very true but didnt the trend in reality,move away from smaller caliber eastern longrifles and move more towards the larger caliber half stocks and trade guns? Lemans, Hawkens and others?
Yes, but as Captchee stated, is was later. If we were talking, say 1840-50s, definitely. But the period specified was pretty early. Lewis and Clark were only back for a few years by 1810.
Leman didn't start making rifles until the 1830s (first Gov contract was in 1837) and the Hawken Bros. didn't turn out more than a few hundred rifles (earliest known was 1823).
An American Fur Company order with Jacob Gumph of PA in 1828:
100 rifles "to be 3 feet 7 or 8 inches in the barrel, to carry a ball 40 to 45 to the pound."
That's only .470"-.488" ball.
Trade guns are, well, timeless. But that wasn't one of the choices given.
Mario