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Traditions Durability?

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Smokey Plainsman

Smokey Plainsman

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I’m picking up my brand new Traditions Crockett .32 🐿 rifle tomorrow from my dealers. Mandatory stupid Illinois 3 day waiting period and 4473 paperwork, yes even for muzzleloaders. No I can’t move away right now LOL wish I could.

Anyway, I handled the little rifle and looked it over whilst filling out the paperwork the other day and I was taken at the fit and finish, it was a cut above what I was expecting for sure. Tested the lock and the set triggers, worked properly. Hammer cup centered properly on the nipple, no bent sights, etc.

But how is the durability of the lock and triggers mechanisms on these new Traditions guns? I hear the barrels are good and these can be very accurate, but should I be concerned about parts breakages? Any source for spare parts?

Thanks!

-Smokey
 
With proper care, it will last quite a while. That said, there are better locks out there. Once you handle and shoot an quality lock, you'll see what I'm on about here. We have 4 Traditions rifles at the Scout camp we teach muzzleloading at. They are serviceable rifles, but no what I'd personally buy.
 
Traditions locks are generally great. You'll hear of soft frizzen on the flintlock models, but that's to be expected with a lower priced muzzleloader. Caplocks, never an issue with them.

The main springs are extremely strong and dangerous to take out! They are not tgevsoft weak spring that cva used.

Clean the lock, lightly lubricate it and you'll get a lifetime of service out of it.

Anything man made is going to break at some point. Luckily, traditions parts are out there and inexpensive.
 
I have a Crockett, completely reliable, trouble free, I have expensive guns with silky smooth locks and triggers, they all go boom and I enjoy every one them, I’m not a gun snob, enjoy your rifle and don’t worry about a problem that doesn’t exist.
 
I built this Traditions Hawken more than 20yrs ago. Still going strong! :thumb:

DSC01137.JPG
 
Smokey Plainsman said:
I’m picking up my brand new Traditions Crockett .32 🐿 rifle tomorrow from my dealers. Mandatory stupid Illinois 3 day waiting period and 4473 paperwork, yes even for muzzleloaders. No I can’t move away right now LOL wish I could.

Anyway, I handled the little rifle and looked it over whilst filling out the paperwork the other day and I was taken at the fit and finish, it was a cut above what I was expecting for sure. Tested the lock and the set triggers, worked properly. Hammer cup centered properly on the nipple, no bent sights, etc.

But how is the durability of the lock and triggers mechanisms on these new Traditions guns? I hear the barrels are good and these can be very accurate, but should I be concerned about parts breakages? Any source for spare parts?

Thanks!

-Smokey
Click to expand...
Sounds as if Deer Creek would be the solution for finding parts for a Tradition's rifle.

https://www.deercreekproducts.net/
Call if you can't find it in the catalog.
 
Smokey Plainsman said:
but should I be concerned about parts breakages? Any source for spare parts?
Click to expand...
There are 30 and 40 year old Traditions guns still functioning in top shape.
Durability isn't an issue as much as abuse and neglect is.
They are currently making them, so parts are available for those that find an abused/neglected gun needing parts.
Just don't be one of those guy's with your new investment and you should be able to hand it off to your Grand-kids,,
 
dave951 said:
With proper care, it will last quite a while. That said, there are better locks out there. Once you handle and shoot an quality lock, you'll see what I'm on about here. We have 4 Traditions rifles at the Scout camp we teach muzzleloading at. They are serviceable rifles, but no what I'd personally buy.
Click to expand...

I’ve owned several customs and know what you mean. I was just wondering how the Traditions locks held up during the long run, and apparantly they hold up great.
 
Smokey Plainsman said:
I’ve owned several customs and know what you mean. I was just wondering how the Traditions locks held up during the long run, and apparantly they hold up great.
Click to expand...
A long time ago I owned a number of CVAs, call them Pre-Traditions guns. Found the percussion examples to be serviceable, but not outstanding. The flintlocks were junk at best. Still have a box full of CVA lock parts just in case I have issues with the ones I still own. The current Traditions percussion locks appear to be an improvement over the old CVA percussion locks. If you have a Traditions percussion lock that you are happy with, imagine you will be hard pressed to wear it out. Honestly have avoided Traditions flintlocks, and have no personal experience with them.
 
I've owned, fired and hunted with a couple of Traditions for 20 years and found them very solid. The Crockett I used was about as good a rifle as any factory rifle I ever fired. A .50 DeerHunter I had was still remarkable when I sold it after 20 years of hard use.
 
Frontier's said:
Traditions locks are generally great. You'll hear of soft frizzen on the flintlock models, but that's to be expected with a lower priced muzzleloader. Caplocks, never an issue with them.

The main springs are extremely strong and dangerous to take out! They are not tgevsoft weak spring that cva used.

Clean the lock, lightly lubricate it and you'll get a lifetime of service out of it.

Anything man made is going to break at some point. Luckily, traditions parts are out there and inexpensive.
Click to expand...
I agree, I've had 5 Traditions percussions and never an issue with the lock.
Good Luck!
R
 
The barrel on the St. Louis Hawken I built many years ago is a real tack driver. The lock and set trigger are rather craptastic, but it goes bang and puts the balls where they are aimed.
 

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