Lyman Great Plains rifle

I know the "new" version of it came around a year to two ago; but did that tank, too? At the cost of things anymore, you'd be good to look for used in exc. cond. The originals were by Investarms, the 2nd version by Pedersoli. I have an old Uberti Hawken from back when Uberti's address was in Connecticut. Good luck on your quest!

Since I posted earlier on this, I have put my .54 Lyman Great Plains Rifle though its paces. I am please to report that from 75 yards, I was able get holes touching.

Shooting 90 grains of 3F BP, .018 ticking, TOTW Mink oil and a .530 RB.

Also installed a Lyman 57 peep, which was necessary for my vision.

I absolutely love this muzzleloader.

Cubreac said:

Here's a well spoken tribute to the GPR from 11bangbang.

Not that it matters, but I agree with just about everything he says, including the bit about ML hunting season.

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I’m late to the game but that’s a good video! Thanks for posting

lbothell said:

I’m late to the game but that’s a good video! Thanks for posting

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I agree. I believe Montana has the muzzleloader season he wants. Sidelocks only. No scopes or magnifying optics of any kind. Fiber optic dots on front and rear sights allowed to keep blind old f_rts in the game are allowed as a concession and I am ok with that. Still an open sight and we need as many sincere players in the game as we can get.
No sabots, pure lead bullets, ball or conical only, and I don't think plastic driving bands are allowed either. Only loose powder. No pellets allowed.
I hunt with cartridge rifles in the regular season and all the modern muzzleloader buffs are free to do the same. I have enjoyed the traditional sidelocks so much for the short year I have been using them that I will start using one in the regular season for some hunting. Especially doe tags. I waited a long time for this season to show up and we don't need the modernizers to wreck it. They destroy the spirit of traditional muzzleloading.
But traditional muzzleloader seasons need to be kept just that. We get a 9 day season in Montana and shouldn't be competing with the modern stuff. SW

Considering this thread has been brought back to life, I would like to add a few things done since my last post in this thread.

First off is the fit of this 1990 model. Almost certain it is a kit Rifle. Whoever built this did a good job overall. Everything fits good and tight with the exception of the front barrel lug. It needs to be pounded down a tad. No big deal, simply something I have not gotten around to yet.

The other minor issue was somewhat common with these rifles. It was cutting cleaning patches so I ran some bore paste down the bore a few times. Problem solved.

After taking it to the woods twice, it is a bit heavy to pack around at a tad over 9 pounds. However, I spent many days up in these hills and thick woods carrying my Crockett squirrel rifle that’s a tad over 6 pounds. So even my .50 New Englander felt heavy. With that said, I’m pretty sure that after carrying it around more it will feel more manageable. I didn’t buy it for packing anyway, it’s for stand hunting.

Other than that, I absolutely love my .54 percussion. It’s very accurate with .90 grains of 3F, .18” pillow ticking lubed with TOTW Mink Oil and a .530 round ball.

In terms of looks, that’s the thing that caught my eye over 20 years ago. I absolutely love the looks of those rifles. Rustic looking with no fancy stuff on them. I don’t need, nor want, a fancy rifle for hunting. In fact, I consider them not conducive due to Having to worry about them getting battle scars on them. I dislike brass on my working (utility) rifles. So the looks of the GPR suits me just fine. If I could change anything on the GPR, I wouldn’t.

Indeed, the GPR not only looks rugged but they are rugged as well. They shoot well and appear to be reliable. No disrespect towards anyone, but if a GPR is considered an entry level ML, then I certainly don’t need a higher grade one.

As of the present, I’m in the process of mounting this ladder style sight on it. It’s going to take some range time before I nail it down. The existing aperture is too small and drilling it out would still be too small for my old and damaged eyes. So, I’m considering trying this sight with the aperture removed. Pretty sure it’s going to work out well and the sight lays much flatter when folded all the way down.

5 shot group from 75 yards. The first shot at 9:00 was an ooops. I was settling in and wasn’t ready to shoot.

Couple of pictures of my kit build.
Hoping I can put to use in the woods this year.

I’m looking to get one myself, never had one but as mentioned I think they are a dandy rifle don’t really hear to many bad things about em. Just a great hunting shooting etc gun, here in pa we have the flintlock season and I know we are blessed with that but with these newer flintlocks like the pa pellet by traditions it’s just them trying to modernize it and push the limits till I believe that season disappears as well and it’s just a late archery season that you can use in lines in

lbothell said:

I’m looking to get one myself, never had one but as mentioned I think they are a dandy rifle don’t really hear to many bad things about em. Just a great hunting shooting etc gun, here in pa we have the flintlock season and I know we are blessed with that but with these newer flintlocks like the pa pellet by traditions it’s just them trying to modernize it and push the limits till I believe that season disappears as well and it’s just a late archery season that you can use in lines in

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I think you would like the GPR. IMO, just a flat out, nice hunting tool.

ETipp said:

I think you would like the GPR. IMO, just a flat out, nice hunting tool.

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The day will come, as of now just putting together a CVA mountain rifle. I really like them as well wish the front nose cap was more elegant like the Lyman and not just a hunk of metal ha

Originally I bought a Great Plains Rifle second hand specifically to rebarrel it to shoot forty bore bullets with a long bearing length. Then I needed a flintlock .54, then a drop-in .50 barrel and after that a GPH barrel...
Maybe .38 bore would be nice. Or a .56 smooth barrel.

CTShooter said:

Couple of pictures of my kit build.
Hoping I can put to use in the woods this year.

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That’s almost too pretty to hunt with.

ADK Bigfoot said:

I had issues with my Lyman/Investarms flint .50 Great Plains rifle, mostly eating flints and shredding patches. After some shooting, the bore smoothed out and the patch issue went away. It was reasonable accurate. However, it ate flints too frequently and I ordered my first custom flintlock to replace it.

ADK Bigfoot

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Coil spring locks tend to be rock crushers. Many because the initial force against the frizzen is the hardest
With a flat spring the inertia of the flint is more uniform. TC' s do the same thing. You can gain a little by rehardening the frizzen but not enough to fool with. Overall a very good gun.

ETipp said:

That’s almost too pretty to hunt with.

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Thanks, one of my recovering from cancer projects.
I need to take some updated pictures now that finish has mellowed a bit.

Got my GPR .50 percussion back in "05 from Midsouth Shooters Supply. You could get them then for $350.00. Glad I did. My wife got me the GPR .50 plains pistol to match, as a Christmas gift a few years later. They've been a great combo.

CTShooter said:

Thanks, one of my recovering from cancer projects.
I need to take some updated pictures now that finish has mellowed a bit.

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I'm sorry to hear about the cancer. Please do post some updated pics of your GPR.

If I recall correctly, the Great ains was the only Lyman rifled for a round ball. But there were some rifled for sabots.