Lyman Muzzleloader
 

Was thinkin about buying a Lyman Deerstalker or Great Plains Rifle in 54 Cal.
Would use the gun for deer and possible elk gun.
Could anyone give me some advice on these guns--as I currently only shoot inline ML's?
I've read that you can shoot both maxi balls & roundballs out of the Deerstalker?
Any help would be appreciated, Thanks in advance.

RE: Lyman Muzzleloader
 

The GPR in .54 will be a serious deer gun. I've never hunted elk, but do know of folks that do with a .54 and round ball. Patched round ball in 54 will kill most anything with horns in the US.

RE: Lyman Muzzleloader
 

A .54 caliber roundball is one of the best all around projectiles you can shoot given the proper range. Shot placement is critical of course. A .54 caliber is one of my favorite calibers.....

The lyman should do an excellent job for you.

RE: Lyman Muzzleloader
 

I own both the deerstalker flint and actually two gprs. One flint and the other caplock. Both the deerstalker and the gpr are great rifles. If I plan on covering a lot of ground during the hunt I use the deerstalker for its portability. If I spend more time on stand I will take the GPR. This is the only consideration that I apply as they are both great shooters. I use roundballs for practice and hunt with either the PA Conicals or the Buffalo Ballets. Both rifles are very accurate with these bullets.

RE: Lyman Muzzleloader
 

Thanks fellas! I'm kinda leanin toward the Deerstalker since it's a lot more portable/handy in brush and stalking.
Do the Lyman guns have spanish barrels?
Just wondering!:)

RE: Lyman Muzzleloader
 

The fear of the Spanish Barrels might have been stressed too much. The Spanish barrels are simply not tested to as high a barrel pressure rating as other barrels from other people. I personally feel there is nothing wrong with them as long as you follow the guidelines of the manufacturer. I think Lyman is made in Italy by Investarms.

If your condsidering a Lyman do not overlook the Trade Rifle. It is the middle of the road of the Lyman line. Bigger then a Deerstalker but smaller then the Great Plains. They have a 1:48 twist like the Deerstalker, but a little longer barrel.

I also believe that if you wish, you can put a Green Mountian IBS barrel into the Trade rifle. This would allow you to customize the rifle for other hunts with speciality barrels. I really like the versitality of the IBS barrels in my T/C Renegade and Hawkins.

Mounting a Lyman 57 peep sight on one of the rifles makes for a very accurate long range shooting rifle in the event you are not allowed scopes where you hunt.

RE: Lyman Muzzleloader
 

I have a GPR in .54cal percussion and it is a fine rifle. With a little work polishing the lock, trigger and bore and a bit of work on the sights, I have made mine into an excellent ball shooting rifle. The .54cal ball certainly does the job on big Illinois whitetails and I have no doubts that it will do an excellent job on elk, with a well placed shot from reasonable range.