Any insight on a flinter for deer hunting?

[Bruce H]

Anyone carry a flintlock deer hunting? When I first got into black powder about 8(?) years ago, I almost bought a flinter because I wanted a traditional muzzleloader. I finally went with a Pedersoli Frontier caplock because I was concerned about the fussiness of a flinter for hunting. I am now considering buying a flintlock after falling in love with black powder.

But my question still remains: is it too fussy for deer hunting in northern Minnesota where the weather can do anything? Our ML season is the end of November and this year we had rain turn to sleet, turn to snow. The rain was a bit unusual, but sleet or snow is very common.

My other problem is that I would still have to take the original sights off and replace them with fiber optic sights; my eyes just aren't what they used to be. That's one thing that looks silly on my caplock and would look even more so on a flinter. But I'm stuck with it.

Any insight you can give me would be very much appreciated.

 

[don hepler]

I'm from Virginia, so I can't speak for Minnesota weather. I am 61 years old and just started shooting a Flintlock a few months ago. I haven't shot a deer with my Flintlock yet, but I have shot 4 deer this year,so I'm getting ready. I have three Flintlock rifles aready so it is addictive. The gun I'm going to hunt with is an old Thompson Center four digit serial number so I sent the lock to TC and they replaced it with the newer lock. I put a Lyman 57ML peep sight on it and it will shoot a 1" group at 50 yrds. I practiced shooting open sight 22's and 1903A3 and other centerfire rifles at different distances to see how my eye sight was. I can "eat it up" at 40-50 yards with a peep sight. I think I can extend my range to about 60 yards on a deer. This rifle is not fussy and fires almost 100% of the time. Get a flinter you'll love it.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well, I only hunt deer with a flintlock, and my very first deer was taken in the rain. Yes they are a bit more trouble than a caplock, and lots more trouble than a breech loading rifle or shotgun, but the satisfaction is exponentially higher when you get the deer, and the bragging rights are better still. Maryland is not known for a dry climate, and where I am is on the "snow line", so normal winter precipitation is rain mixed with snow, or freezing rain, not the snow of the Northern States. :shocked2: You simply have to shoot a flintlock a lot to learn how your personal rifle works and doesn't work. Once you are well versed and experienced, they are very reliable.

Now..., as to sights..., what type of rifle, and barrel length do you currently use, and if it's not too personal, what is your eyesight complaint? I ask as my experience is that fiber optic sights are very gross..., very large with lots of room for slop..., so not very precise, making placing a shot in many cases a very iffy thing.

I know a few fellows who got back into deer hunting after they couldn't see the sights on their shotguns well, and had very bad luck with optics..., until they tried longer barreled BP rifles, and extended the sights out so they could see them well..., or switched to a peep sight on the tang. They had to wait a bit longer for light in the woods, but that hasn't stopped them. Quite frankly, for good shot placement, I'd rather see a person using a modern scope than fiber optic sights on a flinter. I may be behind the times though, and they may have improved the fiber optics since I last took a look at them.

LD

 

[Rifleman1776]

LD pretty well answered it. Many people use flintlocks for hunting under all kinds of conditions. After all, part of what we do with ml guns is to emulate the past. For a long time, flintlocks were all they had. They didn't wait until caplocks or bolt actions were invented. They went hunting with them. "fussiness" is part of the charm and challenge of using flintlocks. If you just want to hunt, get a 30-06. If you want to experience some of the charms and trials of the past, go flint.

 

[ebiggs1]

Do you hunt for meat or do you hunt for the hunt? If you are a meat hunter, you may want to stick with a cap lock. Not as many variables. But on the other hand nothing is more rewarding than a flintlock hunt. I shot a deer on my first try at deer hunting with a flintlock and so can you. But it isn't as simple as shooting as hunting with any more modern gun.
I don't see as well as I used too either. Who does at 65? But that shouldn't stop you. You may need to put limits on distance or bad conditions and the such. You just shoot a flintlock a lot to become familiar with it. If certain precautions are taken it will work. Even in very undesirable weather. Get a used TC or Lyman GPR so you won't have a bunch tied up and give it a go. Cabela's has the Kentucky on sale for $449 right now. Pretty hard to not to like this little rifle and hard to beat price, brand new! :thumbsup:

 

[RC]

but the satisfaction is exponentially higher when you get the deer,

But on the other hand nothing is more rewarding than a flintlock hunt.

"fussiness" is part of the charm and challenge of using flintlocks."
If you want to experience some of the charms and trials of the past, go flint.

I have three Flintlock rifles aready so it is addictive.

.
:hmm: think that says it all....flinter is all I hunt with....jus chosin tween them...C'mon over!! :haha:

 

[jethro224]

Get a flintlock and give it a whirl. Sounds like you have the itch. There's only one way to scratch it.

Shoot it all summer and you'll have it figgered out by the time next deer season comes around. They might take a bit more attention to detail than a caplock but they can be very reliable when you treat 'em right. Just keep the flint sharp, the touch hole clear, and the powder dry.

Here in Illinois the weather can be anything from sunshine and 60's to a blizzard during our deer seasons. I've hunted with flintlocks in both... and everything in between. Fog, rain, thunderstorms, tornado warnings, freezing rain, sleet, snow, you name it...

Eventually you'll miss a chance at a deer but that can happen no matter what gun you're using. Part of the deal.
A couple years ago I popped 3 caps at a nice buck and watched him walk away because I didn't clean my nipple right on my caplock. A buddy shot at a nice buck with his CF shotgun once and watched the slug fall out of the barrel, squib load. Stuff happens. Try again.

Before you go and put them fiber optic sights on, just give this a try, can't hurt...
Take a small file and open up the notch on your rear sight a bit. Until you can see light all the way around both sides of the front blade. Won't cost you anything to try it, you were going to toss the original sights anyway. You just might be surprised what more light coming thru there can do.
A thick front blade can help too.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'm in a part of New York State geographically in the same lattitude/zone as central Minnesota. I hunt with a flintlock all through our regular season (currently on). Yes, you have to take a few actions and precautions differently vs. a butt-stuffer cartridge firearm.

A waxed cow's knee is the first trick to learn - cover the lock until needed. Also, it's a good practice to reprime as the weather dictates and pull the load if you don't shoot. Ideally, every night. Practically, if the gun will sit more than three days. It's also, I believe, a good pactice not to take the loaded flintlock indoors or in a warm area from out in the cold. Leave it in the temperature of the outdoors: in a shed, barn, unheated garage, etc. This prevents condensation getting in the vent.

And sit under a hemlock.

 

[chance]

I have only used my flintlock 4 seasons here in Tn. It has been reliable and the only time it does not go off has been user error. I love hunting with a flintlock for the challenge.I have taken two doe and a small 6pt with my flinter. They are three of my best trophies in my book. It is just plain fun to shoot a flinter. Hope you get one and enjoy it like I do. Good luck and Good shooting.

 

[mazo kid]

As Stumpy says.....get a "cow's knee" and re-prime as needed. Here in Wisconsin, I find I can't go much beyond half an hour before the prime gets too damp. Now, I haven't tried priming with fffg, that is with ffffg in the pan.

 

[hanshi]

I hunt exclusively with flintlocks and stay at home during "sho-nuff" rain. I have been out in light, intermittent rain with no problems, however.

I can empathize with you on the bad eyesight; mine are so bad I now aim by sense of smell :rotf: .

I like flintlocks because I like the challenge. As it has turned out flintlocks are so reliable that there's really not that much challenge other than the crude, open sights. Hang in there and do what you must.

 

[Walks with fire]

We have a 3 week after Christmas flintlock only deer season here in PA which I have participated in since it's inception which I believe was 1973. I love shooting and hunting with flinter and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[sc45-70]

In the last 15 years I haven't shot a deer with anything but a flintlock.

As long as you keep your powder dry they work just fine!

SC45-70

 

[Bruce H]

I'm coming up on 63 and I've been hunting since I was 15. The reason I started with black powder is that I have shot a lot of deer in my lifetime and I wanted to try something with a few more variables. Which is why I'm thinking about a flinter. Now a caplock almost seems too easy.

The original sights on my rifle was a rear buckhorn and a front blade. The trouble I had was that I couldn't see the front blade until almost bright sunlight. Painting the front blade helped a bit. Then I tried a friends modern rifle with fiber optics; that's what convinced me to switch. But you may be right, maybe all I have to do is try a different sight. Heck sights are cheap.

I think this spring I'm going to take the plunge. That way I have all summer to work out the bugs. All I needed was a good nudge to help me make the right decision.

 

[rancher]

I've shot two whitetails here in PA with my .54 flinter. I love hunting with it and it does a great job on deer two. Both were short recoveries. You just have to practice and become proficient with it. Plus it opens up more hunting opportunities, at least in this state. With proper care and some fine tuning flintlocks can be quite reliable.

 

[agill]

I have a Pedesoli Frontier flintlock and have killed several deer with it.

I think you can buy the lock and touch hole liner to convert you caplock to flint. Might save you some money.

Anyone know for sure?

 

[Trench]

I went flint right out of the gate when I got in to BP. It's a tool that you grow acustomed to using and working within it's limitations becomes second nature.

 

[Bruce H]

Flint Hunter, please don't tell my wife that a conversion might be available LOL! I NEED a new rifle.

 

[agill]

Flint Hunter, please don't tell my wife that a conversion might be available LOL! I NEED a new rifle.

Not a word...

Conversion is just a bandaid. Since I built two of Jim Chambers' York rifles in flint I have not taken the Pedersoli 45 cal. out of the safe.

 

[justtim]

I started out with flintlocks and never veered from the course. That was '81 I think. First deer with a muzzleloader was taken with a double barrel flint shotgun in a rain on Thanksgiving Day in 83.
I went to a shoot a few years back, an all day affair. Woodswalk, maybe 100 shots. It started raining at 9am and never quit. We finished shooting at 4pm. Not one misfire or whatever all day. You just have to adjust to the flintlock. Back in the day you could buy a desiccant that you mixed with your powder to keep it dry. I won a bottle up in Canada. Damn stuff does work. Slows priming powder down some though. I experimented with it but have never hunted with it. No need really. I'm getting old enough that if it's raining when I get up, I go back to bed. LOL