Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Lyman Great Plains Rifle

I ordered one of these in .54 flintlock for the season here in PA. It arrived today, and I was not impressed. The front sight is bent due to shipping more than likely. But, the wood and metal fit is terrible. The wood is proud of the tang, lock bolt, wedge key escutcheons etc. Not just a little bit either, an 1/8 inch or more. It looks like a beaver chewed on the area around the entry ramrod pipe. This thing is going back. I have another GPR, a .50 flint, that i bought probably 20 years ago that is very nice. I guess if I want one that's put together properly I'll have to get a kit and do it myself. Seems Lyman needs to get it together. Anyone else noticing a lack of workmanship with the current models?

I looked at them probably 20 years ago at Cabela's and wasn't impressed then.

I have an older GPR percussion in .50 cal that's pretty nice, shoots good too.

They aren't cheap, either! Lyman is made by Investarms, an Italian company that makes guns for Cabelas, among others. I have a few older ones that are quite nice, and shoot well. Sad to hear they are going downhill.

My '80s vintage one was pretty nice.

While we're at it, I occasionally look at the pics on the TVM site. Close-ups of some of those looked pretty rough too. My late, lamented Pedersoli Mortimer was very nicely fit and finished. I suppose the lesson here is to check them out in person, before plunking down your bucks.

The early Parker-Hale 1858 I picked up recently is also quite nice.

that stinks but thats the way they send these guns out these days. Some are even coming with the lock area full of cracks and wood chipping out.

Guess, I’m glad I got mine when I did. Mine has above average fit and finish. It’s a hunter version flintlock, like it very much. Rear sight could be better, only grudge. I modified it by getting rid of the “buckhorn”. Still not positive on elevation adjustment.

Mine was crap-sent it back.

I have two GP percussion rifles in 50 cal. that are about 10 years old. One is a round ball pusher and the other is designed for maxis. Fit and finish are good in both and they each are great shooters. I also have a lightly used Cabela's Invest Arms I bought for $100. It looks OK but I have had to bend the hammer to strike properly and get a stiffer mainspring to reliably pop a cap. If I hadn't got it so cheap I would be very upset. It shoots OK but has a 1:48 twist. I was not impressed with the TC side locks I have had nor their customer service. I had to step up to Pedersoli to get a nice production flintlock.

I have a 50 cal flinter, Lyman Trade, say 5 years old, nothing like you describe. Sad if this is the way they are going now....

Seems to be the way of most everything now..

I picked up a second Traditions Crockett from Midway last year for the kid. The one I have from over ten years ago is gorgeous. The fit and finish on the new one looked like chit. It went back, I didn't bother with a replacement.

Prices go up, quality down.

The little .32 Crockett is one I’ve wanted for quite sometime, They are a Neat Looking Little Rifle 👍 A guy here in town was telling me about having a Brand new one, He finally brought it by for me to look at, I wouldn’t have wanted his! Fit n Finish was BY FAR The worst i have ever Seen on ANY Muzzleloader. I immediately suspected it was a Kit and he done a Crappy Job putting it together? Nope, it was a Factory Rifle that came that way, He had ordered it from somewhere? The Gun wouldn’t even Fire for the Guy the First time out, he had to go back home and Work on it

It isn’t like the little Crockett Rifle is Cheap either, 500 Bucks at Midway right now.