Any insight on a flinter for deer hunting?

[morehops]

All I use for deer is BP anymore. I use cap and flint. A well tuned flinter will go off almost as quick as a caplock. A cow's knee (lock cover) will keep the flint and frizzen dry until needed. Worst case is that you hunt in the rain, sleet or snow all day, finally get a shot at a great deer, pull the trigger and........ nothing happens. Hey, while ther's a lot of satisfaction in a downed deer, there's also the same in getting close enough to have pulled off a good shot and knowing that you did your part as a good huntsman.
The sight problem can be overcome and most times without fiber optics. There's a lot of info here on sights, but I'll just say that you might be surprised by how well you can see with a little brass, silver, or white in various configurations.

Make sure that you practice and practice. When you get a clean shot at a deer and realize that you missed because you flinched you'll practice more next season. Yes, I know.
Just go out and enjoy the day afield. You'll be glad you did.

 

[J D Hoffman]

I shoot a 58. flinter exclusivly matter of fact i got rid of all percussion guns i owned. Nort Iowa late muzzleloader for deer gets pretty nasty also.I have a few tips to try,first i always have a new flint in my lock, I keep my frizzen cover on the frizzen until I'm in my stand I keep a small peice of cloth in my pouch and wipe off my frizzen and flint edge after priming the pan.When i prime the pan I use the ventpick and work a few grains into the touchhole.My old eyes aint the best replace your front site with a siver blade take a fine flat jewlers file and lightly file the backside of the site each year helps a lot. Good luck

 

[don hepler]

I was the first to respond to your post, and I was bragging about the groups I was getting with my old TC flinter. Well I got a reality check last saturday when I missed two does. Both were 40 yds. or less broadside. I've already shot 4 deer this season with modern rifles. I talked to an old experienced flintlock hunter, he says I'm probably flinching, offhand, and didn't notice it at the range, because I was resting the rifle on sandbags. He said he missed a lot of deer before he found out what was going on. He suggested I do some offhand shooting before going back to the woods or make sure I'm resting the rifle when shooting at another deer. There's more to learn about flintlocks than I ever imagined.

 

[Stumpkiller]

It is a whole different game shooting a flintlock offhand vs. lying in on a bag rest and padded stand. No question. I do most of my shooting offhand or resting elbows on knees to keep my abilities at their meager level.

But it's no different with any rifle. See how far someone can stretch even a scoped bolt action trying it offhand on a woodchuck. A 400 yard ace might miss at 80 yards very consistantly. All faults are apparant when you lack a rest. Which is why whenever one is available: use it! But practice both ways. Never take a shot hunting using a hold you haven't practiced at longer ranges on targets.

 

[don hepler]

Point well taken. I just wasn't expecting the flinch from the flintlock. I've won matches shooting caplock guns offhand. I'd read about the flintlock flinch but since I was shooting to develope a load for the gun, I didn't think I had "the" problem. However you are correct I should practice with the gun I'm shooting and at the distance I'm capable of shooting, and use a rest. Thank's.