To be honest I find that my side locks are easier to clean and more accurate than my inlines. In hunting camp all I need is a tin can full of hot water to clean the Side locks. The inlines I need a little deeper can and the bolt needs cleaned and the action needs cleaned. Neither is hard but the side locks are easier in my opinion.
I am always looking for a rusty donor TC rifle for parts in case I have a problem with a rifle. TC parts rifles are still expensive. I used to get a fully loaded stock with all the goodies for 150. Now I am paying more like 250 for them if I can find them. A hawken with a Lyman peep and a lyman globe is for sale at a store I go to. That one is not in great shape and they are asking 600. used. If the price of them is going down I am not seeing it.
As far as guys using them in the field. Our hunting laws in Idaho require an exposed #11 cap or flint lock. Both of these rifles are Idaho legal but the side lock is more accurate. Both of these are my son's bucks.
