Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Lyman Trade Rifle 54 Cal Percussion

I'm definitely going to look into getting a nipple for the musket caps.

One "issue" I've had over the years, replacing a #11 nipple with a musket cap nipple, is a musket cap nipple is taller and I had to "adjust" (as in heat it up and bend it) the hammer a little for it to hit flat on the musket cap. A taller nipple can effect how the hammer hits the cap. Might be an issue, might not be.

If CCI Musket caps make damn sure you don't get the reenactment caps.

Yeah, nothing is ever that easy, it seems. I've also read that the larger diameter of the musket cap requires very good alignment of the hammer to the nipple.

Good to know. What's the difference between them?

No experience with the Trade Rifle, but I've had a GPR in 54 for years. PRB and real blackpowder is all I've shot in mine. I bought a Green Mountain barrel for mine thinking it might be an upgrade, but the original barrel shoots as good or better. I really enjoy mine - lots of fun to shoot...

Fire.

The 4 wing CCI are not as hot as old 6 wing caps. I am not so sure the newer CCI are any hotter than a good #11. I used musket caps for a while then started using CCI #11 magnum caps and have some RWS #11. No issue w either but I am lighting real black.

I slept too long on the GPR, it seems they are no longer in production. I should have bought one of the LH models years ago.

I did see some four-wing musket caps in stock at the local Sportsmans Warehouse. The tin did say 'for reenactment use'. I wondered what that really meant.

LH can still be found here and there
I was looking JFG a while back
Track of the Wolf ( maybe?) had a
LH still listed

I was looking around on Track of The Wolf earlier today. I see they have a LH Lyman Deerstalker, 54 cal, percussion for sale. Used, $499. Didn't see any GPR's.

Supposedly they had someone sue them when a piece of a regular 6 wing cap got in his eye or embedded in his face.


At least that's the information for the difference on the net.

My bad on my #11, the CCI are regular, not Nagnums.

The 54 cal. CVA St. Louis Hawken kit gun I built. 90gr FFg under a 230gr patched RB. Pretty good sized pig, I'm 6'-4" 230ish... Pig didn't stand a chance...

This is true, but at least on both my TC's it was easy to fix the alignment by loosening the lock screw and shimming the lock to align it better, rather than bending the hammer.

The new CCI musket caps are all I've used...they do not seem to be hotter than a #11 from what I can tell. Just gives another option to keep the gun running.

The new CCI musket caps are all I've used...they do not seem to be hotter than a #11 from what I can tell. Just gives another option to keep the gun running.[/quote]



4 wing or 6??

Nice!

The Trade Rifle arrived yesterday.

I like the looks, size, weight and all that about it. Overall I'm pleased with it and excited to get it shooting.

There were a few glaring things that got my attention though.

First, the hammer was rubbing the stock. No biggie, I removed enough wood there to relieve the hammer of any contact on the wood.

Second, the main lock bolt was also rubbing the hammer, so removed it and filed it down enough to be flush with the lock plate, and touched it up with a bluing pen.

Third, the cocking of the hammer and the trigger pull are/were very rough, and hitchy. I put some fine grit (600) firelapping compound on all the contact surfaces, and cocked and released (letting the hammer down under control) a few hundred times. It's starting to smooth out, but still needs more repetitions.

To be honest, I was kind of disappointed in that trigger. The CVA kits I had built in the 70's were far and away better in that department, although the leaf spring on the 45 cal Kentucky pistol, did break in under 50 rounds fired. This Trade Rifle does have a coil mainspring, so that should be fairly durable.

Anyhoo, I'm still waiting for delivery of cap, ball, patches, and powder, but we should be making smoke this weekend or so. In the meantime I cleaned the bore, it was filthy with preservative, as normal.

Here's a pic of the new rifle,

Sharp looking rifle MM. Looking forward to seeing you air it out.

Very nice indeed! A little Flitz on internals does a pretty good job too...

Enjoy!