanically inclined lol. the more I look I believe I want one with a long barrel at least 32 inches prefer a minimum of .54 caliber a .62 would be perfect ive got a Kodiak .72 but think a flinter in .62 would be awesome. once again thank you all for your advice

If money isn't an issue, then yes, get a handmade rifle.

I agree! Get a nice custom that is exactly what you want! The possibilities are, to quote Iron belly, “as many as stars in the sky”
Well made flintlocks are worth the $$!

Good Luck!!!

I dunno......I think "buy once, cry once". If you buy a quality rifle, you will (likely) never regret your decision.....plus, shooting a good quality accurate rifle will be a pleasure....not a chore.

I purchased a T\C kit gun in '79. It was a chore to shoot any type of consistent groups. Ten years ago I purchased a Green Mt. "drop in" replacement barrel. The rifle is now a real delight to shoot accurate, tight groups. The original kit was IIRC $200. The GM barrel was $200.

You should consider a Colonial Rifle flintlock kit by Jim Kibler.

See = https://www.jimkibler.net/blog/colonial-rifle-kit-photos-now-taking-pre-orders

Get it in 54-cal, link = https://kiblerslongrifles.com/collections/colonial-rifle-kit

Waiting to hear on mine, thanks for posting the picture. Mark