i've been thinking of getting a lymans great plains rife for ball & deer hunting.but saw a sniper show on the history channel, they showed guys with kentucky long rifles shooting out to 300 yards.is a longer barrel better? what cali in either gun is better for hunting .45 or .50 ? what are your thoughts? what are good prices for these?

You can get the Lyman for under $300. Get the Roundball model in .50 caliber. 100 yards is about tops for Lyman, and longrifles. Lyman Great Plains is a good deal for the money. You will spend a lot more
for a nice longrifle. Look on Gunbroker.com and Auctionarms.com. Make sure to get the great Plains RIFLE. The rifle has a slow twist barrel made for roundballs. The Great Plains HUNTER is the same rifle with a fast twist barrel for conical and sabot bullets.

1950KID is right, the Lyman Great Plains Rifle is a excellent rifle. The 1-60 twist makes a great round ball shooter. I shoot a T/C Renegade in a .54 caliber, and Xcellerator, it is accurate to 100 yards. A friend I hunt with shoots a Kentucky (Custom Job) Long Rifle .50 caliber, and he still only shoots out to 100 yards. But as I kid him, he could club them with that long stick if they get further. He will admit the longer rifle is harder to load in a confined deer stand, but it sure is a pretty looking thing...... Good luck, what ever you choose. Between the two calibers you mentioned, I would take the .50 caliber. They also come in .54 caliber.

[Deleted by Admins]