Recommendation for a first flintlock

[dogfood]

Hello,
Got my hunting license certification and the instructors we're hardcore "primitive" hunter types. Well that piqued my interest. They recommended the Cabelas Pedersoli Blue Ridge. I very much like the style of the Kentucky type rifles (had a percussion Hawken before but warnt really enamored with it). I see barrel lengths anywhere from 28" from the Dixie Cub to 41" for the Pennsylvania model. I'm slight of build so I'm tempted to go for a short model but I would like it to be historically accurate.
Also unsure about which caliber is best as well. I would like to use it for deer but maybe other game as well, I grew up as a squirrel hunter.
I'm willing to spend up to $750.
Any input, suggestions, recommendations, et cetera would be greatly appreciated.
Much obliged,
dgfd

[Alan Block]

If you want something historically accurate for $750 look up Jackie Brown. He currently has some very authentic rifles and smoothbores for around that price. The Italian made guns dont really look terribly authentic. If you can find one, one of Dixies old Tennesee Mountian rifles are excellent guns.

[6mmintl]

I have a pedersoli tyron 50 cal percussion if interested.

Cash hardened lock/metal light colored stock hawken style.

[dogfood]

i appreciate the offer but im looking for the earlier style (in .32 or .36 incidentally)

[Eljay]

The Pedersoli is a nice gun. A lot of the factory guns tend to be kind of a blend of associated styles ("plains rifle") versus an individual maker who will often copy something a little more specific "early west virginia rifle". But you have to be a little careful with this because some terms like "Hawken" - a particular maker - have become generic, like Kleenex, and it can mean almost any kind of half stock rifle.

Or you get things like the purists will say the Pedersoli Brown Bess isn't accurate because it has a mix of bits from different periods. They say it's accurate because they copied a real gun. Apparently that real gun was a bit of a mixmaster. It happens. You can decide for yourself what's traditional/accurate enough for you.

For deer people usually use .50 or .54. Squirrel is around .36. A lot of target shooters like the .40-.45 range.

[Alan Block]

All of the Italian made guns have a roman nose profile to the buttstock.
This was a characteristic of some schools of Pennsylvania rifles, particularly the Bedford style. The real Bedford style rifles have a much more delicate and thinner comb then the Pedersolli.

vs

[Dale P. Landan]

For your first black powder rifle I woul suggest a Traditions Kentucky or their Penn. models and the caliber should be at least a .50 these rifles have a twist rate for round balls and these will handle any game in this country including bufflo but truthfuly they are a tad lite for that big of an animal. they do work well on elk though.

[dogfood]

Thank you all for your input. Likely I will go entry level.

Is there a point to looking at a smoothbore trade musket type? I like the notion of having it being able to double as a fowling piece.

[Paul_R]

Well there's a really nice looking .36 on my favorite muzzleloading forum right now. I'd buy it myself if it was lefty. Great bunch of people there, much like here only focused only on the old timey stuff.

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/9515

It looks like it's a TVM:

http://www.avsia.com/tvm/southern.htm

[Eljay]

Thank you all for your input. Likely I will go entry level.

Is there a point to looking at a smoothbore trade musket type? I like the notion of having it being able to double as a fowling piece.

They're quite accurate out to fifty yards and then things start falling apart. Might be ok depending on what you want to do with it but I'd get away from the idea of a one gun to do everything.

[dogfood]

They're quite accurate out to fifty yards and then things start falling apart. Might be ok depending on what you want to do with it but I'd get away from the idea of a one gun to do everything.

I was hoping to brush hunt some hogs, but the regs say that the only authorized blackpowder gun is a rifle over .40 cal, so it's a no-go anyways.