What is your procedure……

Still kicking around the idea of getting a flintlock as a secondary ML and for fun. So, I’m still collecting information from some of you hardcore flintlock fans. One of which is the result of watching many videos and seeing misfires. Some of those was determined to be due to the flint. After fiddling with, or replaced the flint, those rifles fired. I fully realize that less than ideal locks can be problematic.

This brings up an interesting point.

What is your procedure, in terms of how long to run a flint before a misfire?

Is this something that is learned by simply knowing from experience just how far a flint can go on a specific rifle?

Do you change the flint out before it’s past its useful life span or do you continue shooting until a misfire?

Do you remove the flint before a misfire then try to reform it for future use?

As a competitive shooter I knap about every 8 shots. Nothing throws me off in a shooting rhythm like a misfire. Hunting its knapped before I load to go into woods. I want to no doubt it. I can get 25 shots usually on average over all my rifles before i need to do anything though. To me its a mental thing

When I’m just plinking, I’ll use a flint till it gets dull and misfires. When hunting, I make sure it’s sharp before I go out. A good sharp flint has always been enough for a limit of squirrels.

It’s a quick and simple process to either change or sharpen the flint. There are different ways to do it, but I like to take the flint out of the cock and pressure flake the edge. With a little practice it doesn’t take much to get a sharp edge and you will know if it’s sharp. Flint/chert will cut you!

Go on now and get that flintlock. You’ll probably throw rocks at your percussion gun if you get a decent flintlock. I have some dandy percussion guns that I enjoy shooting but the flintlocks are just a whole ‘nother level of fun. There’s nothing else compares to hunting with a flintlock.


Oh, by the way, I like flintlocks.

Banjoman said:

When I’m just plinking, I’ll use a flint till it gets dull and misfires. When hunting, I make sure it’s sharp before I go out. A good sharp flint has always been enough for a limit of squirrels.

It’s a quick and simple process to either change or sharpen the flint. There are different ways to do it, but I like to take the flint out of the cock and pressure flake the edge. With a little practice it doesn’t take much to get a sharp edge and you will know if it’s sharp. Flint/chert will cut you!

Go on now and get that flintlock. You’ll probably throw rocks at your percussion gun if you get a decent flintlock. I have some dandy percussion guns that I enjoy shooting but the flintlocks are just a whole ‘nother level of fun. There’s nothing else compares to hunting with a flintlock.


Oh, by the way, I like flintlocks.

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This thread may go on forever but you have your answer from the Banjo

When at a match or plinking I shoot until it stops sparking and then knap, I just use the back edge of a Longknife when on a woods walk but at a bench I have one of the stepped punches which is more accurate about what part of the flint I am hitting.

Hunting, which I don't do anymore, make sure your flint is sharp before entering the woods.

Banjoman said:

When I’m just plinking, I’ll use a flint till it gets dull and misfires. When hunting, I make sure it’s sharp before I go out. A good sharp flint has always been enough for a limit of squirrels.

It’s a quick and simple process to either change or sharpen the flint. There are different ways to do it, but I like to take the flint out of the cock and pressure flake the edge. With a little practice it doesn’t take much to get a sharp edge and you will know if it’s sharp. Flint/chert will cut you!

Go on now and get that flintlock. You’ll probably throw rocks at your percussion gun if you get a decent flintlock. I have some dandy percussion guns that I enjoy shooting but the flintlocks are just a whole ‘nother level of fun. There’s nothing else compares to hunting with a flintlock.


Oh, by the way, I like flintlocks.

Click to expand...

Thank you, Banjoman, for the information. If I do get a flintlock I have no plans on making it my primary squirrel rifle. It will be for fun shooting. I might get one for a squirrel rifle but with the intention of getting it converted to a percussion.

I do find Flintlocks interesting and no doubt they are fun shoot, thus my interest.

As mentioned in another thread I have struggled with mine at times. But it’s finally starting to come together and when it does there is nothing like it for a truly historical experience.

Omahkapi'si said:

As mentioned in another thread I have struggled with mine at times. But it’s finally starting to come together and when it does there is nothing like it for a truly historical experience.

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I can understand and appreciate that.

Thank you for your input.

ETipp said:

Thank you, Banjoman, for the information. If I do get a flintlock I have no plans on making it my primary squirrel rifle. It will be for fun shooting. I might get one for a squirrel rifle but with the intention of getting it converted to a percussion.

I do find Flintlocks interesting and no doubt they are fun shoot, thus my interest.

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best laid plans and such.
get a flintlock and you just may soon find your cap guns languishing in exile. I have 2 cap guns. one is a shot gun, the other is a sxs 50 cal double rifle. most of the time i forget i have them.
this week i shot my SMR everyday. usually 10 shots a day. I had one failure to spark, remedied by a quick knapping to a sharp edge. i just shoot until the flint needs addressing, sometimes 20 shots, sometimes more. the most i have shot without needing a knapping is 70 shots. and that rifle still has the same flint waiting to go more.

I understand why you like percussion guns and I would never argue with that at all. I do all my hunting now with a flintlock and have learned to use it in damp weather. But not rain. I don’t hunt in rain. It’s really that historical connection that draws me to the flintlock.

So check this out too Etipp. As best as I can figure, we both live in Daniel Boone country. Now how’s that for a reason to hunt with a flintlock?

I also think of it like fishing with a fly rod vs a spinning rod where flintlock is the fly rod and percussion is the spinning rod. It’s a different technique and not everyone takes to it.

But, that’s just my free opinion.




By the way, I like flintlocks

Love the flinters, shoot in club shoots and the Roovoos. Win a few and lose a few being that the Indians ain't chasing me for my hair I just shoot until the flint quits throwing a spark. Nothing to over think

ETipp said:

Still kicking around the idea of getting a flintlock as a secondary ML and for fun. So, I’m still collecting information from some of you hardcore flintlock fans. One of which is the result of watching many videos and seeing misfires. Some of those was determined to be due to the flint. After fiddling with, or replaced the flint, those rifles fired. I fully realize that less than ideal locks can be problematic.

This brings up an interesting point.

What is your procedure, in terms of how long to run a flint before a misfire?

Is this something that is learned by simply knowing from experience just how far a flint can go on a specific rifle?

Do you change the flint out before it’s past its useful life span or do you continue shooting until a misfire?

Do you remove the flint before a misfire then try to reform it for future use?

Click to expand...

Locks are are as different/individual as people an one wants to choose and tune those that have a pleasant, reliable disposition. An ornery, disagreeable lock is about as welcome as the same traits in a person.
When match shooting I pressure flake after every relay as this promotes consistency of spark generation and speed of ignition which translates to more points scored over a match cycle.
Pressure flaking is far more reliable and precise than is any form of percussion or nipping sharpening! It also greatly extends flint life.
I often pressure flake shapen while the flint is still in the cock against a popcycle stick backing the lower edge. One can usually pop off a row of small chips clear out to each corner which tend to snap off with any form or percussion of nipping.
Pressure flaking does several important things to a flint edge. First it lowers the edge each time so the flint strikes a different place on the frizzen to wear more evenly.
Secondly, it sets up a strengthening ridge between each flake lessening the chance of flint fracture.
Thirdly it allows the edge to be sharpened out to each corner without breaking them off.
The same characteristics would be applicable to hunting.

The size of Flint your gun takes matters. Bigger flints=more shots, in my experience(assuming a well running lock). My Dixie SMR uses small flints, 5/8x3/4. I get a good 20 shots out of a new English Flint. Then I'll knap it, move it up in the jaw a tad, and get 5 to 10 more, then its done. Using small flints in small jaws, every time you knap, you are shortening the Flint length some. And eventually there's not enough length to keep it in the jaws.

I've seen my son get 60+ shots out of a 1" Flint. I never have. I've tried most available flints in my gun, and get @25 or so shots with all of them. I do have an additional lock for my rifle, an L&R. Same, 25 or so shots, 5/8 flint.

When I was still hunting it was exclusively with flintlocks. I started out with caps almost 60 years ago and flint shortly after that. I currently have 2 percussions and 6 flintlocks. The cap guns only get fired rarely. Any shooting to be done is done with one of the flintlock longrifles, period.

Since I don't hunt I simply shoot until I get misfires. At that point I just scrape the flint edge and continue shooting. If I then get another misfire I Knap the flint in the jaws. I don't throw away old flints because I may still get a few more shots from them. I used flintlocks for hunting with 100% success and never a problem. I trust all my flint-guns.

No definitive procedure. Depends on why it misfires. First I check for spark (after emptying pan). If it does spark, I clean the touch hole. If it doesn't spark, I clean the flint and the frizzen. If it still doesn't spark, I check the flint edge to see if it's not chipped, if it has a sharp edge and and if it's aligned with the frizzen. (Sometimes they come loose and shift position or even fly out altogether). It the flint is chipped or if it's too dull I try to make do for now with a field knap, or just field replace it if I have a spare in my range kit.

I don't change out a flint until it's completely done. Then it's replaced with a new flint. I suppose worn-out flints can be rehabbed, but that's way above my flint-knapping expertise.

I recently dialed in a .45 Kibler SMR. I started with a box of swaged balls and decided to shoot without knapping until my first misfire. That lock and flint fired 46 consecutive shots before failure. When hunting, I start with either a new flint or a freshly knapped one. I've never had a misfire hunting in both dry and wet conditions.

The more I shoot it the better it seems to work me. Have very few misfires, don't know exactly what I do to make it work better. I guess it's just all those little adjustments along the way. FLINTLOCKS FOREVER!

ETipp, I was like you, did not want anything to do with a flintlock. My Dad would always say o that's a flintlock they aren't reliable. I finally got my .36 Blueridge from Cabelas because I thought if I missed a squirrel It wouldn't be as bad as missing a deer and anouther would come along in a few minutes. I found that if I pay attention to what I am doing it is just as reliable as percussion. I now have more flinters than percussion. Give them a shot, pun intended.

Just recently I was out sighting in a new flintlock. I fired twenty five rounds with one miss fire. Someone forgot to prime the pan.
We are still looking for the guilty person .
However I will check and adjust next time out.

I was reluctant to use flintlocks as well. I have found them to be very reliable however. If I’m going hunting for large game I always install a fresh, sharp flint. If I’m after squirrels I’m less worried about how new the flint is. If I’m at a match or plinking I’ll just shoot until I have an issue, then knap the flint. I’m far less experienced than some folks here, but this works for me.

I shot alot of competition years ago with flint exclusively. I would wipe the flint from the cock forward toward the muzzle to the edge to clean burned powder off of the bottom of the flint. It was easy to tell when the flint was getting dull and knapping was a good idea. You can do the same with a little shooting experience. (don't wipe across the edge unless you carry bandaids)