Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Lyman Great Plains Hunter .54

When I was a boy, I wanted a muzzleloader in the worst way. My parents gave me, for Christmas, a .45 caliber Kentucky rifle. While it was not a good replica, it shot well and killed several deer with it. Years went by and I got interested in fine, bolt action rifles and revolvers for hunting. My interest in muzzleloading languished.

I have a desire to start hunting with black powder again, and while I would truly like to have one of captchee's magnificent creations, I am without the means at the moment. I have decided on a Lyman GPH in .54 caliber. Anyone have experience with one of these? If so, with what bullet/ball and load do you have success?

I will use it for Whitetail Deer, Elk, Caribou, and hopefully a black bear.

Thank you

Patrick

This the rifle i use most . Mine is the Left Hand GPR in 54 cal. I use 80 gr of 3F Triple 7 and the Hornady Round Ball. I shot one of the tightest group i have shot with a muzzleloader with this rifle , 5 balls into one ragged hole at 50 yard with open sights . This is the rifle i prefer for deer hunting in the woods. You will love hunting with this rifle.

Thank you for you bea175. .530 or .535? What is that sight you are using?

Beautiful rifle and nice deer sir.

Patrick

You will love the GPR 54. Class ML. What you won't love are long treks carrying the 11.5 lbs of it.

I also have a GPR .54. Accurate as anything.
Now, the OP said he wants a GPH. There is a difference in the barrels as the GPH is designed to shoot conicals rather than rb's.

Yes, I have decided on the GPH. It gives the versatility to shoot conicals, but, I think, the 1:32 twist will still stabilize a round ball. My thought is the conicals would be better on elk size animals. Or am I wrong? Wouldn't be the first time.

no where near 11.5 lbs.

You're right Jonathan. I was looking at shipping weight.
Rifle-only should check-in at 9lbs. So expect about 2-1/2 lbs of accessories in that shipping box.

I use 90 gr. FFg in my .54 (not a Lyman). With a 1:48 twist, it shoots PRB, conical, and sabot equally well within 100 yards, which is about as far as I ever shoot a deer here in the hills. Whether a 1:32 will shoot prb accurately, I don't know. Too fast a twist will separate the ball and patch before they reach the muzzle, which destroys accuracy, so maybe not.

I expect a conical will carry more energy at distance than a round ball, just because the BC is higher. I know elk can be killed with RBs, because the elk and buffalo in my home State were exterminated before 1865 by men using - guess what?

I use the .530 with .15 patch . The sights are fiber optic replacement sights for the GP Rifle. The factory sights are just to hard to pick up late and early in the early muzzleloader season. The best group i have shot was using Pam Cooking Spray as the patch lube. The first thing you should do is replace the nipple with the knight red hot nipple this is the best improvement you can make other than changing the sights. Lyman GPR Nipple Threads are metric, 6 x .75mm

http://www.knightrifles.com/product/red-hot-replacement-muzzleloader-nipple-3/

Thank you

I've killed several big hogs at the Ranch using a .530 round ball and a .15 pre-lubed patch and 100 grains of FF Swiss black powder.
Both my Lyman Great Plains .54 and my T/C Hawken .54 Percussion rifles will put 3 shots touching off of a sandbag at 100 yards with that load.

Thank you. I have decided to get a .54 cal Lyman GPR. I'm really looking forward to hunting with PRBs.

Don't be afraid to try some conicals in it if you want. I had a 1 in 66 twist CVA Missouri rifle that shot the Hornady Great Plains bullets with plenty good accuracy for deer hunting. 90gr of Pyrodex and either the 385hp or 410fn would stay on a 4" bullseye at 75 yards. Just in case you decide you want some more weight for elk someday it'd be worth a try.

You'll have fun.
For me at least, shooting prb's doesn't "thump" me as much as conicals.

When you get the rifle and shoulder it, the curved buttplate doesn't go on the shoulder like a normal rifle ,but slightly below, just above your bicep.

Hard to 'splain, but you'll see.

When you receive the new rifle, make sure you clean the barrel. There's some packing stuff inside. Brake cleaner and a brush cuts through it pretty good.