Caps vs. flintlock for hunting?

[laufer]

Hi everybody.
I use cap ML for hunting in Colorado, and it works more than fine. Friend of mine uses flintlock and had some problems in the past during the late seasons when the humidity is higher than usual. I am planning to get me a new flintlock for hunting, and would like your comments and suggestions.
Colorado is usually dry during the first 2 seasons (in the areas where I hunt), and it may rain/ snow for the late 2. Any tips from people who hunt in humid areas on how to keep your rifle dry and ready?
I saw covers for flintlocks in Gender Mntn. but is it enough?
Do you empty/ clean your flintlock each day, or you just keep it outside overnight?
Thanks everybody and God bless!

 

[Dave K]

I have hunted Colorado (modern seasons) and even your wet days are dryer than our dry days in Ohio. On wet days, I change prime and pick my vent every 1/2 hr. or so. I have not had a problem with my gun going off in the worst of rains doing it this way. I also will keep the muzzle down and the lock area under my coat. I do not use a "cows knee". I am sure a cows knee is very good, just never needed one and I can attend to my lock much easier without it. At night, the gun stays in a cold place (if it is cold outside hunting),no powder in the pan and a tooth pick in the vent.

 

[roundball]

The rare couple of times that I've been caught is a light shower I've done the same thing as DaveK...muzzle down and lock up under the coat where it's warm and dry.

Using 4F as prime, I also refresh it every 30-45 mins depending on humidity and how it looks when I check it every so often.

I bought a simple cows knee made by Leatherman, but concluded if it was raining so hard I needed that while actually trying to hunt I'd be hoofing it to the truck anyway.

However, I have found it useful simply as a good sturdy lock protector...I put it on while walking in or out of the woods in the dark to avoid snagging any part of the lock on a bush, limb, etc.

I'm one of those who pulls the load every night when I get home from a hunt, patch the bore, let the rifle warm up and dry out over night inside the house, then load fresh the next day or time I use it.

:m2c:

 

[oomcurt]

I don't use a flint lock...but re the cows knee...it might not be a bad idea even if you keep the lock under your coat. Suppose you are hunting and there is snow on the trees but it is not snowing...beautiful day..and plop..a bunch of snow falls off the tree and right on your lock..and at that instant..you see a deer.

 

[bezoar]

If the frizzen in down and its properly fitted to the pan with a seal in place it should be fine. or if its a water proof pan it should also be fine.

If you wanted to keep water out of the priming buy a 30-30.

 

[roundball]

I don't use a flint lock...but re the cows knee...it might not be a bad idea even if you keep the lock under your coat. Suppose you are hunting and there is snow on the trees but it is not snowing...beautiful day..and plop..a bunch of snow falls off the tree and right on your lock..and at that instant..you see a deer.

:hmm:...yeah, that's right...some of you have to hunt in that white stuff and that would not be a good thing...at the least the frizzen would be wet...plus, moisture would probably work it's way between the edge of the frizzen & vent area, regardless of how well the frizzen sealed the pan.

I guess personally I'd still favor the "up under the coat" approach as it's really pretty easy to do, even if still hunting...have to take similar precautions against rain coming down out of trees from wind, etc, even after it's quit raining...plus, I use 4F to prime and I check it very, very often so a cow's knee would be annoying and require a lot more "movement" while sitting on a deer stand
:m2c:

 

[Johnny Tremain]

If you must you can line the top edge of you pan with wax b4 you close it. I used to use a crayon. A military camo stick works well (if you can stand the smell) keeps bugs away also.

Here is Western Washington we have a day or two of rain. When every someone cracks a can of FFF, it rains.

I do 50% of rondys in some sort of rain. Hunting season is in the middle of our fall monsoons.

I have never had a misfire, nor wet pan. I carry my lock high on my chest close to my neck, my tricorn on backwards shields in well during reloading.

 

[jackc]

Hello Laufer:

The first couple of times I took my first flintlock hunting I thought I had made a serious mistake going from cap to flint. All kinds of problems. Flinters can be so sensitive and tempermental that it can take a while to learn them as individuals.

I suggest practicing a LOT...and not just in the good weather. Practice as much as you can in all sorts of weather conditiona and you won't be as apt to have a negative surprise in the woods.

Small game hunting and stump shooting are two activities that can really help you and your rifle become an effective team for big game as well. During these activities practice with whatever lock covers you can imagine (coat, cows knee, etc.)

That's just :m2c:

 

[Hoyt]

I kinda wondered what I had got myself into this spring gobbler season...my first time hunting with flintlock. The first of season was raining almost every day.
One morning just as I got into the woods good..way before daylight..it came a toad stringer..I just had to turn around and walk back out. I kept the lock under my coat while walking back to vehicle. But I was soaked all the way through. Went back to tent and changed into some dry clothes while waiting for the storm to pass.
Went to another area when it stopped raining..and soon as I got in the woods good it started again..heavy drizzle and I put my cows knee on..soon as I got it on I hear a hen yelping real close and have to get down quick and hide. I set up against a tree and for the next hr. was pretty much put through flintlock hunting initiation..to see just how much I really wanted to do this. I had to get the cow's knee off..get my calls or even a call out..check my prime to see if wet..and be still all at the same time..about 3 different times. I did manage to call the hen on in, but it didn't have a gobbler with it..I really had my hands full...and as a side note I shot my gun after the hunt and it went off just like greased light'n. That was after a soak'n down pour before daylight and steady all mornin drizzle.

 

[Rat]

I've hunted in light rains, snow and damp weather, no miss-fires.

I've done the above, left the gun loaded all through the season and weeks afterwards, and when I do fire the gun to empty it, it fires perfectly hard and normal.

I suspect that most miss-fires can be traced to oil or water remaining in the breech after the gun is cleaned, oil or water seeping out of the breech plug threads, or oil seeping up between the barrel and pan from the lock, than powder ever absorbing "moisture from the air" and killing the prime or main charge.

I think if one gets downright MENTAL about getting the breech all dried out before loading for a hunt, you will be fine. I start drying my breech and barrel DAYS ahead of loading it for the hunt. Put paper towell on a slotted tip, and let that sit in the breech for a day or two. "Funny" what it will absorb.

Of course all the other good tips as to keeping the lock area up under the coat, and checking the prime often still apply. Remember that a flinter should be 99.99% reliable BECAUSE you can visually check the maincharge, lock, flint and prime...nothing that can't be seen/checked unlike a caplock or even a cartridge gun.

If the touch hole is clear, the main charge dry, the flint sharp, frizzen clean, and the prime is dry...the gun HAS to fire! (unless it is a poorly designed and functioning lock, too small of a touch hole, or a frizzen that does not always produce spardk)

I will also admit that if it really rains hard and long, I either sit it out under a cedar tree, or even unroll and set up my small camo tarp, go back to camp and get my 1861, or go back to camp and dry out, drink some tea, feed my face, read a book and wait for the rain to stop!

I just dump my prime when I can no longer see my sights at the end of the day, and plug the touch hole. Usually leave her loaded all season. But if I have the SLIGHTEST suspicion there is anything wrong with my main charge I'll fire her off. And she ALWAYS goes off. I don't keep it outside at night, but about the only heat I use when camping is the campfire. If I do use the camper heat I keep it very low.

Rat

 

[laufer]

Thanks everybody!!!!!
:front:

 

[redwing]

Make sure you have a sharp flint. This seems to have
more to do with it firing wet. When hunting Pronghorns
and the Wyoming wind roars across the waste land with
water and snow, the flinter will fire ok. Keep it
under the coat, and have a sharp flint.
I use 7f Gator pan powder, Swiss Shutzen, and Blonde
french flints,Chambers W\L vent,Siler lock. It works
well in bad weather. :RO:

Redwing :redthumb:

 

[dryfly]

One thing I did learn when I changed over from cap to flint. Flint is more reliable. I won't use anything else now.

 

[jim gray]

A friend of mine gave me an item to help with this. It's a square of chamois cloth waterproofed with beeswax and tallow. There's a leather thong tied to one corner and it is designed to be tied to the trigger guard and draped over the lock. It's not a cow's knee, but it functions the same way. I have never used anything to cover the lock before, except my arm, but I will try this when I get the chance.

 

[Tahquamenon]

I'm looking forward to hunting with a flintlock for the first time this coming season. :thumbsup:

 

[welshman]

I have had problems in the past with my flash pan getting moisture is it so I just don't prime the pan until I get ready to shoot always seem to have enought time for the shot.
welshman :m2c:

 

[djnye]

just two thoughts on this.

1-friends that are championship shooters all agree that flint is more reliable in wet conditions than caps.

2-i hunt in some pretty nasty weather around here and have found the best way to protect a charged rifle is under the coat. that is why i have taken up hunting with a matchcoat on. it forms a literal tent and naturally opens and falls away for action. it is also very warm.

take care, daniel

 

[laufer]

Thanks guys. :front:

 

[Rat]

Welshman:

Check if it isn't oil creeping up from your lock into the pan, rather than the prime "absorbing moisture from the air".

DON'T ASK ME HOW I KNOW THIS.

:nono: :shake:

rat

 

[JackAubrey]

When I am afoot w/ my trusty finters and the weather turns foul I use a cows knee,well waterproofed.I have a small priming tool I wear about my neck so I refrain from priming until I am ready to take the shot.I quietly remove the cowsknee,place the cock on 1/2 cock,ease the frizzen open,prime,ease the frizzen closed,ease the cock to full cock and if all is well...let fire!