Best inexpensive BP pistol

Title says it, I'm gonna start looking for one. I dont want to build a kit, but am not opposed to a kit built gun. My only hard and fast requirements are that it be .50cal and rifled. I'd like it to "kinda match/go with" either my Hawken percussion or my TN Mtn flintlock longrifle. Not too long, not too short.

My son has a nice hand built flintlock pistol with a .62cal smoothbore Ed Rayl barrel that he paid $500 something for. I dont need one that nice. What makes/models should I be looking at, and how much should I be prepared to spend?

I've tried different "inexpensive" pistols. I've found that in general the traditions and Pedersoli Kentucky pistols have stiff triggers, which don't work that well for me. I recommend that you look into the Traditions Trapper, can be found for around $300 new, it has double set triggers and is accurate. I recently bought a 45 cal made by interarms, probably made in the 1980's, Kentucky style, it also has a stiff trigger. The Lyman Plains has a decent trigger, single, and are good shooters, personally I'd go for the Trapper. Price is about the same.

Traditions trapper! It has double-set triggers and they are VERY accurate! I received one as a gift, and am super excited about it. They are truly wonderful shooters.

IMO, get a T/C Patriot. Production stopped in the '70's, but used ones run around $300-$400. Available in .36 and .45 cal, with double set triggers.

Lymans Plains Pistol.....I have a .54, it's so neat I want a .50 too

I have both a Traditions caplock Kentucky in .50 and a Pedersoli .50 Kentucky flintlock. They both shoot well. The Traditions has a nice trigger that keeps getting better the more I shoot it. The Pedersoli trigger is not nearly as good but I haven't shot it as much, it seems to be improving. Also the Pedersoli bore was rather rough when I first got it but is starting to smooth up from shooting.

I like them both. The fit and finish is nicer on the Pedersoli. At some point I might refinish the Traditions stock and take off a lot of extra wood in the process.

As for accuracy, well my eyes aren't as young as they once were but the last time I had the Pedersoli out I fired a 10 shot group at 22 yards. Nine went into 1 7/8 inch and one flyer (first shot from clean barrel) made it a 3+ inch group. Not too bad for an old guy with a flinchlock. Load was 35 grains GOEX 3f, .490 ball, .011 patches, with a 1/4" castor oil/beeswax soaked fiber wad under the patched ball.

The Traditions shoots even better, I misplaced my notes on it but I seem to remember between my wife (who is a better shot than I am) and myself we had some truly braggable groups. I had to replace the front sight on it, the original shot way high. Also, it likes a .495 ball.

I have a Traditions Trapper 50 caliber in percussion which is very accurate. I do have to swab between shots to maintain the accuracy. The set triggers do their job. Recently got a flint version but haven't had a chance to shoot it. I've read great reviews of the Lyman Plains pistol but haven't used one. (Yet)

Jeff

I've got 2 Traditions Trappers. Bought them both used at rondevouses. They are very accurate. I shoot one and my son's shoot the other. I shoot a .490 ball, .015 patch and 25 grains of FFF. I surprise myself with how accurate it is. Moose milk on the patches I can shoot about 25 shoots on a trail without any crud issues. Only black powder pistols I've owned, so nothing to compare with. Paid 180 and 165 for them.

A lot will depend on your budget, Traditions makes an affordable and accurate Kentucky pistol while Pedersoli uses nicer wood and is better looking over all but costs more. I shoot a Traditions Kentucky .50 caliber cap lock and like it. Picked it up at a gun show for $100.00 which was a steal and saw a few Pedersoli pistols going for more than twice that at the same show. Also have a Traditions Kentucky flinter in .50 caliber I built as a kit which shoots well.
Both of my Traditions Kentucky pistols have a adjustable set screw on the tumbler which I can set the trigger pull with which is a nice feature. Not sure what the Pedersoli pistols come with since I don't own any but they get good reviews on all the BP boards.

ditto on the traditions trapper 50cal.. got mine in flintlock and shoot Real 250grn.+ bore butter. super accurate and you will love the trigger. don't know what kind of wood the stock is.

At times I had both the CVA flint model of the trapper and the Traditions version in percussion. Please! Actually hold the Traditions trapper and see about the way it balances and fits the hand. The general lines are copied from the TC Patriot but swelled up like it retained water and weight. The trapper is front heavy, awkward to hold and all round clunky. If percussion will do you, get a Lyman in 50 to match the Hawken. Unfortunately Lyman has still not seen fit to produce a flint pistol. An older CVA hawken pistol or Mountain pistol would do what you want. A traditions Kentucky style is far easier to hold and aim that the Trapper. Also look at the Pedersoli guns, although more expensive, there must be 20 different models of pistols.

Not sure why the OP is set on rifled. Rifling in a production pistol really makes little difference at normal pistol ranges. Another thing I cannot figure about the makers. It would be cheaper to offer a smooth bore Kentucky or mountain style pistol, but they don't do it. I have a 62 caliber smooth bore Indian made Lancer Pistol reproduction that shoots great once I got the aim figured out. Sure balances better than a trapper.

There are a few pistol gripped side lock single trigger carbines out there that can be had for about $100. I have cut two such guns down into pistols over the years. Leave the barrel at 12 inches install a new front sight and cut the stock behind the pistol grip. Voila! To get a better sight radius, move the rear sight to over the breech where it was on the old horse pistols.

I would love to get another .54 Plains Pistol and have it Smoothbored.

I also have both a percussion and a flint Pedersoli .45 Kentuckies. I put Marbles sights on them and they shoot like target pistols.

Best? Inexpensive? Black Powder Pistol

Best for what purpose? All we really know is the pistol should share caliber with an existing rifle in your gun safe.

Inexpensive is a problem to define as well as we don't really know your budget.

For an initial foray into black powder pistols, I would be checking out the gun shows and auction sites for a reasonably priced percussion Kentucky styled pistol. This would likely be a CVA/Traditions pistol. Such a pistol will have reasonable accuracy. Caliber match to your rifle may be close and maybe not. 45 caliber pistols will range from sing a 0.430 ball to 0.445. Occasionally you might find a well built near custom gun for a good price or a more target type pistol as others have talked about.

Inexpensive may be requirement to control the price and manage the costs to own your first pistol. Unfortunately, if you find shooting pistols to be all the fun the way many of the members of the forum feel, you will be buying more and the boundary of expense gets trampled over.

A Philadelphia Derringer is not expensive but you cant do nothing with that and you have no president to kill anymore with this kind of pistol...

A Tatham & Egg by Tilo Dedinski is very expensive for me (~8 000,00$), but you can't do nothing with that, except maybe target shooting at a very high level: in world championship the Tatham & Egg is not considered expensive, only at a normal hight price...

So all is very relative and if you don't say what you plan to do with a pistol nobody can help you...

http://www.dedinski.com/download/pricelists/tatham_stpi_preis_en.pdf

I'll look at the Traditions Trapper. I'd like to keep the price at $200 or less, used is fine. I'll be going to a few BP gun shows/trade fairs in the next couple months and will keep my eye out for one. I have two .50cal rifles, and all the stuff that goes with them including bag and ball molds, so I definitely want .50cal. Itll just be for shooting range fun. And I dont have a BP pistol, so i want one. I'll either buy such a pistol or a pipe tomahawk....the 2 items i want.

Why spend as much for one shot when you can have six.

Ben Meyer said:

I'll look at the Traditions Trapper.

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The Traditions Trapper is a good one and it's not prohibitively expensive. But be careful and look at this: some pistols Traditions don't have (didn't had ?) a drum bridle and I can't say if the Trapper have or not this probleme (I think no), problem well know on the Ardesa and Dikar (ancient name of the Traditions mark)...
The barrel is good on all the tradition rifles and pistols. That can make a really good pistol as well in percussion than flint for a small price...

Ben Meyer said:

Title says it, I'm gonna start looking for one. I dont want to build a kit, but am not opposed to a kit built gun. My only hard and fast requirements are that it be .50cal and rifled. I'd like it to "kinda match/go with" either my Hawken percussion or my TN Mtn flintlock longrifle. Not too long, not too short.

My son has a nice hand built flintlock pistol with a .62cal smoothbore Ed Rayl barrel that he paid $500 something for. I dont need one that nice. What makes/models should I be looking at, and how much should I be prepared to spend?

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Ben , Send me your email. I can send some pics of handguns my father built (one piece at time), not kits. He competed at the NMLRA National Championships in Friendship, Indiana for many years. Dad is gone now, but I still have 3 of his pistols remaining. Two sidelock percussion and one Flintlock. Built out of quality components. I don't shoot black powder anymore. I am 68 and I am sure Dad would like someone to appreciate what he built. I can send pics if interested. Side note, Dad was an expert shooter in Friendship.. Send me your email to [email protected] or 2485619318. Thanx for your time

Traditions Kentucky.