Author Topic: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series  (Read 4077 times)

Offline Firelock

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 163
Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« on: January 22, 2017, 05:24:49 PM »
I recently completed building a Lyman Great Plains Rifle kit for an article in “American Frontiersman” magazine on guns used in mountain man movies. I thought it would be more fun to build the gun, rather than buying a completed model.

I know that this kit in no way represents the outstanding work turned out by builders on this page, but I also know that there are many readers here who have not attained the skill level of most of the builders who post their work here.

The difficulty level for putting the Great Plains Rifle kit together is pretty low. Anyone, with enough patience, and a few tools, can do a good job on it. So it is a great first project build to use to learn the basics of wood and metal finishing.

But easy as it is, it still takes some knowledge to pull off a good job. Unfortunately Lyman provides absolutely no directions or educational material with the kit.

So, to help out first timers, I’ve put together a short video series that takes you completely through the build.

The videos on this YouTube Playlist will take a prospective builder from un-boxing, right through final assembly of the completed rifle.

I hope someone finds it helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHljRs6NHyZlfr-UMJ7xBABzYtC0Vtv5G











Offline rich pierce

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19537
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2017, 11:43:45 PM »
Looks good. You're off to a good start.
Andover, Vermont

Offline smylee grouch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7908
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2017, 11:46:18 PM »
It almost sounds like the original ram rod tip wasn't pined. Sure hope you did that to the replacement. Those things are kinda notorious for pulling off in the most inconvenient places.

Offline Firelock

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 163
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2017, 12:26:48 AM »
Nope, no pin in the original tip. I made a replacement ramrod with an iron tip, which I did pin.

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9691
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2017, 12:36:59 AM »
I recently completed building a Lyman Great Plains Rifle kit for an article in “American Frontiersman” magazine on guns used in mountain man movies. I thought it would be more fun to build the gun, rather than buying a completed model.

I know that this kit in no way represents the outstanding work turned out by builders on this page, but I also know that there are many readers here who have not attained the skill level of most of the builders who post their work here.

The difficulty level for putting the Great Plains Rifle kit together is pretty low. Anyone, with enough patience, and a few tools, can do a good job on it. So it is a great first project build to use to learn the basics of wood and metal finishing.

But easy as it is, it still takes some knowledge to pull off a good job. Unfortunately Lyman provides absolutely no directions or educational material with the kit.

So, to help out first timers, I’ve put together a short video series that takes you completely through the build.

The videos on this YouTube Playlist will take a prospective builder from un-boxing, right through final assembly of the completed rifle.

I hope someone finds it helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHljRs6NHyZlfr-UMJ7xBABzYtC0Vtv5G











Firelock has a good idea here and it can stimulate interests that last a life time.
There is a sense of accomplishment by looking at a finished project of any kind
and saying "I did that and it looks good".I know this from my own experience.

Bob Roller

Offline Joe S.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1990
  • the other Joe S.
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2017, 01:14:45 AM »
Well said Bob!

Offline hanshi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5335
  • My passion is longrifles!
    • martialartsusa.com
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2017, 01:21:36 AM »
You built a good looking, convincing piece.
!Jozai Senjo! "always present on the battlefield"
Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.

Offline P.W.Berkuta

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2214
Re: Lyman Great Plains Rifle Kit build series
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2017, 01:58:24 AM »
For a relativey low budget kit it looks good ;). It would make a good shooter for almost anyone :).
"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." - Chinese proverb