Critter Gitter

I'm looking for a Lyman kit for my dad as a gift. I've heard the Great Plains Rifle is good. Is the Great Plains Hunter just as good or not? What about the quality of the Deerstalker? Does the Deerstalker or Great Plains Hunter come in a kit?

It will be for hunting in PA. I've heard PA might go back to patch-and-ball only, so should I go with the Great Plains Rifle, or would the Deerstalker be ok for patch-and-ball?

How much work is involved in a Lyman kit?

Thanks!

Weasel

I'd go with the Great Plains Rifle. The 1 in 60 twist will shoot roundballs and you can get an extra 1 in 32 twist barrel for shooting conicals and sabots if so inclined.
The deer stalker is 1 in 48 twist and doesn't come in kit form to my knowledge.
As for the work involved in assembly, I'm not sure, but mine just got here yesterday, so I guess I'll find out.

Briman

AS far as asembly of the GPR make sure you have alot of time and patience. I have over 50 hours in on my rifle and am finally starting on finishing the wood and need to brown the barrel yet. It takes a quite a bit of time to inlet the barrel, tang and lock.

WV Hunter

Critter
Check out http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
they have the best prices on Lyman around. Kit's are nice, especially for someone who has the time and patience, but for the cost...it's not much more to get the finished gun. My opinion, both the deerstalker and gp rifle are very nice, and both shoot very well.

Critter Gitter

Can you shoot conicals out of a GPR barrel with a 1 in 60 twist, or would I have to get the 1 in 32 barrel? Which caliber would you guys recommend for conicals and for patch-and-ball, the .54 or the .50? Thanks for the help, BP is very new to me.

Deleted User

[Deleted by Admins]

Weasel

I'd recommend D&R Sports Center over Midsouth, anyday. I ordered from Midsouth and it took 5 weeks+ to get my rifle kit. They kept giving me the run around by saying that they would ship it in a few days. Well, when it finally came, it was short all of the screws, sights, and all of the other small parts. I called them and they said it wasn't their problem. I was told to call Lyman in CT and try to get the parts from them. Besides, D&R is a few dollars cheaper on each gun.http://www.dnrsports.net/merchant2/merchant.mv

Midsouth, never again!

Briman

Weasel, I had the some of the same problems with my kit. There seems like there should be a nut that the tang bolt should screw into, but I neither received one nor is there one listed in the manual that came with the rifle. I might be missing (or I lost) one of the tiny screws that hold the barrel wedge plates in place also. I found that a 5mm hex nut from the hardware store works very well with the tang bolt, and with the tang screwed down tight, the barrel finally aligns perfectly. I can't understand why they wouldn't put this nut on the diagram as it seems it would be critical if one wanted to get accuracy out of the rifle.

I didn't have problems with midsouth, as I received my rifle kit in about a week along with a bunch of other items I ordered. The only thing I don't like is that there is something like a $50-60 minimum order, so I wouldn't be able to order a small item on a moments notice.

Weasel

Briman,
Call Lyman @ 1-800-22-LYMAN
They seem to be a great company.
For me, Midsouth= Never again!

Edited by - Weasel on 03/04/2002 19:21:49

Briman

Thanks, I think I will call them, I've been searching hardware stores for the tiny screws but haven't found any yet. I also found that the screw that holds the trigger piece in is missing also, but I used a slightly bigger screw in its place- oh well.
I guess I will truely have a unique rifle when I'm done with it<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ironically enough, before I ordered the rifle, I called Lyman for a price quote and the nice customer service lady said that I really didn't want to hear their prices and she sent me to midsouth because they were much cheaper- by hundreds of dollars.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>