Originally Posted by
GoexBlackhorn
I haven't seen a sidelock user in the hunting woods for 3-4 years now. I've kept only one for wall display. The rest I sold 2-3 years ago.
Inlines are so much tougher - so much more dependable and there's no stop-sign when running a cleaning rod & patch down the bore.
Not trying to start a debate so don't let this head in that direction...
I currently own 24 ML firearms. Seventeen are sidelock rifles with the majority being percussion. Four are "inlines" if you will, but not the high tech versions being offered today, two are TC Firehawks and two are TC Scouts. I have one Remington 1858 Army percussion revolver, one percussion Kentucky pistol and one New Orleans Ace percussion "boot" pistol that I built from kits back when I was still full of pi$$ and vinegar.
Here in PA where we have a late ML season that is flint only, so there's a strong following of sidelock owners/users. I have a few friends who own and use scoped inlines because they hunt PA and NY both. The NY ML season is anything goes as long as it's loaded through the muzzle (sorry, mortars not included) so they opt for the inline when hunting that season.
With regard to inlines... it's like anything else, it's all in what floats your boat. I've killed a few deer with my "inlines" but I've always enjoyed the thrill more when I take one with a sidelock, especially one of my flinters!
As far as cleaning any of my sidelocks goes, I never saw it as a bothersome chore, more as a labor of love!
BPS