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  1. Larry Pletcher

    First Flintlock ...Need help

    I posted this on another topic, but maybe should have posted it here. (The main thing here is to enlarge gradually using numbered bits.) I drill mine with a 1/16" bit to start with. I sometimes go to a numbered bit larger. In many cases 1/16" works fine. If a larger hole seems necessary I...
  2. Larry Pletcher

    Pedersoli Frontier/Blue Ridge Vent Liner hole size

    Opening a vent to 1/16" is a very common change. Jim Chambers sells his liners with a .055" hole. He figures that if he ships them under size the consumer can always make them larger, but you can't make them smaller. I drill mine with a 1/16" bit to start with. I sometimes go to a numbered...
  3. Larry Pletcher

    2f or 3f powder?

    I agree with Dan and those who mention that burn rates are based on granule size and the increased surface area in the smaller granules. I'm sure Dan's comments refer to the burn rate in barrel charges. I have not experimented with burn rates inside the barrel, but I did time powder burn rates...
  4. Larry Pletcher

    how do you lighten springs?

    I would listen to Wick about weakening a spring. Notice his first sentence. It may be more a geometry problem than strong springs, striking angles,etc. Last, I would add that the fastest locks I have ever timed were late English locks that had very strong springs. If lock geometry is good...
  5. Larry Pletcher

    New Flintlock Hunter Here

    If you feel that the flint is hitting the frizzen too directly, you might try changing the striking angle by an extra piece of leather on the back of the bottom jar. It might alter the striking angle enough to produce more sparks. That might tell you if bending the **** will help without...
  6. Larry Pletcher

    PRB vs PA Conical test

    THanks. For a better understanding, are they less than 2 calibers long? My long range bullet gun uses a PP bullet that is almost 3 calibers long, but that is with a 1x18 twist. Regards, Pletch
  7. Larry Pletcher

    PRB vs PA Conical test

    Don, My complements on the test and your shooting. I like your attention to details. Conventional wisdom would suggest that PRB would shoot better in a slow twist barrel, but few of us take the time to to confirm this. Without testing, my gut would have expected the conical to not perform...
  8. Larry Pletcher

    Some advice on education?

    In my fourth grade Indiana History class I used a series of items to demonstrate how a flintlock worked. I made a wooden model of a Siler lock four times original size. (I blew up parts on a copy machine.) I'm looking for a photo of it. The parts were maple so it made no sparks, but the ****...
  9. Larry Pletcher

    Black MZ

    The product I received was packaged as BlackMag "Flash". Quoting from the package: BlackMag "Flash" *Refined BlackMag XP, Granulated & blended to be used in the Flashpans of old and new style Flintlock Muzzleloaders. Caution Do Not use "Flash Powder in the bores of any muzzleloader, It...
  10. Larry Pletcher

    Black MZ

    I have not tried Black MZ in a percussion, so I trust your comment. I gather that you don't use it in a flint gun or as priming powder. Some time back there was a hunting article in MuzzleBlasts about using one of their products as priming powder. I asked for and received samples to time...
  11. Larry Pletcher

    flintlock improvements

    Today's lock makers have a far different market (customer) that the market of Joseph Manton, for example. Today we mass produce a quick, high quality, by the hundreds or maybe thousands. Manton and his competition made locks built like watches for a discriminating customer one at a time. (Two...
  12. Larry Pletcher

    Who likes TC cut agate flints?

    This was written some time back and may be worth a second look. It's long -- sometimes I get carried away. ----- Shooters here have such wide experiences with cut (sawn) agate that I haven't seen an explanation that satisfies me. I don't like questions that cannot be rationally tested. So...
  13. Larry Pletcher

    flintlock improvements

    I believe it was 54ball who mentioned the late flint period English locks. I agree. The English makers seemed to be in an "flint arms race". The competition was fierce. In 20+ years of timing locks, the fastest locks I've tested were late English. In first place is an original Joseph...
  14. Larry Pletcher

    Lyman trade rifle touchole

    Hey Zonie, That sounds like my first flintlock- 1/16" hole and no liner.I had two like that. Only thing different was that I didn't fill the vent hole with powder. My only problem was a cheap Spanish lock. Regards, Pletch
  15. Larry Pletcher

    Lyman trade rifle touchole

    I guess I should get into this discussion since my testing has been mentioned. The whole experiment was called "Pan/Vent Experiments", but was broken into six parts because it was easier for me to deal with. Part 6, however, deals with priming powder covering the vent. (Part 6 is at the link...
  16. Larry Pletcher

    Who likes TC cut agate flints?

    The catch here is that "sawn" doesn't necessarily mean "flint" or "agate". Some of the stuff is "sawn" from cheap soft stone - too soft to do us any good. My gut says that the TC sawn "flint" from years ago was cut from stone better used to sharpen your pocket knife. The real agate (cut and...
  17. Larry Pletcher

    Weighing Powder Charges

    Hi Art, I assume that you weigh at Oak Ridge and at Friendship on the Mini Creedmore range.I think all the long range bullet shooters would weigh charges. Regards, Pletch
  18. Larry Pletcher

    Daisy shaped patches?

    This isn't a test I'm excited about - not just yet. If folks see a measurable change in accuracy, it may be worthy of an experiment. Right now my gut says we're looking at a marketing ploy. The patch may indeed separate at a different distance from the muzzle, but that may have nothing to...
  19. Larry Pletcher

    Weighing Powder Charges

    As with most ideas there are exceptions involving weighing charges. I agree with the earlier poster in general. When shooting patched round balls at normal hunting and target distances, weighing probably isn't necessary. There are a couple of types of shooting where it does aid in accuracy...
  20. Larry Pletcher

    Leather or lead for holding a flint

    MSU mentioned this testing 3 minutes before I finished. This topic comes up fairly often, and has folks liking both methods. Some time back I used photography to see if there was a difference in spark production. Below is the link with the photos and my conclusion: Lead/Leather The...
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