I usually hunt with a percussion muzzleloader. Typically my 1858 Enfield which is a Parker Hale Repro. Last year I looked for flintlocks but they were old junk people were selling for way too much money. I am looking for a rifle to hunt White Tail deer on the Potomac River in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Just deer no Bears, Lions or Tigers . A local gun shop/ gun smith that opened up two months ago has a few for sale and this time they aren't half bad. First for sale is a .45 Caliber Thompson Center Hawken made in 1970s. Its pretty dang clean and comes with 3 flints, I looked down with a bore scope and there is old storage crud in the barrel but nothing too bad, its on the rack for $375. Second for sale is a .45 Caliber ArmiSport Kentukian made in 1977. Bore is nice but the metal finish on the barrel is gone in some spots as it was only browned not blued. This one is on the rack for $300.00. Third is a .54 Caliber Thompson Center Renegade made in 1981. Bore has some old oil in it and some scratches in the wood stock. Definitely had some use as the frizzen has got some deep scratches in it. Rack price is $450 for this one. Last two the shop had was a 1980 World's Fair edition .50 caliber Thompson Center Hawken in 8/10 shape for $750 and an Investarm .54 Flintlock rifle date of mfg. and model unknown and no rear sight ( its missing but one can be put back on) for $400, rifle is also 8/10 condition. I like those Kiblers but I have never used a Flintlock so I want to get one to start on and If I like it I will get a Kibler Colonial. If I don't like it well I will go back to my percussion. Just want something to get broken in on first and then move up as a Kibler would definitely be a waste if I bought it and didn't enjoy using a flintlock. I dont have any "real powder" I used what little I have left and now only have pyrodex so I will have to get some powder probably 2F or 3F so I can use it in the pan and barrel. I also have no round balls or patches as I use .577 Pritchett balls I cast and make into paper cartridges I even make the little Pritchett bullet plug too... lol. Also on a side note that shop has a .36 Cal Flintlock Thompson Center Hawken and a .56 Cal smoothbore Renegade Thompson Center percussion. The shop owner said the .36 was a Green Mountain Custom order to fit the Thompson Center Hawken and the .56 the shop owner said he can change out the breech plug and make it into a flintlock. Is that possible to change the breech plug from a percussion to a flintlock on a Thompson Center ? Just asking as I was deciding on which one would make a good small game flintlock. Thanks to everyone who replies to this thread.
