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In a rifled barrel with a round ball ??? It's not a pistol slug, so what would engage the rifling ??? :confused: A 0.018 patch with a .490 ball works just fine. :)

x4 on the felt wads. After trying them, I thought that fillers were a pain, and quickly went to the wads. 'Course I just have the one Kennedy flint pistol now (see avatar), so don't need either!

Several of us use Ted Cash tobacco or tinder boxes. 'Course, Stumpkiller's solution is a lot cheaper !

Not in my neck-of-the-woods. The gun/big box stores only carry in-line supplies, with shotgun shell primers. :cursing: This in-line stuff is killing our hobby, IMHO. :shake: Yes, I have to buy my flints on-line from Track ... but even Track does not sell caps. Powder, Inc and Graf...

Well, I will agree ... I wouldn't want to shoot more than 80 gr of 3F, myself. Only real reason I got a bruise is that I was trying to shoot off a rest in an awkward position - the butt wound up being against my arm instead of shoulder pocket. And only had a light t-shirt on to boot. Off hand...

I'm currently using 80 gr of 3F in my 20 ga Chief's gun (with a 0.610 ball) and it is working just fine. Kicks a bit, but didn't really notice the bruise till I got home. :shocked2: Musta been that Spiderman t-shirt I was wearing ..... :hmm: Anyhoo, the 3F works great ... doesn't...

Or "spark" more folk going to FLINT, lol !! This thread makes me glad all my BP guns are flintlocks !!! Is this situation due to the growth in in-line use ???

The strange thing to me is that the hazmat fee seems to be independent of the amount of hazardous material shipped. Or at least that seems to be the case at Graf & Sons. Graf states that "Blackpowder can now be added to your hazardous materials order under the same $28.50 fee (up to 50lbs)."...

The biggest cost of BP is the hazmat fees. For example, Graf sells 1 lb of 3F for $16.59. BUT, handling & Insurance adds $7.95 and the Hazardous Materials Fee another $28.50! The Hazmat fees are set by the carrier (UPS, FEDEX, etc.) according to what they think it costs to comply with CFR...

My 50 cal rifle rarely needs the pick, BUT my smoothbore needs it almost every time. :shocked2: Both have vent liners. :confused: Like the load, it seems to be a specific gun characteristic. Better to have one when you need it than not .... :headslap:

At the range, where I will immediately shoot, I fill mine half full, evenly distributed. Always goes off ... :thumbsup: ... unless my flint is too dull or I forget to pick the vent hole. :cursing: Get a vent pick and use it !! A full pan for hunting has merit, but you don't want to cover...

Well, I know of one on another forum ....

Great story and photo !!! I can only hope to be at your level someday. :thumbsup:

Fair enough ... but remember that you have a lot more salts (sulfates, sulfides, etc.) to remove than just the carbonates. These salts can enhance the rust formation reactions. Some of them are are not basic and will not react with the acetic acid. Luckily, you are using a (mostly) water...

:thumbsup:

PS The most acidic rain (to date) in the USA had a pH of 4.3 Remember that every pH unit change is a TEN fold increase (or decrease) in acidity. It's a log scale. Also: Most folk use a peroxide solution that has been diluted by a third, so are using only a 1% concentration of peroxide.

A 10 % solution of pure hydrogen peroxide has a pH of about 5.3, whereas "acid rain" has a pH of less than 5.6 (normal rain is slightly acidic due to CO2 in the air). However, some makers add acid to stabilize the peroxide (LeC principle). Some don't, and some use other stabilizing agents that...

Well, I don't think it is CLEANING .... :haha: I use a cap of Murphy's and hot water for cleaning at home. To wipe the barrel after a few shots, I use a patch sprayed with equal measures of Murphy's, water and IPA (at the range, use a spit patch otherwise).

Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Borax) is a salt. It does buffer in the alkaline range (~ pH 8), and is a cation exchanger (will bind calcium and magnesium ions in hard water, releasing sodium ions). Soluble ionic compounds (electrolytes, forming ions) can speed up the electrochemical...

PS Thinking back on it, I did remove the nipple before cleaning and clean it separately (was close to 30 years ago!). Also, some folk store their smokepole muzzle down, so the oil doesn't collect at the drum. I stored mine horizontally on the wall.