GPR Kits

[hanshi]

How difficult are the Lyman GPR kits to put together?  I've always liked them and want a flintlock .54 GPR.  The cost of the finished rifle is a good bit more than the kit.  Are they possible for a true duffer like me to build?

[BrownBear]

Very much so.  You won't need power tools, and depending on how "fancy" you want to be, you could probably do most of it in 20 hours.  Probably the most time consuming part is cleaning and smoothing the metal fixtures. 

You can go quite a bit further if you want, though.  The stocks are a little "proud" or oversize compared to the factory version, even if the parts will fit.  Slimming the stock to factory dimensions is worthwhile, and that will take some rasping and sanding.  Last one I did I wanted it even slimmer than the factory version, so I must have taken off half a pound of wood all-told.  Maybe more.  While the factory 54 actually weighs less than the factory 50, my 50 weighs less now than a factory 54.

Lots of advice floating around on them, so I'm not going to rewrite the book.  Just take it for granted that there are lots of folks willing to help if you have questions or need ideas.  It's a real worthwhile project.

[54Bucks]

 Here's just a little info. I found after searching Lyman(many other supplier possibilites)
Midway USA lists the .54 GPR flint kit for $475.99
ableammo.com is much cheaper but only lists them in caplocks. Their prices are also confusing as their finished rifle prices are lower than their kit prices???

[dan55]

MidSouth Shooters Supply used to be the cheapest for the Lyman kits. You might check them out.

[Glenn]

I've always liked the Lyman rifles.  Should be a fun kit to do.  I'm willing to be that after you're finished you'll feel confident enough to tackle other projects down the road.  Good luck and please keep us all informed on here as to your progress.   

[hanshi]

Thanks for the replies.  I checked out MidSouth and they had kits for about $400.  I'm not ruling out a good used one as long as it's a .54 flint.  But it'll be next year at least.

[longcruise]

I'm working on #4 Lyman gpr now and they all went together pretty nicely.  They are all percussion but I doubt there will be anything uniquely different in doing a flint. 

When you get it, first thing to do is try  matching all the metal to the inlets.  It;s not uncommon for their inletting to be off.  I had to send one stock back because the tang and barrel inlet was so far out of whack with the lock inlet that it would never look right!  They sent back a replacent that was perfect and had nicer grain to boot.

You can get as elaborate as you wish with these kits.  This one I'm dong now is going to get a patch/cap box and some other treatments on other areas that might make it a bit more of an individual.

One thing I'd say is do not stain the wood.  It seems to come up much nicer with tru oil only.  It should have a sealer though. 

[BrownBear]

It;s not uncommon for their inletting to be off.  I had to send one stock back because the tang and barrel inlet was so far out of whack with the lock inlet that it would never look right!  They sent back a replacent that was perfect and had nicer grain to boot.

That's been the experience around here too, both the occasional inletting problem and the quick response by Lyman to rectify the issue.  One of my hunting pards got one with the tang so misaligned that reinletting to match the barrel would have offset the back of the tang close to 1/4". With the barrel mated to the tang and the tang seated in the inlet the barrel was offset close to 1/4" at the forend.  A quick call to Lyman produced a free replacement, that one not only perfectly inletted, but also as nice a piece of "Claro" walnut you've ever seen.  It's a showpiece.

I've had to rebed a couple of tangs, and on one the embedded nut into which the tang bolt joins was unthreaded.  All were easy fixes, but one step away from true "drop-in."

[longcruise]

This one I'm doing now has the inlet for the rear of the trigger guard at an angle of bout 10deg to the bottom flat of the butt.   Rest of it is just fine.  It was a gun show adoption so I'm not taking it up with Lyman.  Am using it as an excuse to run a full length toe plate from the toe all the way up and around the rear trigger guard inlet.  Maybe a piercing or two but not sure I'm ready for that!