looking for a traditional muzzleloader.

First the practicals and then the particulars !!!

Well, you need to give us just a little more information that will help us to help you. Have you seen pictures of anything you like? Most folks start out with a half-stock, .50cal. and percussion. .... ;)

Then again, it's possible you might want a full-stock, .40 or .45, in a flinter. ... ;)



Be Safe !!!
 
If you want to shoot the traditional patched roundball, you'll want a barrel with slow twist rifling, no faster than one turn in 48 inches, preferably one turn in 66 or even 72 inches.

There are some traditional styled rifles that have fast rifling twist suitable for bullets, usually one turn in 28 inches.

The Lyman Great Plains rifle is available in a round ball twist and is more true to the actual rifles made by Hawkin than the TC Hawkin rifles are.

Pedersoli also makes a large variety of traditional and historically accurate long rifles.
 
It really depends on how deep of pockets you have. You could go with something from the factory like traditions, lyman or cabelas even pick up a used T/C hawken for under $700. Or you can look into one of the private builders and get something really special but you're going to pay more and i mean the sky is the limit depending on the builder and what specific designs you are looking for..
 
I like the Great Plains. If you want something modern that will hit out past 500 yards, Parker Hale Enfield sergeant's rifle (33" bbl). The original was the choice weapon to arm the Confederate sharp shooter battalions. The Corn-feds would hit out to 1,000 with them.
 
You might want to check out the N-SSA (http://www.n-ssa.org) and see if there is a local group you could check out. There you can see a whole host of Civil War-era black powder muzzle loaders.

As was said, a lot depends on what you are into and what you mean by "traditional". Are you looking for a match lock? Flint lock? Percussion? Are you looking for a rifled barrel or a smoothbore? Are you after some particular era in history?

Steve
 
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