1st time - couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

[dcriner]

I have quite a bit of shooting experience, including percussion, .22, centerfire, etc., but today was the first time with a flintlock (a .50 cal pistol). Total, shameful, and gross inaccuracy.

I learned trigger squeeze and not to flinch, long ago. But, I assume that I flinched during the split second between the pan and the main charge. Guess I need to learn how to shoot all over again :surrender:

 

[wattlebuster]

Shooting flintlocks is a different world and a better one I might add. Practice is the key plus you get to burn more powder :thumbsup:

 

[Swtodd]

Have you tried working with different patch, ball, load, and prime combinations? If so have you checked the crown?

steve

 

[paulvallandigham]

Follow through is essential in shooting a flintlock. If you do not see flame and smoke come out in front of that front sight, YOU FLINCHED!

Use light loads, at short distance, and practice all the fundamentals you thought you knew. :redface: :shocked2: When you master shooting the flintlock, shooting everything else will be so much easier, you will wonder why you didn't get into competition shooting seriously long ago. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

You are starting to climb that learning curve that all flintlock shooters have to climb. Most of us take a year or more to get it mastered, but some have been stalled on the curve for years, now. Consider putting a piece of wood in the jaws of the lock at home, and do dry-fire drills daily. That will help more than you can possibly imagine right now. :hatsoff:

 

Get a bigger Barn for a target. Actually, a pistol is probably the worst flintlock to start out with. Minute of large barn might be the best they might do. The biggest trick is to focus on the front sight and target, and practice, so the flash doesn't bother you. As had been said it's a different game, and takes practice, but worth the effort.

Bill

 

[hounddog]

Bill, dont feel bad or get discouraged, I remember the first flintlock rifle, when the pan flashed I jearked up and shot a beautiful hole in a passing cloud. As you I was and am an experienced shooter, including black powder. I now own several flinter, and just love the romance of flintlock guns, stay with it and you will too. yours hounddog

 

[jethro224]

Lots of good advice already. :thumbsup:
One thing I might add is to find a consistent grip. You didn't say what style pistol you have but grip is important on any pistol. Even more so on a colonial style flint pistol. Just a little difference in how you are holding it can affect where the shot goes.

 

[Leatherbark]

Try to hit the broadside from inside the barn. I'll bet you can do it.

Seriously , check you patches to see if they are damaged.

What type of load were you using?

Is it a rifled pistol?

Bob

 

[Zonie]

dcriner

The very first thing that needs to be done is to find a good powder/patch/ball load when firing from a bench or stable support.
Concentrate on and use a LOT of follow thru with each shot. Counting to two following the shot before you relax your grip will help immensely.

After a load is found and your getting use to this idea of maintaining a long follow thru, then you can try off hand shooting.

Your group will start to look like you think it should and you will start to really enjoy shooting your pistol.

As a side note, a man or woman who can shoot a flintlock pistol accurately will become a marksman with a percussion or modern pistol.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Learning grip and hold and follow through with a flinter pistol is a different universe. It is complicated by heavy trigger pulls, slow locks and off balance construction in the common production guns. I have always been a fair pistol shot, but the gun I have never quite mastered is a Trapper flintlock. The lock is terrible, horribly front heavy and the grip is a bit large to handle for managing a controlled squeeze of the trigger. All of that can be overcome, but, it was easier to get another pistol

Muzzle Blasts ran a series of articles about pistol markmanship over the past year or so.

 

[Steve French]

Consider putting a piece of wood in the jaws of the lock at home, and do dry-fire drills daily. That will help more than you can possibly imagine right now. :hatsoff:

I like to put a pinch of powder in the pan and poof fire it, that can help you get over the flash flinch. :wink: And besides, I like the smell of blackpowder, it's better than burning incense. :grin: