Finally was able to make it to the range to sight in some of the rifles yesterday. I figured it was a good day to sight some of my rifles in since it was the monthly meeting of the Frontloaders. I figured that having a whole herd of the furry hat guys would be to my benefit if I was having any troubles or had questions. I did learn quite a bit. Like I was dreaming if I thought I could dial in a more than one rifle a day. I learned that if you are around a bunch of furry hat guys and they are having a shooting competition, you are in that competition. I learned that I flinch when shooting a flintlock offhand. I learned that when using set triggers that "hair trigger" is not necessarily a good thing. I learned that sometimes that flint has to hit the frisson several times before the rifle goes puff then boom. I learned that when I am doing timed firing, I grow a couple of extra thumbs. I learned that shooting three rifles means that you are up till midnight cleaning and oiling three rifles.But moslty I learned that this is more fun than should be legally allowed and that muzzleloading folks are the best kind of people.
sounds like a great day. Welcome to the brotherhood....
hotfxr, the flint only needs to strike the frizzen once. Keep a sharp flint in the cock jaws and the jaws tight. Be sure the flint is the correct size. after several shots, wipe on the strike zone of the frizzen and also wipe off the top and underside of the flint. and be sure the powder in the pan is not too much or too little. Also after several shots I run a pick into the flash hole to be sure there is no buildup/blockage. If all these items are tended too, each strike of the flint on the frizzen will yield a flash/BOOM
"I learned that sometimes that flint has to hit the frisson several times before the rifle goes puff then boom."
Which is why I will never own another one!
Whats all this talk of Klatch, klatch....Write this down " A quality lock will fire UPSIDE down" the 1st time. No English Bess would get the acceptance mark if it wouldn't. Thats the standard. The reason so many shooters won't touch a flinter is most a those Spanish, Italian & Japanese locks are not hardened or tuned. Get your hands on a gun with a Chambers or Davis--or one of the few custom lock makers and ignition is instantaneous. .....Tom, flint shooter since 1978
I've watched my friends with those locks go through the same thing, time and again!
wtch