Hello from Western Washington

Hi everyone! As you might deduce from my username, I'm a woman who shoots a .54 cal lefty. I'm just getting back into things, though I didn't have a ton of experience my first time around either: about 15 years ago I bought a Lyman Deerstalker .54 percussion lefty that I loved. It was my first and only black powder rifle at the time, and I loved the year I had with it. I've really missed it, wish I had never let it go, and recently found one of the Investarm lefty .54 percussion rifles that Cabela's used to sell as the "Sporterized Hawken." It has a 28" barrel with a 1:48 twist. I bought a Lyman 57 rear peep sight for it and once I get it installed I can't wait to get out to the range.

I have so much to learn and am so excited to get started. Very grateful to have found Idaho's YouTube videos, which are a treasure trove. That's where I heard about this forum, and I'm super happy to be here!

WELCOME to the Forum 54_Lefty_Lady, Glad to have you here!

Thanks the the welcome, the videos, and the forum, Idaholewis!

Welcome to the forum. You came yo the right place for help. If IdahoLewis can’t help you, nobody can. Grin

54_Lefty_Lady, Do you shoot Patched Roundball, or Bullets?

Hi there - before with my old Lyman Deerstalker, I had worked up loads for both, and I hope to do that again this time around. I haven't shot this rifle yet, but as a starting point I have .530 and .535 balls, three thicknesses of pillow ticking to experiment with, and also some of the 430 grain TC Maxi bullets that my Deerstalker liked, and some different felt pads (precut for now, but I have a punch set to look into making my own).

If you need any help just shout!

Thanks! I definitely will!

I had no idea that Investarm apparently still makes my rifle, which was branded by Cabelas years ago! It looks like it's basically the 150 model, like the one at this link, though mine is left-handed:
https://www.investarm.com/en/muzzle-loading-rifle-150.html

Here are a couple of pics of mine ... not a very "traditional" rifle, but I'm excited to have found it:

I shoot left handed as well due to my left eye is my dominant eye. Currently I shoot a 50 cal Left handed Flintlock Lyman Deerstalker as our late ML season here in PA mandates only flintlocks.

That is a NICE Looking Rifle 54LL, I like it!

Welcome aboard!

I recently gifted a .54 caliber percussion rifle to two female friends. One I served with in the Army National Guard, the other is a widow of a soldier I served with,

I invited them to our elk hunting party, mostly veterans who served together, and we use traditional percussion rifles. I figured .54 caliber is ideal because it is a large enough ball for elk. Recoil with patched ball is more of a push than a kick. That heavy conical bullets that make smaller calibers suitable for elk means more felt recoil for the user.

One friend got a rifle like yours that I purchased used from Puyallup Valley Muzzleloading Supply. The other got an InvestArms 120A "Hawken" rifle. Both ladies got the powder flasks, shooting pouches, and acccoutrements they need to load, shoot, and clean their rifles.

That's wonderful, and very kind! I hope they thoroughly enjoy your gifts!

Since you are in Washington, you might already know about Puyallup Valley Muzzleloader Supply. You may want to put their website on your favorites, they're one of the few gunshops that carry real blackpowder.

https://www.muzzleloaderssupply.com/

Thanks! I've heard of them, but I've never been yet. I want to get down there one of these days.

Welcome from NW SD.

rob