Argument Time

[Larry (Omaha)]

Who here always taps their prime charge out to the outer edge of the pan after closing the frizzen?

I generally do, based purely on advice and it always seems to answer quickly.

Depends on which flintlock I am shooting. My early home builds like the prime away from the TH. The last two I have made, like the prime stacked against the TH. All my flintlocks have similar TH conned liners, with simple flat faced breech plugs. Go figure that one

 

[MSW]

late to the party with my two cents worth, but Pletch's work is sound: the science is good and the methodology is solid.

having said that, you should try it out and see which method works best for your particular gun.

Make Good Smoke

 

[Cattywompuss]

late to the party with my two cents worth, but letch's work is sound: the science is good and the methodology is solid.

having said that, you should try it out and see which method works best for your particular gun.

Make Good Smoke

Good news is this is the party that never ends! Heck, I even bet that six years from now, someone will see this for the first time, comment, and next thing you know it's a zombie party

 

[Grenadier1758]

Yes, @Cattywompuss, six, maybe ten or more years from now this same discussion can come up as a new thread. The answers will be the same as they are in this one.

"It depends on what your individual flint lock, touch hole and breech really want for reliable ignition."

 

[BadDaditood]

I’m a prime spreader.
My push charger had a tendency to plug so i soldered a semi-circle horseshoe of brass to the end, now the charge spills out and I can spread it easily. It’s also handy when humid and the pan wants to get muddy.
But I rarely use that one since I got a springy dealie that can hover over the pan without touching. Someday I’ll make a few antler or wood ones like it..
Seems the only “fuse” hangfires I get are when the white lightning’s are plugged and I push the fouling in to the main charge along with some prime. That’s the only time I notice slow ignition.

 

[Cattywompuss]

I’ve found a larger internally coned touch hole, fine pan powder, a fast lock, and a properly hardened frizzen usually answer. When one of those are missing, I fiddle with it, as no two scenarios with one of those out of whack seem to prefer the same bandaid. Some like more powder, some less, some out, some level, etc. In those scenarios I usually look to a proper fix depending on the gun‘s application. I don’t mind slow ignition on my Smoothbore but can’t abide it on a rifle.

Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph Bob... you near gave me a heart seizure old son. For the love of all that's holy, post something/anything on YouTube so the faithful know you are living.

In addendum; thanks for your sage contribution to this thread of mine.

 

[Pete G]

Good news is this is the party that never ends! Heck, I even bet that six years from now, someone will see this for the first time, comment, and next thing you know it's a zombie party

...and they will still be arguing about patch lube....and cleaning.