.54 cal New Englander
#1
.54 cal New Englander
I was out at my range shooting my Lyman .54 caliber Flintlock Rifle when the United States Postal Service mail carrier showed up at the house. He had a new rifle for me. It was of course my .54 caliber Thompson Center New Englander. How the seller got the USPS to ship that rifle is still a mystery to me. I was told flat out, they do not ship them. PERIOD!!
The rifle has a 26" barrel, ryanite black composite stock, some excellent sights on it, and looks like it had never been fired. I got out my Birchwood Casey #77 and ran a patch through the barrel. It came out covered in filthy looking black/brown substance. I ran three more patches and finally the rifle came out clean. So I dropped a bore light down the barrel and it looked real good. Since I had .54caliber rods, starters, projectiles, etc out on the shooting bench, I broke out a new target and got ready to try out the new rifle.
I decided to start with Pyrodex RS. I set the powder measure at 75 grains and loaded a Speer roundball. I fired five shots to see where it was hitting. It appeared the rifle was shooting about three inches high or more. So I made an adjustment to the sights. I then fired five more shots with the adjusted sights, and ran out of roundball in that box. I decided to call it a day and clean the rifle.
The rifle is well balanced, an excellent single stage trigger, nice sights, and seems to have some potential. I will be shooting this a lot more in the near future.
The Lyman Trade Rifle flintlock shot perfect as usual. It still liked 90 grains of 2f black powder and a patched roundball. I was finally forced to change out the flint on that rifle. It was the flint I put in during last years deer season, and have since then shot the rifle numerous times. It really was a good flint...
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 3,246
RE: .54 cal New Englander
ORIGINAL: cayugad
I was out at my range shooting my Lyman .54 caliber Flintlock Rifle when the United States Postal Service mail carrier showed up at the house. He had a new rifle for me. It was of course my .54 caliber Thompson Center New Englander. How the seller got the USPS to ship that rifle is still a mystery to me. I was told flat out, they do not ship them. PERIOD!!
The rifle has a 26" barrel, ryanite black composite stock, some excellent sights on it, and looks like it had never been fired. I got out my Birchwood Casey #77 and ran a patch through the barrel. It came out covered in filthy looking black/brown substance. I ran three more patches and finally the rifle came out clean. So I dropped a bore light down the barrel and it looked real good. Since I had .54caliber rods, starters, projectiles, etc out on the shooting bench, I broke out a new target and got ready to try out the new rifle.
I decided to start with Pyrodex RS. I set the powder measure at 75 grains and loaded a Speer roundball. I fired five shots to see where it was hitting. It appeared the rifle was shooting about three inches high or more. So I made an adjustment to the sights. I then fired five more shots with the adjusted sights, and ran out of roundball in that box. I decided to call it a day and clean the rifle.
The rifle is well balanced, an excellent single stage trigger, nice sights, and seems to have some potential. I will be shooting this a lot more in the near future.
The Lyman Trade Rifle flintlock shot perfect as usual. It still liked 90 grains of 2f black powder and a patched roundball. I was finally forced to change out the flint on that rifle. It was the flint I put in during last years deer season, and have since then shot the rifle numerous times. It really was a good flint...
I was out at my range shooting my Lyman .54 caliber Flintlock Rifle when the United States Postal Service mail carrier showed up at the house. He had a new rifle for me. It was of course my .54 caliber Thompson Center New Englander. How the seller got the USPS to ship that rifle is still a mystery to me. I was told flat out, they do not ship them. PERIOD!!
The rifle has a 26" barrel, ryanite black composite stock, some excellent sights on it, and looks like it had never been fired. I got out my Birchwood Casey #77 and ran a patch through the barrel. It came out covered in filthy looking black/brown substance. I ran three more patches and finally the rifle came out clean. So I dropped a bore light down the barrel and it looked real good. Since I had .54caliber rods, starters, projectiles, etc out on the shooting bench, I broke out a new target and got ready to try out the new rifle.
I decided to start with Pyrodex RS. I set the powder measure at 75 grains and loaded a Speer roundball. I fired five shots to see where it was hitting. It appeared the rifle was shooting about three inches high or more. So I made an adjustment to the sights. I then fired five more shots with the adjusted sights, and ran out of roundball in that box. I decided to call it a day and clean the rifle.
The rifle is well balanced, an excellent single stage trigger, nice sights, and seems to have some potential. I will be shooting this a lot more in the near future.
The Lyman Trade Rifle flintlock shot perfect as usual. It still liked 90 grains of 2f black powder and a patched roundball. I was finally forced to change out the flint on that rifle. It was the flint I put in during last years deer season, and have since then shot the rifle numerous times. It really was a good flint...
#3
RE: .54 cal New Englander
I did have to lower the rear sight but one adjustment was not too bad. I am really surprised at what a nice trigger this rifle has. I like double triggers, but this one is sure sweet. I want to try some maxiball, and sabots next in it. I might even mount a 1X scope on this one since it is tapped.
#4
RE: .54 cal New Englander
Looks like the NewEnglander has potential!
I have in .50 cal. and one 12 ga. Sure is a fun gun to shoot, and easy to clean with the synthetic stock & hooked breech.
BTW - no problem shipping muzzleloaders with theUSPS according to my local postmaster. I've shipped a few, and never had any problems.
I have in .50 cal. and one 12 ga. Sure is a fun gun to shoot, and easy to clean with the synthetic stock & hooked breech.
BTW - no problem shipping muzzleloaders with theUSPS according to my local postmaster. I've shipped a few, and never had any problems.
#7
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 882
RE: .54 cal New Englander
I most of the time use united parcel but latley been using USPS and they are a little cheaper,really never had no problems either way
the new englander great gun had one in 54 cal wood stock would drive tacks with 95 grains of 3f goex and a round ball
the new englander great gun had one in 54 cal wood stock would drive tacks with 95 grains of 3f goex and a round ball
#8
RE: .54 cal New Englander
My new targets for open sights are.. I went to the Dollar Store and bought some 6" foam plates. I tape them to a box, and they show up real good. Plus for $1.00 for 100 plates makes for some cheap targets. I also got some 9" plates for when I move back to 100 yards.
#9
RE: .54 cal New Englander
How the seller got the USPS to ship that rifle is still a mystery to me. I was told flat out, they do not ship them. PERIOD!!
#10
RE: .54 cal New Englander
I suspect that the postmaster where I live is not either aware of the regulations or hates firearms in general because I was told they would not ship. I do everything up here UPS.