Flintlock Muzzleloaders in Canada

Hello;

I've been reading this forum for some time, but this is my first post here. I'm the type of person who doesn't expect everything handed to me, I tend to do as much as I can myself, before asking for help. However, I've come up against the proverbial brick wall, and I'm clean out of ideas.

I've been interested in getting a muzzleloading rifle for a while now, and I've done tons of research on them. I settled on getting a Lyman Deerstalker flintlock version. If I'm going muzzleloader, I want the real experience, as these flintlocks will provide. However, when I went to actually buy one, I found that this was easier said than done. First, I located one at LeBaron. I had the page bookmarked, so it would be there when I was actually ready to buy. When I went back to that page recently, I found that LeBaron, a company that's been in business for 58 years, was suddenly closing, and this rifle was no longer available online. I live in Northern Ontario, so I need to have this rifle shipped to me.

So, I looked for an alternative, and found Wholesalesports.com. Their website showed none in stock, but further searching showed that their Regina store had limited stock. However, unbelievably, again, that store was closing, and I was told that they could not ship any items, only in store sales allowed. Well, I have to say, it seemed like there was a conspiracy afoot to make these rifles difficult, or even impossible to buy, here in Canada.

I'm starting to wonder if there is some kind of forces at work, trying to prevent the sale of these guns, classed as antiques, here in Canada. To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me at all. I found the same kind of issue recently when I tried to purchase road flares of all things. Seems that they don't want to sell them to the public anymore. We can't be trusted with such dangerous items. They aren't illegal, but still they're making it more difficult to get them. I did, eventually, get those flares, but I haven't yet been so lucky with this latest endeavor.

Anyway, that is what has brought me here. I was wondering if anyone had some useful ideas regarding the purchase of a Lyman Deerstalker flintlock, or even a Trade Rifle would be acceptable to me. I know I can order a Traditions PA Pellet rifle from Cabelas, but it's not what I want. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks.
Alan.

First off..welcome to the forum..

There a was some good info in this thread that ran a few years back about buying ML's from the US..

http://www.oodmag.com/community/showthread.php?68425-Flintlock-Suppliers-in-Canada-Importing-from-the-US


You can order from a few places down south and have it shipped to Canada no problem..

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default...=22_92_186_190

Have you checked out Ellwood Epps in Orillia? They ship and are probably one of the bigger gun dealers in Canada.

Join Canadian Gun Nutz on line and join the EE [Equipment Exchange}. Lots of good stuff there.

X2 for Elwood epps. If they don't have what you want they can order it for you. Also shooters choice in Waterloo.

I have one that's going up for sale, .50 cal right hand deer stalker, excellent shape, it has iron sights not the fibre optics,
I'll be out of town for the next 2 weeks, send me a message if you're interested, I'll get back to you...

Hey MikePal, thanks for the welcome. Yep, I have done much research into buying from the US, however, I'm finding that it will probably be more expensive, when all is said an done, than locating the gun I want here in Canada. I did contact Track of the Wolf, and they assured me that there was no problem importing flintlocks into Canada but, again, after adding all the numbers up, I can't justify going that route right now. I will concentrate on looking in Canada first and, from what I've seen so far, I should be successful in finding what I want here. It just takes a bit of patience and time. :-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NaturalPath

after adding all the numbers up, I can't justify going that route right now.

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Ah yes to be back when the dollar was a par....fond memories of better times :)

Muskyhunter, I checked out Ellwood Epps and I found the prices to be too high. This is what I consider to be a very good price on the gun that I'm after;
http://www.wholesalesports.com/store...alker/p/180753

Granted, they don't have it in stock online, but I did contact them, since they did show stock in their Regina store. However, the Regina store is in the process of closing, and they wouldn't be able to sell me one online, only in store shopping allowed.

Thanks for the advice Jim, I am already a member of that forum, and I do have a lead on a Deerstalker there. It might pan out, it might not, we'll see.

Hey Bushbaby, as you see, I've already checked out Ellwood Epps. I did take a look at Shooters Choice, but it appears that they don't sell online, or at least they don't have any stock, or prices, online.

Hey bdog; PM sent.

You'll see plenty of Flintlock muzzleloaders at the auctions, sometimes great deals.
Do a search for upcoming gun auctions.

Thanks for the thought Mount Sweetness but here in Elliot Lake, we can't even buy underwear, nevermind muzzleloaders. I buy nearly everything online. :-)

As I mentioned before, I'm the kind of person who likes to do things myself, and I will be approaching the acquisition and learning curve involved in muzzleloaders the same way. I do, however, do as much research as possible, in order to get the information I need, for any particular interest that I choose. In my search for information on the use of muzzleloaders I came across, what I believe to be, a very well-done, and very informational, essay on the use and maintenance of flintlock muzzleloaders. This may have been posted here before, but I certainly think that it's worthy of posting again for anyone like me, who is just getting into muzzleloaders.

http://www.geojohn.org/BlackPowder/M...Flintlock.html

ONLINE Auctions

Hmmm, online auctions you say? Well, I know about ebay, and I do buy a lot of stuff on there, but I don't think I've ever seen any other online auctions that would sell guns. Maybe I just have to look harder. :-)

I'll pm you some info

pm sent to you NaturalPath

I have migrated from modern muzzleloaders, to percussion black powder.....to a flintlock. I wanted to shoot traditional ball and patch loads....so I felt for larger Canadian game it would be best to go with a .54 cal. The ball is 230 grains versus 180 grains for a .50 cal. However, a .50 cal using a conical will do everything in Canada too. I purchased a Lyman Great Plains. There were some early issues with the gun (Frizzen spring broke right away)....the sights are terrible....I refinished the stock which came with the crappy antique finish Lyman uses. But now I am pleased with the gun. I shoot 100 grains of FFG, ball and patch, with a wad over the powder. I can get 2 - 2 1/2 inch groups at 50 yard.
A few suggestions: only buy a used black powder gun from someone knowledgeable and experienced. If the bore was not seasoned properly or they left the gun dirty for a few days....the bore could be a mess and you won't know by looking down the barrel.
A gun where the barrel can be removed from the stock.....makes cleaning (hot soapy water method) easy. I have a few muzzleloaders where the barrel is "pinned" to the stock so they cannot be removed easy.....I hate cleaning those guns!!!. Don't buy a black powder gun unless you like to spend time cleaning guns.....to properly clean a flintlock it takes me at least 45 minutes each. Alternative powders (such as 777, perodex,) does not work in these guns.....you need to get real black powder (FFG for the charge and FFFFG for the pan). Buy a range rod....I only use the ram rod which comes with the gun in the field if necessary. Most wooden ram rods are crap....and replacing them with a composite rod is a good idea. Buy the proper ball starter, jags, brushes, scrappers, etc.
And finally....a warning....it is very addictive....have fun.

Thanks for the very informative reply hollywood. I have now purchased a Lyman Deerstalker which is virtually brand new, never been fired. So far, I think that this gun is fantastic for me. I have not fired it yet, since I do need to collect other supplies as I go. It probably won't be until next year before I do get it out for a trial run. I like to do tons of research, before I get into something that I've never done before, so, hearing of your experiences is very helpful. I find it interesting that you choose to use a wad between the powder charge and the patched ball. I would think that the patch on the ball would kind of serve this purpose. I'd like to hear more about your reasoning on this method.
I've been reading so much info on different ways of cleaning these guns, and I haven't really settled on any particular process that I might use. There does seem to be a heavy leaning towards the soap and water method that you use though. This appears to be the 'traditional' way of cleaning black powder guns. However, I'm not really a stickler for tradition, so to speak. I will usually weigh the options and go with what is both easy for me, and makes the most sense to me. The time that it takes to clean the gun is a non-issue for me, since I am retired, and I have no place to be, except in the bush, of course. :-)
Yes, I've already decided that I will be using real black powder, and not the newer alternatives. I've looked at all the specs and it just makes sense to use the powder that has the lowest temperature combustion in these flintlock rifles. Again, there are many different opinions on which grade of powder to use. Most will agree that 4F in the pan is the way to go, and there are varying opinions on whether to use 2F or 3F for the main charge. I guess I will determine what works best for me, and my gun, when I get some experience in the field.
I haven't even fired this gun yet, and I'm already addicted. I spend so much time now researching anything to do with muzzleloaders, or hunting with muzzleloaders. I will probably do so all winter now, while I'm pulling together all the necessary pieces that I will need. Since I live in Elliot Lake, ON, I don't have a store that I can just pop into and purchase these things. I have to find sources online and that means dealing with shipping costs too.
Again, thanks for your input, it's much appreciated.