repro kentucky long rifle
Was considering buying a repro for shooting long range paper targets. I'm familiar with brands and such but have only owned one black powder rifle and it was years ago. What say the experts? Thanks in advance.
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I am pretty pleased with my Hatfield. Not a repo, but not in production for some years, Look to the secondary market. gunbrokeris a good place to search. They come up every week or so. Pedersoli is a decent reproduction. 0 -
I do no know what your budget is, however you may wish to consider one or two of the high-end kit guns that are out there. You can purchase wonderful, Meticulously-made, period-accurate, or specialtiy kit guns, high-quality USA-made from long-time producers. Do an Internet search if that interests you. There are other, leseer guns on the auctions if your interest does not to that far. 0 -
It all depends on what you wish to shoot for a load in your rifle. If you are looking for a patched round ball, then the Hatfield is a great rifle, and I believe it is made here in the USA. For a Patched round ball, you will need a 1 in 60, to a 1 in 66 twist rate, for best results. I have seen faster 1 in 48 twist rates in a TC Hawken/Seneca/Cherokee shoot well too, but with an altered patch and ball combination, where as the ball is actually engraving the rifling.
For shooting a conical bullet of Maxi Ball, or Mini Ball type, a 1 in 20 to a 1 in 28 twist rate seems to work best.
TC still makes the Hawkins, and they are 1 in 48 twist. You can buy a Green Mountain aftermarket barrel in 1 in 66, or 1 in 28 to suit your needs.
As stated, the auction side, is a great place to start looking, and there is nothing wrong with a good used rifle.
As an aside, I used to have a lot of fun with a Traditions Crockett rifle. It was 32 caliber, and run a 0.310" ball with a 0.015" patch, on top of about 15 grains of FFFg black powder. It was extremely accurate for what it was, but it was at best a 100 yard gun.
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EDIT 1
He Dog,
I know TC don't make a Kentucky rifle, and actually, neither did Kentucky. It was actually a term goined by a German immagrant, who was making rifles in Pennsylvania.
Now on to the matter. I mentioned TC, as there are lots of aftermarket barrels for them, to get them to do what ever you want to do. Usually, a patched round ball is not considered "long range" fodder. It usually comes down to the conical, and usually the steel target silhouette type bullets, are what comes into play mostly.
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There were indeed Kentucky made Kentucky rifles, but you are correct that they started in Penn, and derived from Penn type rifles. The latter day Hatfield is considered a genuine Kentucky (and genuine Hatfield family) rifle, but was made in St. Joseph, MO. Go figger. 0 -
Check out the Pedersoli line of guns. They make the best of the repro muzzle loaders. They are pricy, but well worth the money. 0 -
Check out a gun builder by the name of Jackie Brown. he builds some very nice guns that are 100% period correct. Here is a link to one of his smooth bore fowlers he has for sale and you can contact him through that forum:
http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=39290
Other places to check out are TVM, Track of the Wolf, and Dixie gun Works. All of them will have kits to completed guns for sale.0
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