.54 Cal Lyman GPR Flintlock Build - First Shot

After spending about 3 years dinking around working on this build sporadically I finally got her finished last night and shot her today. Wow, I REALLY like flintlocks now! This is actually the first flintlock I've ever shot. I got back in the woods by myself and enjoyed shooting my first flintlock until daylight ran out. There is a state championship muzzleloader shoot here in Michigan next week, I'm excited to check it out and maybe meet some new friends.

Everything went well today, I started with 70 grains of 2F primed with 4F and went up to a 110 grain load. I have been told she should settle in somewhere between 70 and 90 grains so I mostly shot 70 grain loads today. Once I get a chance to shoot from a proper bench I'll work on getting her sights fine-tuned out to 100 yards I'd guess. I need to do some reading here on these forums about best ways to fine-tune the primitive sights. I had some problems with my flint not sparking enough to touch off the pan, I just remounted it in the hammer jaws a little further out and it seemed to work better. When that didn't work I turned it around to the fresh side. Maybe it was just worn out on that side and it was time to change the flint.

All in all, I like this rifle and I can't wait to shoot her more!

Looks good. Sound like you have fallen in love after your lengthy courtship. Built mine yrs ago, wouldn't trade it for a skint mule. That's her on the top of the pile.
Dave

Very cool. Glad you are getting along with your new GPR. They are good ones ... the older ones anyway. Do not have any working knowledge on the newer style.

As for sights, I find that with my older eyes , I need a little wider rear notch. Also find that a round notch with plenty of windage for light around the front blade helps me a bunch. Combo of round bottom notch and a bit wider for light gathering gives me a better chance for good repeatable accuracy.

Gone are the days spent in my youth shooting rim fire cartridges at empty rimfire cases out to 35 yards. Can't even see the little buggers out there anymore ... and when the yardage is close enough for me to see em ... I lose em with concentration, so goes life I recon.

Welcome to the cult of the flintlock They can be quite addictive. Given time and experience you may find that your confidence and shooting performance with the flintlock can equal or perhaps even surpass that of the percussion system.

I see you took your time building your rifle. You did good. I spend a lot of time building a rifle too. There is a feeling that shooting a flint lock is a work of art and is to be appreciated as much accepted for its function. Yes, @azsixshooter will have to learn how to knap a flint and adjust the position in the jaws of the lock. A knapping awl made from putting a notch on the tip of a copper nail or even soft steel is one of the best tools for knapping a flint.

Don't be in a hurry to adjust the sights. Lyman barrels are notorious for having somewhat rough bores with sharp lands that cut patches. This generally means that the rifle needs to have two hundred rounds sent downrange before developing an accurate load and then adjusting the sights. The process can be sped up using a 50 caliber jag and a small square of the green Scotch-brite pads, 0000 steel wool or a few patches using JB Bore paste to smooth the bore out.

Congrats on the build she looks great!

Very nice rifle. It's always very satisfying when you take what you crafted with your own two hands, and make it go bang.

As to the 110 grain load, I'd definitely back that down. 75 or 80 grain charges are all you really need. I shoot 80 grains of 2fg in both my .54 caliber guns, and that charge using a 226 grain roundball will penetrate a deers body through and out the other side at 50 yards.

My first was a .54 GPR. Still miss it, had it for almost 20 years.

85 grains of Goex 3F put the .530 ball dead on at 75 yards. 2” high at 50, 3” low at 100. Too easy.

bwahahaha (mad scientist laugh) ...

he's hooked now for sure!

Good job on that rifle; you have a nice one for targets and hunting. And from the photo it appears that if you could possibly have more fun than that you'd likely be arrested.