Traditional Traditions?

Do you consider the Traditions Deerhunter flintlock with synthetic stock to be a traditional muzzleloader? It is a flintlock after all.

While it does not suit my tastes for a traditional sidelock muzzle loading rifle, for most discussions, it is a traditional muzzleloader.

I would call it…Traditionally Styled….

I have one of those. It was my first muzzleloader, and while it does look more like a modern rifle it's still a flintlock so I don't worry too much about what others think of it. It's certainly different from my more traditionally styled flinters so it's kind of a change of pace to shoot it with the fiberoptic sights, non-curved buttstock and ultra light weight. It's not going to win any beauty contests but it's a reliable shooter.

Being a sidelock rifle that loads from the muzzle it is traditional. But it would never be confused with any rifle from a by-gone era.

agree with hanshi. Do you hunt with it?

It's neither traditional, nor modern. It's sort of an abominable rifle, but more like if you were saying it affectionately.

Lots of folks hunt with them. I don’t have one. Even though I prefer the wood stocked guns of the colonial era and mountain man era, there’s something about the Traditions Deerhunter that I like, even if it ain’t purty. I have some CVA and Traditions guns and they are all good shooters.

I’ve told this story in the past but here it is again. About 25 years ago I bought a .50 Traditions Deer Hunter for my kids to use as it was lighter than my TC .50 Hawken. It was awesome for it’s purpose and was a very reliable and accurate percussion. My buddy bought a .50 Traditions Hawken Woodsman in flint about 20 years ago. It arrived with the touchhole buried below the pan about 1/4”. He took a die grinder to it and lowered the pan bottom. Very poor QC there! My better half shoots a .50 Traditions Hawken percussion that I got for her from another buddy, who was the original owner. Again it is roughly 20 yrs old and is very much a reliable shooter. Accurate as all get out in fact. She still has her winning tie-breaker target in the bedroom. Her shots are all touching. Scorekeeper at the event said she outshot every tie-breaker target that day, and there were more than a few shooters present.
In short, ya they shoot, function fine and are reliable, but you better closely examine prior to purchase. QC is not a strong point. Nor is historical aspect, but economically, they do allow others to also enjoy our sport.
Walk

my first muzzleloader was a cva mountain stalker 50 cal. like others have said it was a good shooter, but it whetted my appetite for better "traditional " guns. I kinda look the the synthetic stocks as beginner's gun as walk said an economical ,lighter, starter gun

I guess it's traditional sort of, but I have a question. Synthetic stocks were developed to be water-resistant, wood warps. There isn't a flintlock out there that could be considered truly waterproof.
So you're wrapping a less than reliable ignition system with a stock that buried in the ground would still look the same 200 years from now?

My DeerHunter .50 had a "hardwood" stock and wood rod. It was also a percussion rather than a flintlock. BUT, it was very inexpensive, light & handy, plenty accurate and killed whitetails for many years.

Rock Home Isle said:

I would call it…Traditionally Styled….

Click to expand...

I would call it not traditionally styled!

The definition of Traditional is "Long established". The opposite is "Modern". So I would say the barrel and lock are traditional with a modern plastic stock.

I own 2 Deerhunter rifles, both wood stocked. One is a 45 caliber, with the slow twist 1/66 barrel. The other is a 50 cal. 1/48 twist barrel, both percussion.
They are both very accurate with the 45 being my favorite.

I've a CVA Bobcat percussion. Short, light, plastic camo stock, .50 cal. Good shooting rifle. Also a CVA with a wood stock, replacement .50 cal barrel. I haven't been able to get out to shoot this one yet. Percussion also, looks like the Bobcat with a wood stock. I trust it will shoot as well. If you like your gun don't worry about what others think.

andy52 said:

I guess it's traditional sort of, but I have a question. Synthetic stocks were developed to be water-resistant, wood warps. There isn't a flintlock out there that could be considered truly waterproof.
So you're wrapping a less than reliable ignition system with a stock that buried in the ground would still look the same 200 years from now?

Click to expand...

Like I said, it's an abomination, but not in a bad way. To go further, if you really think about it, what is the difference in a modern barrel using modern steel and a modern stock using modern materials? They are both anachronistic. The only difference is the looks. I say it's a historic abomination, but so are almost all of our reproductions. This one is just easier to visually identify.

Banjoman said:

Do you consider the Traditions Deerhunter flintlock with synthetic stock to be a traditional muzzleloader? It is a flintlock after all.

Click to expand...

Yeah, in it's essence.
But you know as well as everyone else that it's the bastard child of a second cousin.
He's welcome to the table dine,, but he's not gonna marry Sadie Ellen Hawken.
We like those plastic stock gun's at our traditional shoot's,,
,,hanging from a rope at the 50yrd line,,

andy52 said:

I guess it's traditional sort of, but I have a question. Synthetic stocks were developed to be water-resistant, wood warps. There isn't a flintlock out there that could be considered truly waterproof.
So you're wrapping a less than reliable ignition system with a stock that buried in the ground would still look the same 200 years from now?

Click to expand...

Well theres no shortage of original ML's that don't have warped wooden stocks.
Like anything one has to rely on preventative maintenance is essential to longevity, a well rubbed Oiled stock after a build (I used boiled Linseed oil, nowadays Tung oil is my preference) with the 7-1-3 time ratio for a year, then once a year after that, with a little beeswax rubbed into any tiny gaps in the barrel to stock fit is an effective modus operandi.

As for "waterproof" Flintlocks, Pan to Frizzen fit is the start (Good quality locks) and then a little grease smeared around the external of the Pan goes a long way. Lock to Barrel fit is an issue (again Quality components) that can be enhanced with Beeswax or a Grease smear.
Finally who owns and shoots a Flintlock ML but doesnt own a a well fitted "Cows Knee" ?

IMHO all of the above would have been SOP's for a Flintlock shooter way back then, and can easily be utilised by us today.

Part of the Muzzle loading FL journey is the tinkering and "tuning" of everything that we can, sure it takes time and effort but hey the personal reward itself is a rarity nowadays.

necchi said:

Yeah, in it's essence.
But you know as well as everyone else that it's the bastard child of a second cousin.
He's welcome to the table dine,, but he's not gonna marry Sadie Ellen Hawken.
We like those plastic stock gun's at our traditional shoot's,,
,,hanging from a rope at the 50yrd line,,

Click to expand...

Bavarian Maid costumes and large Pineapples come to mind....