Whooppee! got a longrifle

[Rocky]

What a beauty! Have fun!

[pilgrim]

This is to answer a question by Watauga,  Watauga asked if I had named her yet?  Well after all she has so far put me through, I will name her after my Xwife.  I liked what I saw and liked what I fet,  BUT, after that the relationship went down hill FAST.  Took me 19 years before ending that fiasco.  Don't think it will take as long this time.  Everytime I see and shoulder the rifle, Im in love.  The rifle has the same charachteristic traits as the other.  One minute soooo sweet and when she gets her way she turns EVIL.  I guess misery loves company..............                   

[pathfinder]

Does that mean you don't like your new gun? Seem's harsh.

[Watauga]

Does that mean you don't like your new gun? Seem's harsh.

Sounds like he is taking his time and using a cautious approach and learning about her before running or getting into trouble.   
A good way to deal with Firearms and Women   

[pilgrim]

Here in the Land of the Pennsylvania Dutch, they have a saying that fits me to a "T".   TO SOON OLD, TOO LATE SCHMART.   I've been told that with age comes wisdom,  yeah right, with me its,  DUMB and DUMBER.

[flintboomer]

One of my rules for prospective flintlock shooters is that anyone can shoot one once, most will want to shoot one again, but after that they will mess with your head until you either give up on them or learn to deal with their quirks.

[The Ghost]

You will love that "Rock Rifle".  The learning curve is a little long but it is so much fun.

[beowulf]

dont give up on it yet . got my first flintlock in 79 , and that danged near did it for me ! did`nt own another one till 82 .first one was a cva kentucky kit , cost me $66, frizzen was crap. god would have had trouble getting it to throw a spark ! traded that for an old .38 revolver , sold that and bought a cva big bore mountain rifle .54 cal. now there was a gun , powerful and accurate . ended up selling that one off to pay bills . ( never did like bill all that much )  couple of years later finally bought a thompson center renegade flinter in .54 . nice rifle , dependable , seldom ever had a flash in the pan . since then I`ve owned about ten more flinters over the years . some were really nice , and of course some were a real pain in the caboose . but I had fun with all of them , even the persnickety ones ! just hang in there and dont give up , this might not be the one , and the right one could be waiting in some shop or yardsale somewhere ! 

[pilgrim]

Thanks to all.  I appreciate your help and wisdom on this problem.   I won't give up though,  I am either too stupid or too stubborn to give up.       Thats the Pa dutchman in my blood     Thanks again, 

[Watauga]

Thanks to all.  I appreciate your help and wisdom on this problem.   I won't give up though,  I am either too stupid or too stubborn to give up.       Thats the Pa dutchman in my blood     Thanks again, 

pilgrim your Pennsylvania Dutch ancestor's mastered the Flintlock so you should have no problem.
After all its in your Blood

The Cap Lock Sister to your Rifle I have is named "Heartless" and she was different than the other Cap Locks I have(Did not like the caps that worked in the T/c's Liked less powder thinner patch etc..in the same 50 cal size) 
Hopefully you are using Black powder I think the Substitutes wont work in a Flintlock.

[pilgrim]

I only use either Goex or Swizz. Prefer Goex, Made in USA.  I have easy access to black powder,  Dixon muzzleloading shop is 1 hour away, and local gun shop is 8th of a mile away.  Both carry Goex.  I have been checking the lock/trigger every day and all seems well, tomorrow will be the test on the range.  She is a sweet rifle, and not her fault that whoever carved and assembled her was a      I'm sure we'll both come to terms, one way or the other!

[mongrel]

From what Pilgrim has been describing to me in e-mails, this rifle either started life as a kit (did Traditions ever make the PA model in kit form?) and was assembled by someone with more enthusiasm than know-how, or was a factory gun that the same someone with the excess of enthusiasm and shortage of know-how decided he could improve on with a few modifications. Add in Pilgrim having gotten an L&R RPL lock for this model (the RPL is a wonderful creation but NONE of the various models are straight drop-ins, which has caused a few guys to end up bumfuzzled) and it sounds to me like things will be fine with a bit of tweaking -- but tweaking is the last thing a newbie flint shooter needs to be thinking about doing to a rifle that would be a challenge if everything was working perfectly.

Stick with it, friend. You have a good rifle and that L&R lock ought to make it sure-fire if you do your part. All a matter of learning your part.... Which is not easy when your rifle's acting up!

[hungryjohn]

Can't say Traditions made that model in kit form. A friend has one he got from a pawn shop and from looking at it, I can't really tell if it was poor workmanship at the company end or what. The fella that owns it fired it once and didn't like it. so now it just hangs on his wall as a piece of decoration.

[pilgrim]

hungryjohn,  ask your friend how he aimed the rifle.  This may sound rediculus but, back a few months when I was looking for my first flintlock, I came accross the Traditions Pennsylvania on the internet.  I immediately fell in LOVE.  So I contacted Traditions and the man I talked with told me that you can't aim a Trad. Pa rifle like any other.  Because of the configuration of the stock.  Sort of a roman nose, I think. When aiming the rifle, the shooter keeps his head held high.  Not hunkered down as in other rifles.  You don't lean into it.  Sighting is from rear of stock.  The Traditions rep stated this is the main complaint they have had from shooters.  Hungryjohn, if your friend is still dissatisfied with the rifle, Would he be interested in Selling the rifle?  I would be willing to discuss buying it from him.  Its too good a rifle to be a wall hanger. 

[pilgrim]

even though I am having a problem with the rifle, I feel it is a good rifle.  When I got L&R lock, I had to remove a little wood to fit the lock.  As was said, I was over enthusiastic with no know how and did remove a little more wood that required.  But not in depth.  A mere slip of chisel and now have a slight gap between stock and lock on lower side of lock.  Not pretty but still functional.  Also the fact that I am not long on patience complicates the issue.  BUT, I will not give up.  Mike has been very patient with me and has helped me to see things clearer.  In fact everyone here has been helpful.  That is why I keep returning to Muzzleloaders on the Cheap.  A GREAT group of people, all I would be proud to call MY FRIENDS.  Can't get any better than this.