TVM

[Crow Juice]

Not sure where to post this but I was thinking about a TVM Leman . It's something I can afford and I would like to have something to shoot . I would like it to be reasonably close to an original.  I don't have anybody to shoot with nor do i shoot with any group /association.  It is just for me. What do you guys think. I would probably use this mostly to hunt deer and feral hogs. I would probably get a 54 or 58 caliber gun. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Habu]

Lemans tend to be very uncomfortable to shoot with heavy charges.  Just from a shooting standpoint, if I were looking at TVM I'd consider one of their other models (probably the "Early Lancaster" or "Early Virginia"). 

And welcome to ALR!

Jim

[B Shipman]

Juice, Ive been doing this for 30+ years and I love Leamans as I'm from Lancaster. But these are late sharp butt  stocks.  In these calibers you want wide butt and a cheek design that moves away from impact.

[elk killer]

in the late 70s and early 80s,,i shot a .54 flintlock Leman for years..
then shot a nice fat butt  early style rifle,
once you go with fat is hard to go back...

[Mike R]

Lemans tend to be very uncomfortable to shoot with heavy charges.  Just from a shooting standpoint, if I were looking at TVM I'd consider one of their other models (probably the "Early Lancaster" or "Early Virginia"). 

And welcome to ALR!

Jim

I would agree with this as far as the .58 goes--I had a .58 custom Hawken that was not uncomfortable to shoot  with a narrow curved buttplate, but it had a very heavy barrel.  The Leman might be a lighter gun, but that depends mainly on barrel weight.  I don't see a .54 being a big problem with reasonable charges, but .50 would also do fine if you really want a Leman.  For some reason it just takes alot of powder to get that .58 ball [typically a .57 or .565] going.  For me at least, .54 or .50 are more efficient calibers.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

 I have .50, .54 and .58 rifles...not TVM, ..when punching paper at a range I always seem to end up with the .50.  Deer hunting is abot 50/50 .50 and .54..... the .58 looks good on the wall... course I don'f
t have any moose or grizzlies to shoot here in GA.  

[Kermit]

I have one of Matt's Early Virginias in .54 cal. It's the best fitting and handling gun I own, and I've spent 3-4 times as much on custom builds. TVM builds attractive and serviceable guns.

If you really want a Leman, go for it. You're the one who knows best what your level of recoil sensitivity is. I no longer care to spend a week recovering from a few hours at the range. When younger I thought that was just a price to be paid. Time and age have been instructive for me.

[Pete G.]

I tend toward .50 for almost everything. Still plenty of whack on the front end and the barrel will be a little heavier to help tame some recoil on the other. Round ball ballistics seem to be way better than what all the paper charts indicate they shoould be.

[Crow Juice]

The only reason I am interested in the 54+ guns is the last pig I killed was 200# + and he absorbed a hit from my 25-06  with minimal damage. Dropped in his tracks because of perfect show placement with no exit wound at about 65 yards . There were larger ones on the field and I want to hit them hard with a lot of smoke and a big ball.

[RAT]

I own a Jack Brooks Leman (.54cal). It's about as historically correct as you can get. He patterned it directly from an original. Muzzle Blasts did an article about it in the early 90's.

I can confirm that it is uncomfortable to shoot. The length of pull is short and there is too much drop. The only way to get a cheek weld is to drop your lower jaw when you shoot. I've drawn blood several times when I bit the inside of my cheek doing this.

[galamb]

For deer and hogs you could drop your caliber quite a bit. A 45, if legal where you are is way more than sufficient for both and loaded with 60-70 grains of powder hardly qualifies as something that produces "recoil".

I have hunted deer for a number of years with a 40 cal - legal where I am and my range does not exceed 50 yards, but never lost a bambi shot with a 40.

I would ask why you are looking for so much "fire power" for a "medium game" weapon. You will burn un-necessary powder, won't gain any range and will punish your shoulder every time you pull the trigger.

If you were hunting bear/elk/moose the larger cal's may be some insurance, but even a 50 Cal slow twist shooting a PA Conical gives you the same "thump" as a 54 round ball.

Something to consider.

[kaintuck]

54 Lancaster or early virginia.......44" barrel, IF you want, try that with 120gr of powder.......you probably will get thru n thru from wheel weight balls in a hog.....and, you will be able to shoulder it again
Hogs are tuff......but they ain't armor plated!