Welcome, and I hear you. I have hunted with T/C Hawkens, Renegades and New Englanders, a Lyman Trade Rifle, a Knight Wolverine, a Pedersoli Flintlock, and a Semi-custom Flintlock Longrifle. One day, I may try a flint smoothbore Fusil or Fowler. But as a practical consideration, what you have will carry and shoot as well as anything I have mentioned. Don't sell it short, just to get a sidelock. Get both if you can.